We've seen it all too often: when a manager asks an employee to do their job, they're labeled as "abusive." But when did that become the new normal?
Today's workforce is so used to getting coddled and praised for doing the bare minimum that anything less than a superlative review is considered criticism. It's ridiculous.
It's clear that we no longer live in a world where people are accountable, but instead live in a world where all that matters is how someone feels and what they want.
It is not all their fault, it is more than that!
Sniff, sniff, sniff..,what’s that smell? I’d recognize that stench anywhere. TROLL!!!
Wanting acknowledgment for a job well done isn’t coddling. It’s called being a good leader. Too many of today’s management sycophants demand or expect blind obedience with no carrot, only stick.
So to the lousy manager who authored the original post, it is your fault, grow a pair, and stop whining about your direct reports who see through your incompetence.
Yes, it is all the manager’s fault.
Deal with it.
Good and bad managers are separate by the way they motivate and provide leadership. Every player in a team are driven slightly differently. Not everything has to run on fear, not everything has to turn into a mind game. I have worked for some good managers, but also work for some bad ones. Open dialog helps, just always remember, part of your salary is to manage upwards as well. I didn't say alot of your time should be allocated towards that, but know your manager and have them know you.
OP is obviously one of those boomers that XOM needs to get rid of. He obviously doesn’t understand our need for work life balance, need to work from home, that we are interested in and need promotions, we are interested in the environment and not ki----g the earth with more plastic, oil, gas, and chemicals that are poisoning the earth. He and others like him are blocking our progress. You had your turn, now it’s our turn, we deserve it. The boomers need to go, we will lead XOM into the future.
@ysf+1jJUGtJ8 I don't disagree with some of what you said, but then you parrot a quote by a billionaire which goes exactly to my point that these people will say and do anything to prevent you from realizing you should only work FOR money.
Yes, having a workplace that is not the hellscape XOM is definitely makes it more enjoyable. Sure, a sense of purpose is nice but what would give employees a sense of purpose more than being compensated for the full value of their work to the company?
But unless you would be fine working your new job for $0, it is not your primary driver. And if it wasn't Richard Branson's primary driver, he wouldn't be a billionaire.
Op got one thing right. We live in a world where all that matters is how DW feels and what he wants, which clearly is more$$$$ for himself. I spent 20 years at EM. There are plenty of young generation folks willing to work hard, IF the work is credited to them, and they are valued. Neither happens with the true worker bees any longer at EM.
So basically modern day good ol boy network. You know I'm white about that.
Obviously, money is important and is necessary to live. That wasn’t the point.
If money is the PRIMARY driver for why people show up everyday, your work environment ain’t so great and chances are - you don’t have the COMMITMENT and/or LOYALTY of a dedicated staff because as soon as a better offer with more money shows up, they’ll be gone faster than a Mobil Formula One race car. 🏎 💨
So now, Company, you’ve spent all this money on hiring and training a person and they’re gone because you treated them like sh-t. Or, the employee sees you treating others like sh-t and realize it’s just a matter of time before it’s their turn.
So just hire and train new people, again, right? And again, and again, and again, because people clue in that this company doesn’t value it’s employees. You invest not just money - but commitment in to your people - and they will commit to you.
To some people, making the most money possible isn’t the goal. Like me. I took a 50% paycut to get out of the toxicity of EM and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m now the RICHEST person I know. Not by money standards, but by happiness and feeling valued standards. Turns out you CAN put a price tag on that and for me it was $100K a year + bowing out 4 years before being RE. A lot of my old colleagues @ EM wouldn’t do that… they have been with the company for decades and established a life style where they NEED the salary of EM to sustain them. It’s a shame seeing them sell their souls and happiness for money, hanging on for the paycheck and pension and living in absolute misery because it is such a horrible environment and getting worse by the day.
Richard Branson recently wrote,
“…. many of these staff aren't motivated by the money. They are not solely concerned with generating money; many of these people enjoy the family-like atmosphere in their business and a shared sense of purpose that keeps them inspired and productive."
ExxonMobil should take note and follow suit; character and leadership development for managers; and accountability. They do a great job moving problems around instead of CANNING them!!!
I’d bet EM could make so much MORE money if they could / would just improve their management!
@tfw+1jJUGtJ8 I don't know about you but I sure as he-l wouldn't show up for no money. Work is a transaction, and corporations have convinced you otherwise to squeeze more labor out of you for less money.
Does the company pay you because at the end of the pay period, it makes them feel valued, appreciated, and like they made a difference and are important to you? No.
I have to disagree. It is not accountability...it's the behavior of managers. Bad behaviors has been systematically ignored as long as they can show $$$ value and there are no mechanism to report these behaviors. While there maybe a few good managers left, overall ExxonMobil scored the lowest in terms of management of its workforce. Agree with the previous posts...the bucks stops at the top and the top has failed its people.
Its been a frustrating over the years to see some of the worst possible individuals hired and promoted into roles with people responsibilities. It's even more frustrating to see power given to them on important decisions. During my time at the company, I have witnessed managers do the following:
The list goes on..
OP, Take your own advice and stop complaining. Seems like you lack your own accountability and are just wallowing in your feelings.
@tfw+1jJUGtJ8 Every point on point! Could not have put things better.
OP, most of the people you think are “today’s workforce”, likely Millenials and Zoomers that the gray-hairs love to hate, have already left. It’s people who are just like you that are the ones complaining the loudest. Boomer.
A good manager, like a good coach, can send you home at the end of the day feeling valued, appreciated, and that you >> YOU << were making a difference and are important. That message boosts morale, makes employees want to be there, want to work hard, want to be part of the team. Heck, I’ve been a workhorse for managers like that and I would work for a fraction of my salary just to feel SEEN and VALUED.
Human Nature 101.
The ability to create a positive environment absolutely starts at the top. Managers are the ones at the helm, driving the ship. Either they do it well, and build a successful team, or they don’t. Exxon has had some BAD “captains” over it’s history. Exhibit 1: Valdez. Exhibit 2: Exxodus. Exhibit 3: Bloomberg article. Exhibit 4: THIS forum.
Even in OIMS; #1 is about leadership. The “toxic” environment that exists now is because many of the wrong people were tapped to drive the ship and they lack fundamental people leadership skills. Some are definitely slotted in to positions where they don’t belong and can expeditiously ruin the morale and synergy of a team… or an entire company.
ExxonMobil has recruited incredibly bright people. But can they keep them?? If you have all these brilliant minds that are miserable, whose fault is that? The buck should stop at the top. But it won’t because at EM it’s ALL about the money.
People don’t just show up to work for money and if they do, that’s your first indication you have created a TOXIC environment. Other symptoms may include trying to figure out how to WFH as much as possible, qualify for disability, self-righteousness, defensiveness, and acting like a whiny baby.
Alas, that’s not any “new” generations’ fault… that is simply bad management!
‘Reversion to the mean’ on salary happened 5 years ago, when we changed from top-quintile to average industry benchmarking. So debatably, we are getting what we paid for.
What we are experiencing in today's environment is called "reversion to the mean."
As a person that has been in the workforce for 30+ years, I remember the days of working my assets off! Now the newbies have gone in the opposite direction.
When we have the next economic slowdown, things will revert back to the mean, and life will be a little more balanced.
OP has got to be a boy or someone disconnected from where the work is done. I am sorry but I disagree having lived through some very bad people slotted in management positions