It is crazy how many people left WF long time ago but they were hurt so much they still hold grudge. I am one of them, I left four years ago and I still talk about many bad experiences I had while I was working there. I still have recruiters ask me about positions at WF and I say no way... It just triggers nightmares. WF people were good but the mgmt messed up everything.
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The OP's sentiments hold true. I drive by the branch I worked at on the way to my new job and get a sickening feeling in my gut every time.
Agree with OP. Wells was overall a bad experience. There were some good years (I worked there for 20 years) and a few good people, but it was incredibly toxic the last couple years. Glad I am gone… it was like a bad marriage to an abusive partner. No one can understand what we’ve been through except other Wells employees.
CS is not here to "improve the culture" despite his allusions to such. The people at Bank of Mellon were warning WF employees when he was hired about how they went from friendly almost family like, to super toxic, throw everyone under the bus. CS listed the same in person "collaboration" when trying to end their remote work. Most of his ideals are backwards and outdated late 90's work atmosphere. He is a hatchet man, hired to be the face of the layoffs. He even got rid of "team member" because it was too friendly and unprofessional... but "collaboration!"
Sadly, even the OCC stated other big banks were guilty of similar practices but they weren't going to name them, they had their pound of flesh in Wells Fargo and are still beating us as the example to the rest. Things are devolving everywhere in the areas that weren't sales scandal plagued before. Even the bell curve performance reviews are outdated.
There was much good at Wells after the sales scandal, and what little there was is fast disappearing.
I can concur with the OP. Left Nov 2020. Was hired in the branch (unbeknownst to me at the time) to replace a BM in 2015 for unethical sales tactics. 3 months in the sales scandal went public. Talk about a bait and switch. To be fair, I got out off the branch life at Wells. So I’m grateful for that. But looking back I can honestly say to anyone reading this. GET OUT!! Get out as soon as you can. Employers are hiring and want quality talent. If you are willing to do the work, employers are willing to pay more and treat you better. I doubled my pay, WFH permanently now and no longer deal with fear tactics with coaching or leadership leading from behind. The biggest takeaway I got from WF was seeing first hand failed leadership who leads from behind while not taking ownership for their terrible decisions.
Glad I am gone even after many years there. I didn’t respect manager at end, he kept his favorites even though number showed me the strongest.
I come to this site from time to time for entertainment, but most recently more so to appreciate how much negativity has left our company. Most of you posting here did WF a favor by leaving (however it was done does not matter) as our company improved a little bit each time one of you left. I do believe however there are only about 10 of you who regularly post this cr-p and you have an IQ of about 20 and you enjoy spreading negativity and misery.
Good Bye and Good Riddance !!
I left Wells about 10 years ago, then returned (Totally different group and role) 4 years later, just in time for the fake accounts scandal to blow up shortly thereafter. While my “before” experiences weren’t the highlights of my career, there were a lot of positives and those roles were good adds to my resume. Since returning, I’ve seen one of the most iconic, respected brands turned into a laughingstock - for good reason. It’s been a slow-moving train wreck, with weak, ineffectual leadership being replaced by weak, morally bankrupt leadership. Org changes with little rhyme or reason are pretty much BAU and dysfunction is off the charts. Since Charlie came aboard, I think his one big accomplishment has been ensuring that the level of misery is universally high, and is spread far and wide across the company. I, along with so many here, am looking to get out. Whatever relief I feel when that happens, I realistically know I’ll have some PTSD in my future.
@hko
You are mostly correct, but I would say that even a complaining culture can be used for self improvement.
The complainers feel.powerless and in large part they are, constrained by a hidden agenda, turned around by diametrically opposed efforts and constant reorgs.
It does disservice to paint this as simply a situation of shut up and lean into your problems because they truly cannot.
If we empower the people with forming more of the solution, recognize their brilliance as they solution and share those solutions to others to collaborate effectively and share how strategy was supported in that success, people will get on board.
Right now, we just wait for the chaotic announcement of the day or the new JPM leader and just wonder what it all means.
I quit. Best decision I ever made for myself and my family. The hours and work load were ki----g me. Found a new job rather quickly and I’ve never looked back. My advice to people is to get out.
The fact I'm still coming back here to post my experience affirms the OP. Truly, one of, if not 'the' worst work experience of my life.
@ xow+1bXbkLYp
What made you leave what sounds like a promising career for a cog role? Was it the size of the company? Were you trying to move into financial space? I’m genuinely curious how you got tricked.
CS is trying to change the culture of this place so that the toxicity everyone is complaining of is removed. Yet, most complainers on this site do not want any change. They're used to being miserable. If I was in his(CS) shoes, I'd do the same thing. That may also mean my job goes away. It's actually not his fault, it's the fault of former executives that had zero thought on the future and the current middle and lower management that has been yet to be replaced. And almost all of them need to be replaced. Everyone's anger is misplaced. As stated, past leadership is at fault and if you have not kept your own skill set up to date or left the company, that's on you. Own it and your life will change for the better no matter if you stay or leave.
WF was toxic way before CS.
Don't kid yourself -- both leadership much of staff st*nks.
Delusions of grandeur built on house of cards.
I was tricked into coming here and went from leading teams of people on enterprise projects worth millions to a cog in a minor function of a minor team.
I lost so much and the atrophy I have experienced in leading and staying current has affected my interviews.
Its a horrible thing for several recruiters to note that you had a career that was on fire then there is wells.... what happened?
I am prepping to leave now thanks to a recruiter who saw the experiences I had prior to wells as valuable, but I will always regret coming here.
@tec, you never met me. I have only good things to say. I'd come back in a heartbeat.
Same, have been at a fintech for a little while. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t schadenfreude in it for me coming here, as well as morbid curiosity, sympathy, justifying my own decision etc. I try to constructively help people off the ship here, but reading some of this is grim.
It’s Charlie fault. LOL
OP you're spot on buddy. I work for Bank of America and I'm on here every night to trash this place. I want my BAC stock options to go up.
Can’t agree more with the OP! I was severed 6 years ago and still have strong negative feelings about the screwed up management of this company. Very hard to explain unless you have experienced working there first hand.
I work at bank another bank, they pay me to come post bad comments on here. Wells Fargo is our #1 threat.
It’s like any abusive relationship. Once you’re out it takes a while to process the experience and put it behind you.
The damage doesn’t just disappear.
Worst career experience, ever. I have not ever met one person who has ever worked here who has had a good thing to say about their experience.