I've been following this site for a while, just to keep up with what was once a great company! It's just a couple of months until 60 years from when I started. And 22 years since I retired! I know that a lot of these posts are trolls or just plain troublemakers. However, some of these comments are right on the nose! How do I know? Until two weeks ago my two children were long-term employees; one in Underwriting, one in Claims. I've heard about the miserable goings on in Claims for several years. He did quality work (according to his superior), but was told that quality was meaningless now. Only quantity. His life became a living he-l. To the point that he retired, much earlier than he wanted to, or could afford to. He said that it was either that or a complete nervous breakdown. You all know that the family atmosphere that got us to #1 is long gone. And I completely understand that changes, even unpopular ones, have to be made at times. But, the Claims atmosphere is simply inhuman. Profit at the expense of the employee's well-being will cost the company dearly at some point. Thanks for letting me vent, and good luck to all of you!
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Lets reminisce. Meet you at Lubys cafeteria at 5:30. Right after lawrence welk concludes
Maybe they can hire Phil Mickelson as our spokesperson. They might learn something!!
The age of acquarious.
I left SF almost 20 years ago and went to a much better run, and stable, competitor. I am now retired from the industry altogether and am enjoying life. To those of you who are miserable and want to move on, there is most definitely life after SF. Before anyone knew that I was leaving, I attended my last claims management meeting where it was literally said, "All of you were promoted for your claims expertise, but we don't need that anymore". I don't think the DCS who uttered those words really believed what he said, but his buffoon boss sure did. I knew that I made the correct decision at that moment and was grateful.
@5txe. You have absolutely no respect. Yup. A lot has changed and not for the better. There's much more to life than being a college chump who thinks all from life comes from a freaking computer. Give respect to those who've been there done that. You may learn something besides being a smart a--!
Whatever. The world has changed since the vietnam war. Thanks for your opinions Really relevant (sarcastic)
Hey Captain Literal, when folks call the place Slave Farm it's an exaggeration to make a point. Nobody really means slavery to the extent of the horrors that African Americans endured for centuries. It is akin to slavery in ideology but not in physical brutality.
And like a slave laborer, State Farm is there!
Agreed, State Farm has absolutely no problem each day sending out an email asking for just a little more, I need more work, I need more overtime, I need you to clean up the mess, I need you to be all in...flexible, engaged, recharge...need you to be perfect....blah blah blah...they need extra from everyone! Then when an employee asks for something the response is... we do not owe you anything other than a paycheck or you hear you are lucky to have a job! Your right, you owe me a paycheck and I owe you the minimum to keep that paycheck coming in and nothing more. You want it to be all about business and that is a two way street! Upper leadership just hope employees don't take the same attitude towards them they take towards the masses. My suggestion is to do the minimum, nothing more or less! Do not volunteer for overtime unless they make it mandatory for everyone so the slackers do not get a pass as they always do hiding in a team environment. It is just business but make sure it is not just a one way relationship.
@4niq. Bitter? H-ll yes and rightfully so! Entitled? H-ll yes! They gave us nothing. We worked for it. SF gives you nothing, you work for it. Don't give me this cr-p they give us something for nothing. At SF you are entitled to nothing unless you are in "the elitist chosen one group.'
Bitter and entitled comments.
I laugh every time I read the slave comment every year or so. Either those making the comment are so d-mb they don’t truly understand what is a slave. Or they are too stupid to leave because they are not one.💀💀
@3swp. Well said! Spot on! They will claim the "open door policy" but that's junk and we all know it will be used against you creating even more fear. Spot on with leadership. It's the same as DC. They sit in their ivory towers living large while they refer to the folks that handle the day to day business as minions and kids. SF will never be what it once was that all were respected regardless of job title. They have a long way to go before they will ever get that respect back. So very sad.
SF has created an atmosphere of fear. Fear of questioning anything lest you be labeled a non-conformance (and then gigged on performance review). I worked at SF 25 years, then Liberty Mutual (Safeco). LM welcomed challenging questions (unlike SF), their mngt vetted their direction & goals and had more of a bring-it-on and let's discuss. In the end, you may not agree with LM decisions but at least you felt listened to & respected. Even their Unit Managers (SM) level were involved in many claims level discussion.
Regarding an atmosphere of fear at SF. TM's & SM's (and above) are spineless to stand up and say 'that doesn't make sense' or 'numbers don't support the theory'. Many mngt level are simply riding this out until they retire. Shame on them. And shame on SF mngt that they don't feel brave enough to discuss their decisions openly.
@3ven. Sports analogy. They are not even a team! From the head office all the wY down to the player they have no respect for each other. From the head office all the way down to the players most can't even pass the dr-g tests nor the background checks. It's a bunch of wannabes.
When I tell others how bad it is at SF, invariably the response it then why doesn't SF fire the CEO. I tell them I don't know.
It's difficult to explain the changes at SF to friends and family so I use a sports analogy.
I tell them imagine you're the Lakers, Celtics or Bulls. Champions. Competing at the highest level, every year. Best owner, front office, players and fans. Then you get traded to Clippers perennial lovers, Noone wants to play there and rated the worst franchise in sports history. I tell them that's what's happened at SF then they understand.
SLA-AVE FARM
Bean counter running a service oriented business like a widget manufacturing plant, you're a cog in a souless machine now. No wonder it's called Slave Farm now.
Just one remark from a retired employee. Accountants never cease to amaze me on how they play the numbers and don't take into consideration what created those numbers. People make numbers not accounting forms. Once an acountant learns the non diversifiable risk they will be in a better position than those who only look at diversible risk. For example, employees are non diversifiable risk. They are not expenses in contrast to agents. When employees are seen as assets, they are no longer expenses and generate more income. The reason I speak of this is to merely point out retiree you and yours did not see themselves as an expense rather as an asset. Once seen as an expense, the company has lost its true mission and vision. As a person who has degrees in business, I have studied many businesses who wandered away from their mission and vision. Some failed, some too many years to get back their trust, and very few stayed in the market.
I would be ashamed of myself if I had employees to spent as much time in their life as they did with their loved ones and not give them the respect they so rightfully deserve.
OP did the one in underwriting quit too? I used to be in that department and it was a nightmare. They use outdated technology and there are so much to learn it’s ridiculous. I eventually quit because I couldn’t stand it anymore and it was crushing my soul. There’s a reason they are always hiring for claims and underwriting positions - because people can’t stand it and keep leaving.
Yes 25+ years and it's hard to believe what SF has become. The company did need to make some changes but went about it all the wrong way. Lying, cheating, manipulating or creating a horrible work environment so people will leave, and generally seeing its employees as a burden is just not the way to do it. Eventually all of these companies/leaders will pay the price as it's corporate America! If you make a deal with the Devil eventually he will come collect and that is what is going to happen at State Farm. I'm respectful of everyone beliefs but personally believe we will all have to answer for what we have done and how we conducted our lives. Gives me solace! I always keep that in mind as so many of our leaders at State Farm have turned the other way when things were happening and peoples lives were being destroyed and didn't do anything or were a part of the decision. Most just scared for their jobs and lives so I get it. State Farm will not be anywhere on my tombstone just want people to remember me as a decent, hardworking person, how lived their life with dignity and respect. Sad to say when a lot of Execs have to account, it may get pretty hot for them real quick! I just spent time with a SF retiree and the best advice they gave me was to get out as soon as you can and live you life. They retired a year ago and said they are just now starting to feel normal and don't wake up worrying about work. They lost 30lb, got off their high blood pressure medicine and look 10 years younger. Sad really people let that place take them down that road, myself included. Per the other OP, thanks for sharing.
Sorry to hear about your son’s frustrations and challenges. Thanks for your years of service and help in building SF. Enjoy your well deserved retirement.
What time is the nurse bringing you jello salad?
33 years and retired too. The company is not even close to being recognizable. The company has lost its values and ethics. They have forgotten us. They don't care about the people who built the company. The "all about me now" attitude is out of control and is chaos to say the least. At one point in my career, we looked up to and idolized retirees. No more. Kick you out the door and change the numbers on accounting forms. I agree with change but profit off their assets by considering them expenses is borderline criminal in my opinion. Remember! At one time it was all about us. Today, I'm afraid it's all about me up and down the rank and file at the company. Sad! Your rant is justified. Think of how many have had to leave their family believing in what once was isn't now. Until "they" look in the mirror, be truthful, and realize "all about me" are failures, State Farm will be lost. Be patient. The wheel turns.
I am a second generation employee where my mother worked at State Farm for 42 years and retired in 2014. Even before then when I started back in 2003 fresh out of high school she warned me I wouldn’t be able to retire at SF. I thought she was smoking something back then but she saw where the company was changing for the worse. Ive only been here 18 years but it feels like 40 and I would NOT dare even recommend my children do an internship at this place. I seriously wouldnt be surprised if they start going the temp agency route in a few years. They did it in a bunch of LOC’s for a long time.