I wouldn't like to exaggerate, there were also some very good things, but now that I think about it, most of the time I despised working here. It’s interesting how much people can suffer before deciding that it’s completely unnecessary and that it’s high time they look for some better place for themselves.
I don’t even consider the layoff the worst experience here because I finally got rid of the stress.
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Couldn't agree more Paul Allaire and every CEO after him was a disaster.
Allaire -The Thoman Fiasco, need I say more/ The whole reorg pf the sale force into various industry alignments. Remember stock options and how they promised the company would grow by 15% per year since we would transform into a "services" company? Remember the XBS shell game? Pay everyone, give away supplies and equipment and create stupid. step lease contracts that could only end in bankruptcy? Does anyone know what a "side letter" is? When I heard of the recent Wells Fargo scandal, it reminded exactly of how Xerox operated during this period, the fraud and stupidity were both systemic and rewarded.
Anne Mulcahy - Igen too expensive and late to market. Phaser technology purchase from Techtronix. Where are all of those wax based printers now? The Xerox Agent Program. How many are actually left? Remember the huge investment in the SOHO market? She also sold off assets right and left.
Ursula Burns - ACS buy high and sell low. Global Imaging - let's just buy distribution? Xerox finally figured out how the other manufacturers were distributing product by moving to a dealership model. Did they really have to buy all of those businesses or did she just lack imagination. Continued sell-off of engineering assets.
There is a reason the Icahn's (sharks) of the world came circling. Piss poor leadership created the environment for them. Xerox squandered billions of dollars on stupid decisions. All companies make mistake, Xerox has made far to many to outrun them.
I worked there for almost 25 years and greatly appreciated the people, the training. and the education I received during that time. Xerox is a sad shadow of itself now. Good luck to those who remain.
Good people paying for the greed and total ineptness of Senior Management.Started under Paul Allaire but taken to the max by Ursula Burns..
Long ago contractor for EDS when they ran the network. All comments about Ursula and ACS are true indeed and EDS was a horror. My term ended but the employees themselves were wonderful people burdened with beaurocracy run mad, poor management and stress. I have nothing but good memories of THESE PEOPLE but little else. Oh, Morris Plains NJ and Woodcliff Lake NJ offices came under my support assignments for computers.
Can you imagine if healthcare weren't tied to employment how many more people would probably up and leave? I left on my own but only because I could see the writing on the wall after a period of 2 years, 8 people in my department were let go. There is very little incentive to stay until the end of something for a lousy 8 weeks of severence with 2 weeks health coverage. That said, I loved working at Xerox until Ursula and even then for a few more years. It was only about 2017 where something took a downward turn and when the ACS split happened, that was just the end. But the people were always fantastic and though I am in a better situation, not every place has that feeling where you really like your peers as Xerox did. But it is definitely not the end to be laid off. Change is still hard.
My experience was the resentment of not being given more advance notice especially during a pandemic. I agree that the stress level was the worst I experienced in my whole career. What I don't understand is how there are layoffs but I don't see the company doing much of reassigning instead of laying off. They prefer to hire in new people and or give favor to their favorites.
I have to concur. Being let go did not end my world. My first 10 years there were fairly positive. I was advancing in the right direction to the career I was working toward. The last 3 years were hell. 3 directed reassignments in 3 years. The last one was into a position I wasn't even qualified for. I was eventually rebadged to HCL as part of Project Own It and was let go last fall. When I got my 60 day notice, it was not unexpected but there was an initial depression and fear of change. By the time my last day came it was a big sigh of relief and the monkey was off my back.
Agree with your sentiments overall but If you experienced, “some very good things” I believe you’re fortunate. Without a doubt x**** is one of the worst companies ever.