Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

RUN FOREST RUN….!!!!!!!

I came here to ask the same question, this looks like the common answer to the attrition and it sounds like I’m in the same stage of the process. Here’s what I’m considering.

1) Make sure the compensation is comparable. Do the math when it comes to benefits and your take home pay.

2) How will your responsibilities change?

3) Does this increase your job security?

I don’t have the answers to these but it should be part of the conversation before you convert.

I converted from contractor to employee, and after 8 years I left on PIP/PIL.

Why it didn't work for me:

I suffered a severe depression for about 2 years. This was never forgiven.

A coworker was manipulative and a liar who poisoned the well.

My family wanted to live in one place. This tied me to a plant, and my initial sponsor moved on, and I had a new manager every year.

My skillsets, while necessary for ExxonMobil were underappreciated, and had I been willing to move, I could have seen a 100% raise by moving. This made it especially hard to be enthusiastic about all the XOM BS that they expect you to be happy about.

It's hard to find ways to reduce costs and drive impact at a plant unless you control budget.

Trust your gut.

If you're asking, you should probably find another job because you already have reservations. That doubt will make it harder for you to act like the enthusiastic ladder-climber that XOM likes.

Best wishes, hope you make a decision that works for you.

Keep this in mind, if you refuse, you may soon be pushed out the door. Beaumont refinery did this to all the union people they thought were worth keeping before the lockout: "Go company or get knocked down to the lowest we can knock you." One Control Room Supervisor found himself driving a forklift and left after a month of all the worst shifts they were allowed to assign him.

Also keep in mind that performance expectations at XOM shift. You will eventually be ranking against the people that rank you... If you are a competent and competitive person, you may be great, but if you don't like competition, you will eventually get pushed out via PIP, but it does sound like you have a sponsor, and that is good.

It's a no lose situation for you. Get converted and get the insurance and all the other benefits that come with. Obviously the package needs to be similar to what you are making right now.

If you are worried about being let go in the near future due to PIP, etc then as a contractor you are in the same boat right now. They can ki-l contractor positions in a heartbeat. Quickest way to adjust Headcount demands is through contractor terminations. So in a way you may be slightly more secure as an employee.

And if you leave after being an employee, you can add the Exxon contractor experience with the same role, so now your resume will have the Exxon employee, and not contractor, not that it matters.that much. For a technical role.

I am an engineer who worked upstream EMDC projects. I converted from contractor to employee at the age of 49. At the time my sup told me that I was one of their oldest hires, ha!

Hiring on at EM was a good move for me. I worked until I was 65 years and left with a very nice retirement package. And yes, my ranking did drop slightly over time but I never really paid much attention to it.

My fear would be being used as a “number” in the rank process to fill in the bottom quotas. As others have mentioned, for some reason experienced hires have always seemed to looked upon as second class citizens.

Just a recommendation, do not share essential knowledge to EM people. Use you knowledge to get the job if you want to be a EM employee, because if they learn what you do and teaching them what you know maybe you will not be hire. They treat you kind because you are giving them what they need until now. This recommendation is not for you, it is for all the contractors.

I've been on both sides of the fence a couple of times. Started as Exxon employee for 9 years, quit and went to work for an engineering company. Wound up contracting at Exxon about half of the time. Decided it would be nice to have health insurance when I retired, so went back as employee for 10 years. Retired early in 2017 then worked as contractor for 3 more years.

At this point, it is difficult to see making it to 15 years of service unless you already have 10 years in. So you will probably never get to annuitant status. So it comes down to compensation and job enjoyment. I would assume the overall compensation is similar. If the offer to work direct is far better, then accept it and ride the money train.

However if the overall compensation is similar, think about what you enjoy about work. If you enjoy doing productive work and making a real contribution you will get to do more of that as a contractor - and you will receive more appreciation for it. If you enjoy facilitating, leveraging the work of others, going to meetings, making presentations, and are enthusiastic about discussing using crosswalks and handrails, then being an employee is right for you.

I was always happier in the contract roles. Less bureaucracy, less nonsense, no ranking sessions, more time to do productive work. If you are a contractor then management appreciates productive work, if you are an employee it is a sign that you aren't good at delegating.

Yes, convert. I converted and it was a great decision. I worked as a contractor for 4 years and I’ve been with the company for 4 years.

Convert. Next year you will be on this site posting messages 🤣

There are lots of people who have had great careers converting from contractors, I would not worry about that at all. It's really a question is this a good fit for you.

Noooooo!!!!! Don’t fall for the trap!!

If you believe you can weather the uncertainty here then yes, go for it.

I've known a few talented contractors that were converted and are still around to this day.

A lot of folks here will tell you to jump ship now or that if you can't find another job at this very moment you probably don't have enough skills to go elsewhere.

I believe that these individuals are just as problematic as the toxic managers that are in place.

If I were you, I would take the conversion and ride it out for some time while saving what you can in case of an unexpected PIP or outsourcing. Personally, I've turned down a few job offers simply because I know I can withstand this environment several more years (provided it doesn't improve) while gaining additional experience to my resumé.

You can easily make this situation work for you as a positive instead of the opposite.

Good luck.

You're going to get some pretty biased responses on a board like this. I'd keep that in mind as you consider. I also think a lot of it depends on you and your situation. Some things to consider:

Will converting enable you to live where you want to live; e.g., stay put or move somewhere more desirable?
Are you prepared to take part in the forced ranking system and all that it entails?
Are you more of an individual contributor or a "contributes through others" shudder type of person? The former could potentially struggle in the XOM culture.
Are you OK potentially doing work that is almost entirely only _internally_ relevant and not very marketable outside of XOM?
Do you feel like a future at XOM will be stable, enjoyable, and satisfying with regard to the type of work you do? Also keep in mind how this can/will change as your life changes (e.g., kids, marriage, etc.)

If you are not good enough to leave. Take it.