I think we all are being taken for a ride.
Regulators: They are tired of dealing with us. Prior management was disrespectful and arrogant, angering the wrong people. Charlie has fallen on the sword and presented a plan, any plan. Regulators can now soon say “they did their job” and move on. (We, the employees on the inside, can see what a mess this place really is and that it’s all just a dog and pony show.)
Shareholders: They are falling for the dog and pony show, the few positive articles that “WFC is back!”, and are only too happy and too quick to throw their money back in. Hoping that they can somehow get back some of the money they lost by trusting us in the first place. (“Don’t be sore, buy more!” “Average down!” “That new expensive management team has magically made all those nasty problems disappear.”)
Employees: WFC can not properly manage the business with 265,000 employees. They have everyone convinced that it’s because there’s too many of us doing the work and clogging it all up. Fewer of us doing the work is going to make it all so much leaner and easier to manage. Therefore, 25% of us must go. Huh? Could you run that past me again? Cut my department of 20 employees down to 15, and it will be easier? The systems haven’t been fixed. The communication hasn’t been fixed. Our outdated Policies and Procedures haven’t been fixed. And now, my teammates are in “Every man for themselves” mode. Who is buying this?
Forgive me, but I’m not seeing it. People love a comeback story and are too quick to trust. I’m not falling for it. Good luck to those who do.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.