Is company morale low? Are people getting lay offs? Thoughts? Anyone here work at both places and can compare?
24 replies (most recent on top)
HPE is done fire to frying pan
I'm a lucky employee getting spun out of HPE into a company with what seems to be a better compensation package for us.
I'd like to thank HPE for that because the morale at HPE is the worst I've seen since I've started decades ago and it'sh--ting every organization across HPE and in all countries (maybe less so in Bangalore). Employees are watching their back wondering if they're next to get WFRed while benefits get worse every year all in an effort to eliminate costs and as execs use their buzzword "cost structure". It's bringing everyone at multiple sites in the US down as the rumors and news of WFRs spread. Employees aren't motivated (no matter what our execs say or tell us), productivity drops, depression hits and most just clench their teeth and bear it. A few brave souls and new hires actually leave after getting a bad taste.
I probably won't be around when the next VoW comes around, but if I had a chance to answer the question: "Would you recommend HPE as a great place to work?", given the turmoil many employees are experiencing, I'd say "Strongly Disagree".
So thanks HPE for letting me go to a better company that actually cares about the work we do.
And you need to acknowledge that a US company that's not doing so well doesn't need to abide by your socialist sponge-off-everyone else delusional ideology. Hundreds of thousands in severance my ... Foot.
Like I said, don't hold your breath.
The lot of you over at the Bristol office are a bunch of sour chaps every time we have to deal with you. What do they put in the water over there?
OK let me explain. In the US they can change the "severance" package. In other countries, that breaks the law. In certain countries HPE is required to honor the conditions of redundancy that were in force at an organisation that was taken over. Some of us are pre EDS. Our original conditions must be honored by law in our country. I know 3 people personally that received hundreds of thousands in redundancy only a short time ago, two of them were not even managers. You people need to realise that the world does not abide by US law or policy only!!
I worked with a bunch of IBM people in my previous job. Here's my take:
1) both companies are very similar
2) the layoffs at HPE are constant and omnipresent. You simply have no idea if you'll have a job next week.
3) on the upside, both companies have great WFH policies. I know people working on interesting projects in cities that have very low cost of living and where these types of jobs simply don't exist
4) on the upside, you have an opportunity to work on things that you wouldn't normally get to work on. For instance, I've been trained on software that's very cutting edge and unusual
5) on the downside, if you're someone that needs a lot of 'structure' in your job, HPE isn't the place for it. Some weeks I'm working at 110% on really interesting projects, and then other weeks there's just NOTHING going on at all. It'sh-- or miss.
Having said all that, I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon. It's an interesting place.
@LAR6lUK-2kzy yeah... You're not getting paid for all that time. They've drastically changed the packages. You should probably give HR a call and ask them just to be sure.
It s---s to be you waiting for a severance package for all the time you put in when you'll probably get 2 weeks pay.
I've heard HPE will be adopting CSC's severance policy, which I believe is 2 weeks pay and benefits regardless of service time. That's definitely NOT something worth waiting for.
how about 87 weeks redundancy, plus 6 weeks initial notice, plus 8.3 weeks long service leave for every 10 years of service, plus accrued annual leave. I think that is worth waiting for!!
Didn't they drastically change the package? No longer 1 week for every year up to 11. I think there is no WFR package worth waiting for at this point.
@LAR6lUK-2yrm Don't hold your breath! :-)
LOL!!
I gather you are based in the US from your reply? Some of us have WFR's worth waiting for :-)
@LAR6lUK-2hmw That's too bad. All that time you wait for a WFR package that will never come is time you could have found another job that's meaningful, leaves you happier, pays you more than a stupid WFR package, and you'll begin to forget the bad at HPE (it will seem like a blur.)
I know this because I've left jobs where I felt miserable and now I barely even think about my time in those bad jobs. I can't even imagine staying there waiting for a severance package that I'll probably never get.
My answer to you as someone who is still working in the services arm (HPE) is RUN away from us! Same SH^&% different smell. Most of it has been touched on. It is a depressing place, full of half wits at the top who are lining their pockets at the expense of staff who actually do all the leg work in winning or supporting a deal. When I first joined this place I busted my guts, and put in the hard yards and hours. Im talking 60 hour weeks or more weeks in a row, whole nighters without sleep. It was never once recognised or appreciated. I and just about everyone I know has not gotten a pay rise in years, I know people who have not gotten pay rises or any meaningful bonuses for over 10 years. Meanwhile Whitman and her cohorts are on multi million dollar bases and huge shareholder incentivised bonuses. HPE is a dinosaur with SH%^$ services offerings, half baked plan to market, is at least 2 years behind the market, and the only theme being "we are excited" and "focus on closing the quarter STRONG". I could go on and on. I have never been as miserable in a job as I am here. I am making it a point not to leave until I get my WFR (redundancy package), otherwise I would have resigned long ago. This is a SH^&% hole of a place, and I cannot recommend enough you to run as fast as you can away from it.
HPE is a dying company. Why would you want to join a sinking ship?
HPE ES = HPE Enterprise services aka Everett Spinco
just want to point out.... @kbz, HPE is not being merged with CSC. HPE ES (Everett Spinco) is being merged with CSC.
OP, know which side you are being hired into but know HPE overall is a mess and I think it likely will not exist in the near future (a few years)
I would say stay away from HPE at this time, unless your current job is causing you grief and you look at HPE as a very short term stopover. HPE even after the spinoffs seems to lack strategic focus on what the long term goal of the new HPE organization will be. Benefits are questionable at best and knee jerk reactions tend to steer this ship. Being driven by constant re-orgs, lack of strategic focus, decisions made without corresponding data, etc., point to a tumultuous future. I enjoy living in Houston, as there is plenty to do. The weather in the summertime can be hot and humid, but certainly bearable as you will acclimate.
I put in my two week notice on Friday, January 27th,as I have accepted a position elsewhere that pays $8K a year less but contributes $1,000s more in benefits and retirement, making this an overall raise that's eligible for overtime pay. Good jobs are out there if you stay diligent in your search, remain positive, and make an effort to continuously educate yourself in a demonstrable way.
It will be extremely nice not having to worry about being WFR'd or having benefits cut again. HPE's 401(k) contribution slash in particular was just terrible, and the last straw in my book.
Whether or not you accept the HPE position (assuming it's with NewCo) should depend on a myriad of factors, including career development, marketability, and if the work you'll be doing will be a resume builder. Big IT is dying a painful death that is accelerating every year, and moving from IBM to NewCo is analogous to jumping from the frying pan into the fire from a job security perspective.
Ask questions about the future of your position, the future of your office, and the future of NewCo. Make your concerns about the stability of NewCo known to your hiring manager, and be sure you're making a decision with your eyes opened as widely as possible.
Contrary to what you read on this board, HPE is "not" only about ES (Enterprise services)/CSC/EDS/whatever which you will read *mostly about here. There are layoffs still going on, some attributed to the spin offs and other BU's. Both IBM and HPE are laying off, so is one better than the other is subjective. The quarterly russian routlette WFR is stil alive and well. If you're ~50, I'd look elsewhere.
I joined HPE last March in a group that was "the future of the company". Arrogant management and bickering between top level egotistical management meant that the group employing around 100 people was bringing in around $15m / year and didn't seem to be growing. Competence is not valued at HPE. On the up side I'll get some severance from being WFR'd (work force reduction) and there are many other jobs around here.
HPE is in the process of being merged with CSC, the merge will be completed in April 2017. The CSC CEO Mike Lawrie will continue to be in charge of the merged entities. Why is this important....under Lawrie CSC employees have not seen a raise or bonus since 2012. The cost of health benefits is astronomical because CSC hasn't increased the company contribution in 4 years. There is a forced ranking system in place in which 40% of the employees must be ranked as "does not meet". Commercial jobs are being offshored to India, the government/ITAR/Defense jobs are sent to Puerto Rico. Whoever the individual is that you're interviewing with, ask them about the above points. They may tell you things are getting better, unfortunately they're not.
The layoffs are over in large part. There will still be targeted WFR's as the spins begin to become final. HPE is a much smaller company, down from 100b to 30b, from 330+k employees to approx 95k +-.
If you're being recruited from IBM...prolly safe to say, you'll do ok.
Caution you on this........Houston heat/humidity can be brutal. lol Good luck.
I can't speak to IBM, however, I was in the latest batch of layoffs at HPE (my last day was this past Friday). Morale is taking a beating on many teams. Depending on the job you've been offered, you may be filling a job from someone let go from the Bay Area or other higher cost areas. If you and I were discussing this over coffee I would flippantly say Run Away. My job responsibilities were divided between 3 individuals doing similar tasks, but who were already overloaded with responsibilities.
However, I won't tell you not to consider this job, but realize the risks involved. HPE is not necessarily looking at long term strategy. Rather, they are only looking at short term actions to get them to both spins. The CSC spin is in the final leg of the race, so I'm assuming your offer was not to join this (if it was, be very sure you know what you're stepping into).
If you are to be part of Software, it is likely to be going with the MicroFocus spin. Some rumors have been floating about them trying to consolidate workers into Houston, as it is a MF location. The question to ask here is "How confident are you that MicroFocus will want your position after the spin?" If you are in a general position like finance, HR or similar, maybe they will need you or maybe you'll overlap too much with what they already have in place. MF says they never close a business unit, however they never actually said they want all of the current software BUs, nor did they say (publicly) how many workers would be needed to maintain that BU. If you look elsewhere on this board, you'll see some SW BUs that have been rather quietly shuttered or reduced to very small teams. MF cannot put a focus on every product line, so will be reducing some to "maintain only" and only putting R&D into certain products. I suspect some will end up with third party vendors.
If you are part of the RemainCo (what's left after CSC and MicroFocus spin), then the question to ask is "Do you believe that HPE will put the emphasis on R&D, Sales, etc. for your product line?" Meg's history, at this point, is to pretty much underfund everything and then sell it when the product line fails to make money. She doesn't actually seem to be wanting to make money on the products, rather on the sale of the business unit.
My personal opinion is HPE is a risky venture, at this point. If you choose to take a job with them, make sure the short term benefits (pay?) outweigh any long term risks, with getting laid off in 3 months, 6 months, etc. being a very real risk - yes, I have seen people who were employed only 6 months end up on the Work Force Reduction list. I'd also ask questions about the situation you're stepping into: Are you taking a position that was recently vacated? Where is the position relative to the SpinMerges? Can you talk to someone from the team to get a feel for the position? What was the Business Units Q4 and Q1 results - were they growing, did they make their targets, etc.? I'm sure there's other great questions to ask to get a better feel for the situation.
Good luck to you. I don't envy you the decision.