Thread regarding Chevron Corp. layoffs

Chevron says they want to be the "Most Admired" company and "Employees are our greatest asset" and I can go on and on. Lots of hollow slogans. Oh, and I almost forgot "Zero is Attainable"... well, they still seem to be working on that one. Last person out the door, please turn off the lights.

I was part of the February ROM. It was horrible and absolutely degrading how people were treated and lied to. Yes, the "D Day" was HEAVILY secured!!! It split apart friends and broke down trust. People cried daily. Great atmosphere!!! What made it worse was management gave their practiced canned answers when asked anything....or they flat out lied like my fiormer head boss.. she was a sad excuse of a leader. No backbones needed when you have consultants doing your job for you. Consultants who don't know you from a hole in the ground deciding your fate. Professionalism at its best!

I was ROM'ed in Febuary and was told my 45 day redeployment period would be in the office, not at home. I was free to look for work outside the company and also post for jobs in the Spring PDC. At the same time, I continued to network to find any internal job that might pop up. As my last days came near, I packed up my personal belongings and took a little bit home each day. On my last day, my workgroup threw me a small private farewell. I'm appreciative for that.

Why are posters on this thread commenting about getting fired in the midst of layoffs? Technically, on your resume, to future employers, and to the unemployment office, they are two entirely different things. Confuse the two if you like at your own peril.

Walked out the same day

Anonymous116925 is incorrect unless they are referring to how things went down in AMBU. The black cars and security staff is correct based on the multiple people I have spoken with regarding what really went down. To be absolutely fair there was advanced indications that some would not go quietly so safety measures were put in place to protect others in the chance someone decided they were not going or hand nothing to live for. I think the sniper thing is hyperbole and seriously far fetched. No company, however troubled or dysfunctional that seeks to be respected, is publicly listed, and wants to avoid a PR nightmare is going to put people on a roof with anything other than binoculars and walkie-talkies.

I've been through several ROMS and here is how the previous ones have gone down.

• Official ROM Announcement Email.

• Townhall to tell you how tough the decision was and to tell you that Chevron's future is bright. At the townhall they'll say something about links going out to a website that positions will be posted on and when they will be posted.

• Depending on the ROM the dates for all 3 rounds may or may not be given.

• BU Townhall - you'll hear the same cr@p as before parroted by someone who is a shoe-in for their ROM round 1 position.

• Department Townhall - Same info, different schmo.

• The new org charts are fully published.

• The jobs are posted. Things get REALLY quiet on your floor. Some leave early.

• Your department of 10 starts talking awkwardly and cautiously about the jobs they want to apply for.

• Things get weird with your colleagues now that their competitors.

• You start making calls to managers of jobs you want to post for.

• You speak with your TL and let them know what you are posting for.

• You post for 3 jobs and create a list of alternatives you share with your TL.

• Round 2 or 3 occurs. People trade you like your name is Django.

• You sit and wait for a phone call that gets rescheduled a few times. (Usually on your 9/80)

• You get the call from your TL or someone he/she traded you to, wipe your chin, and give the only answer anyone with an inkling of self-preservation gives. "why of course I'll accept this new position!"

• You are sworn to secrecy not to reveal your status. No one pays attention to that edict, and people either have a grin or a 1000 yard stare.

• Things get even more awkward with token platitudes towards those left standing and going away lunches.

And that's it.

Here's something that will comfort you that no one likes to talk about during ROMS. As a TL you're better off taking a sh1t employee that is deadwood than give up a position and budgetary dollars. That's why deadwood can coast to retirement at Chevron.

I went the thru the ROM at AMBU and it was the most unorganized process I have ever seen. They did know what company property employees had. When telling day occurred. Yes Telling day. Sounds like a kindergarten term which was a prime example of the maturity level of Human resources and management. BCG was incompetent because they did know the company and you were told that you had to work until February 12. Great morale booster knowing what friends or incompetent sole got selected for your job.

The security company is Huffmasters in Houston. They are several IQ points below and passive compared to Blackwater, BTW, Blackwater has been reorganized and that name is no longer used.

Interesting you mentioned SWA. Many many employees talked about it in the two previous ROM's at the BU's as it is broke. When you see the absurd choices a time out should take place for an explanation. This is supported from the top and ignore, smile and say the right people will get in the right spot is truly the mantra even when you get a finance team lead that has never seen a rig or frac crew put in a drilling and completions team lead position. You will know if your getting fired. It will become very clear and I am surprised with nothing to loose these folks did not use SWA.

Just curios, wonder what would happen if someone threw in a Stop Work Authrity card?

The sooner the better to get your stuff out. You have a 25% chance to be gone. But it won't happen by the 27th. They roll out the org charts and explain how the process of applying for the org chart jobs takes place. D day is when they announce the decisions of who got the positions. You will know that date as it will be communicated.

Great advice Fatso. YES THEY DO TARGET EMPLOYEES THAT THEY THINK WILL GO POSTAL. From talking to a coworker who just went through the Rom at a BU he said it made no sense who they thought was emotionally unstable. He said the most passionate people trying to truly fix the unfixable got tagged mostly. Got fired then were told they were unstable.

You will be escorted out and your belongings sent to you later. Pack up now, don't worry about appearances. Contact an attorney who deals with big gorillas like Chevron.

If you appear to have the potential to go postal, you will receive a special sendoff. Don't be foolish and threaten your smug, backstabbing managers. They hope you do threaten them. You will be in deep dodo. You have until July 27 to put your things in order.

Good luck.

Oh shitski. That's a slam dunk calling the news. I showed this board to a coworker that was in AMBU and now in Houston. He said this is all factual. WTF with black water and men with rifles on the buildings.....that would make great new coverage. The stations would eat that up! My coworker also said everyone was asking if there would be security after the layoff day. As in do you think a person would show up that day and cap someone or maybe weight a few days lol. A ton of security on a Thursday and none on the Friday.

Must be the crappy way they treat their employees in upstream. Wish I was working for downstream.

Black water security, snipers, really?

In 2010 after Accelerate Downstream, the group I was in laid off about 5 people. They stayed on for about 60 days after they were given notice and on their last day, they turned their badges into their supervisor and quietly left with all their belongings. No drama.

Quick question, did anyone during these ROMS call the local news stations? I'd love to see that on TV, people have a right to know what's happening in their towns.

Don't believe the B.S.? That's EXACTLY how it was handled in the last two BU's. Just call someone in Pittsburgh or Calgary and ask?

I went through the ROM in AMBU the original post IS 100% ACCURATE. Chevron brought in black water security. There were 18 E class black Mercedes sedans parked in the front for intimidation. I asked why are all those cars in front and the answer was to drive home people who had to turn in their company trucks because they just got layed off. Ummmm you could not get a Ford Taurus? They are laying 200 people off and they are going to drive people home in a $100,000 car? Oh and don't forget the snipers located on adjacent roof tops, yes they had sharp shooters on roof tops. Honest to God! I know this sound like bull shit but its the truth!. I hope others that were in AMBU chime in that CHEVRON DOES TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES LIKE THIS! BTW I WAS COACHED BY BCG ON HOW TO LAY OFF PEOPLE at AMBU. Yes Chevron can not even use their own HR department. They brought in Management and a BCG rep and proceeded to instruct us on to fire people. I moved in the spring PDC to Houston and now have to go through another one of these. It's bad enough firing people but how Chevron goes about it it's unconscionable

I went through the ROM in AMBU.

The post by 116925 is pretty accurate. If you do not get a position in the ROM you cannot access the building. You better get the things you want out of the office prior to going to find out if you have a job or not. In some cases, individuals were allowed to stay on in a transition role and work until their temporary role was over.

Interesting how we keep getting these people on the board who say don't listen to x, but yet they refuse to back it up or provide any contradictory information themselves.

Don't believe the BS posted on these boards. Talk to someone on the job. Chevron does not operate in the way described by Anonymous116925.

Us young guys are watching how Chevron is abusing it's workforce.

Each department i.e. Finance, HES, HR etc, will be presented with a new org chart. Dependent on pay grade determines when you 'apply" for three jobs. Once selections have been made everyone will be called into an office of Chevrons...cough cough BCG's choosing. Everyone is emailed a time to show up at the building and there will be a ton of outside contracted security. You will be escorted to a room by predetermined "managers" and security personnel where you either get a "package" layed off, or told that you got a position. If you are layed off, your badge has been disabled and you are escorted out of the building. You are not allowed to go to your office. So you are given notice in person, but if you do not get a position, you can no longer access any Chevron building.