Those of us that remain, are nervous and afraid. Rightly so I think. Many feel like an airline crash survivor. Some have used words live survivor guilt. Meetings I have been in are filled with tension and an almost manic focus on assignments. We talk of the fired team mates as though they died. GM has created a culture of fear and loathing. The giant awakens and crushes indiscriminately. I feel most sorry for those who profess to love the industry and GM specifically. Only a fool has loyalty to any corporation. Cherish your family and get ready. Round two in less than a year.
10 replies (most recent on top)
OP speaks Truth.
I do not work in anything like what is being described here. GM has absolutely been the best place I have worked at over my 25 year career.
GM moves people around like gypsy's , it's like they can't seem to ever make their minds up , always trying to "restructure" they treat people like cattle , move here , close this building then re open the same building a few years later , re modal a building oh wait nevermind let's move people to this building instead! What on Earth and who actually is running this company? Is another company buying GM ? What is the deal?
The culture of fear is one of the defining characteristics of GM compared to other companies. Obviously, it forces mediocrity. No one can afford to cross the delivered groupthink, even when they competently know it is inferior. This is just plain bad management, delivered by the same people that have been there forever. Besides the employees, the customers bear the consequences.
I was raised in a "GM family". GM was uttered with the same reverence as our Roman Catholic Church. No thought of another brand in our driveway. That was then. After my separation in 2009, I landed a great job on the east coast. Very happy now, though we eased out of owning GM vehicles, which are rare out here. Have a Honda Accord and Toyota Highlander now which, I must admit, are wonderful.
Get over it!
Unfortunately I was one of those 'fools' who 'loved the industry and GM specifically' and I learned it the hardest way possible when after working so hard they wanted me go in the most disrespectful way. No reason, no metrics, no HR person that I knew. I have friends who are still waiting to get a phone call from their manager as they were not allowed to be anywhere close to us. Unfortunately GM is thinking making big bold action is always good but not only they lost lot of loyalty, all those remaining people as you said are plane crash survivors who know they will eventually 'die' but wondering how and when! Every single lazy person that I know is also kept.
Just knowing the apps i used to work on the KT to another company would be insane!
Hey new outsourcing company..look at this code base, yeah i know its screwed...good luck fixing it, and getting business sign off, and showing ADBB!
If they outsource IT again that will be funny.
When they insourced, they hired all the contractors from HP, thinking theyd do a better job if they were GM employees.
If they outsource again, thinking contractors will do a better job than employees, the contract agency (maybe even HP again!) will just hire the existing people.
It's the same people when they flip back and forth! God only knows why they think quality or responsiveness will change.
Most of the cuts were in IT. Looks like it will outsource its IT again.