"But once profits flatten or fall they will do whatever they have to do to make appearances of profit."
Yup, this is the eventual fate of companies on those "great places to work" lists. As long as the growth is meteoric, it's all good. But once growth levels off then everything changes: sudden layoffs, wage freezes, no more stock awards, deteriorating benefits, etc.
BTW, traditional GPTW participation isn't free. There is a surprising amount of cost -- financial and people - to make that happen. It's a feel-good effort for employees and helps recruiting. It's not necessarily doesn't mean a company isn't a great place to work if they don't rank or participate in the effort. In the meantime, NTAP has creeped up onto the Glassdoor #100 best this year in the US. That was a pleasant surprise and no corporate funding or resources made that happen, just happier employees.
To the previous comments, any publicly traded company always answers to its shareholders. As soon as they go public. Now, if they are riding high like NetApp was in the early 2000s they have more leeway to run the business as they like. But once profits flatten or fall they will do whatever they have to do to make appearances of profit.
Wow, the c-ap continues to flow. I'm amazed that anyone would want to work in this environment. Outsourced everything, constant layoffs, poor moral, Customer leaving in droves. But execs continue to get bonuses, that the real story here.
@Wbm8Fuu-ikib Honestly, GPTW was a joke in the first place. NetApp only answers to one entity now and it is the shareholders. They don't give a sh-- if it is a great place to work or a sweatshop as long as earnings go up.
@Wbm8Fuu-2toq Losing the FEMs in our patch doesn't change much as the chode we had that was laid off during the previous FS layoff then hired back as a contractor s---ed at his job. Honestly, it won't change much when it comes to escalation and if a customer really needs this type of asset that often, they'd have a SAM already. CCT and CAP proving function and true value will be the test upcoming. Doubtful though.
@Wbm8Fuu-6mca You have obviously not heard that NTAP has given up on being a "Great Place to Work". We are still doing the surveys to watch morale but no longer looking at making the results public by competing for a place. Also we are not getting the company GPTW vacation day this year either. The latest GPTW survey results places us down in EVERY category for the 4th year running with the highlight of the results that we are getting worse more slowly.
Shame. We used to place a great company culture as a cornerstone. Now its an afterthought.
Wow! Transformation started like 2 years before I left. That would have been around 2014. Eternal Transformation. Layoffs are part of any corporate culture now. You should always put yourself before your company. They only care about you as far as the current value they think you bring. If you have a better opportunity, take it. Do not consider how it will impact your existing employer.
NetApp Transformation Project will be ongoing. This is what I heard in an earnings call several QTRs back. I don't like it but it's standard process these days.
I can read this and see it’s a former FEM in Canada. One of those that didn’t have the skill or makeup to get another job after getting axed a year ago. Bitter pills do not lead to a happy life, better eat more of your sons pizzas.
The Layoff was worldwide, and it is so true, worst company to work for. Every year, twice a year you duck before coming into the off, so you don't get your head chopped off. Not sure how they make "the Forbe's Best company to work for"
This is one of the worst ever company to work for. never ending Layoff's. I am aware of 4 field team members are being sent out this week in Europe.
That is a true statement. No local escalation ownership means the ball gets dropped and customers get angry. The customer isn't the only loser with this change. Sales also loses because when the customer gets mad they will be beating on the sales rep or SE for satisfaction and that takes those resources away from what their job is supposed to be, selling netc-ap!
The Field Escalation Manager role was killed. All of the current FEMs have been either rehomed or layed off. Seems that escallation management is going back to the tech support managers again. This is what happens when you have high management turnover who don't remember how bad things were when the TSMs were responsible before.
were there layoffs in Europe only?
I know at least of 2 People in Germany