Thread regarding Medtronic Inc. layoffs

Watched a documentary on Netflix about the Boeing organization. The parallels are unreal.

With such stellar policies and procedures ... it is really hard to believe why there are so many product recalls and complaints which bubble to the surface every year.

Whistle-blowers are given an expedited retirement.

Uh-huh.

@OP I would also add keep records of your positive performace evaluations and other accolades in case you find yourself being brought to HR because of “poor performance.”

@c5 I can only hope…….

I had colleagues in 2021 who were RIFd after calling out management for ignoring test data on the Valiant Navion thoracic stent graft that showed poor stent design, fractures, endoleaks and imminent failure. Management under pressure to push the product toward approval squashed the complaints. When the product failed in clinical trials, including patient death and injury, they scapegoated some of those engineers on the design team who were told to push forward with the design, and they were RIFd. The managers who pushed the product forward until it was recalled? One became an individual contributor for a few years and then was offered a Medtronic management position. Two others advanced to director level positions.

Retaliation happens, and leadership protects its own. This is not unique to Medtronic.

On the positive side, HR personnel are being steadily replaced by the AI bot, HRMony. They have only ever been in full support of the corporation and have been tireless in defending every unsavoury thing the machine promulgates. If your cards are marked, you are heading for the door and it is just a matter of time until they expel you.

I tend to do my job, keep my mouth shut and collect a paycheck and stay off HRs radar. Sounds like you were put on a PIP .... Start looking for a new position elsewhere. IMO.

@bf
You can submit a complain through voice your concern from your personal computer and not use the internal network. Just Google it. Provide specific examples of retaliation without giving away who you are. Make it clear the behavior is a risk.

@bd to be honest I am feeling very uncomfortable even reaching out to concern line, do they actually do take action and investigate cases? Not even sure it would make a difference, the upcoming RIF in a couple of months doesn't help :( I have started already applying for jobs. Depressing

If you can help it, avoid HR at all
Costs. They are just as incompetent as our leadership. Use the voice your concern line.

I’ve personally seen two colleagues pushed out of their jobs after they tried to get help from HR. Both were hardworking engineers. Within months of raising concerns, they were gone.

It left me with a troubling impression: when someone has support from the top, the usual rules may not apply—and speaking up can make things worse instead of better. In those cases, HR seemed to accelerate the process rather than protect the people who asked for help.

No one should have to choose between keeping their job and staying silent about what’s happening at work.

I have seen this happen more than once. It is not in your best interest unless you check the right boxes.

@OP The same happened to me as well in Surgical.