Thread regarding State Farm Insurance layoffs

My reply to all this: Stay away from anyone or anything including a business who says: "take are of yourself" "It is a business decision" AND "It's all about me." SF needs to remember if you have the values money will follow. NOT Money creates values. SF no longer has the ethics nor the morals it once had in my opinion. Once that happens, a company is doomed to fail. If you preach "shared values" and do opposite Karma will take its toll. SF is no longer a career job and with that service goes right along with it. After 33 years, I came to truly understand Popeye: That's all I can stand cause I can't stand no more!

I was a 3/3 employee who proved my loyalty and mobility by moving my family 3 times in 22 years. Eventually they kept sending me to Arizona to "share my knowledge". They were trying to replace my years of experience and expertise with word tracks read by zombies. I read the writing on the wall and left for a BETTER opportunity. Now my friends that stayed are being rewarded for their loyalty with demotions and QTD (Qualified Termination Dates). I would not recommend State Farm to anyone as an employer or insurance company.

Upper management and especially Tipsord have ZERO credibility or trust from the employee base now. They have ruined a great company and would deserve a union. Sure some positions had to be eliminated but they could have done it much differently and more through attrition. Everything has been reduced to numbers and they act like we are on the verge of bankruptcy. Watch the downward spiral continue. Hopefully I'll be retired before they take away the pension but I doubt it.

Holy Moly, it's like Tipsord turned his management goons loose on this thread -- similar to what happened over at Glass Door.

The OP is spot on.

When you work for any employer, you’re a cog in the wheel. When you can get the same output done with less, your days are numbered. That’s anywhere and the sad truth. Employers don’t owe anyone a job. Make yourself so valuable that it would be unwise not to have you around. If the culture changes detrimentally or the viability of the job is in future doubt, prepare and plan for it. We’re all free agents, and you don’t owe them any loyalty either. If you’re in IL, this is a great time to get the heck out of this cesspool..

State Farm is mis-managed and has financial problems due to inept business decisions by overpaid senior management. Where leadership is bad, the organization will fail. They are giving the shaft to loyal, hard-working employees who have been with State Farm for years and even decades. It is a horrible way to treat people, and it is undignified an inhuman. Yes, you call say it’s just business, but business is about people. Without employees and customers, State Farm would not exist. Shame on State Farm senor “leadership” and HR. Shame and disgrace!

To: : @NgNr1M2-2awt You will not lose retirement benefits just because you were let go before reaching age 55. You can still request your pension any time after you turn 55 - it's yours as long as you were vested.

Unions you ask, why yes, yes indeed that is coming. Word on the street is that droves of employees are assembling and preparing to petition for union status. This may give Leadershio the wake up call they so badly need.

I left just as the ship was sinking. 40 years and I could see the leaders walking us off a cliff. Glad I’m gone hope they don’t go broke too soon.

I was with SF for approx 5 yrs, and left about 5 yrs ago. I saw the writting on the wall. I now work for another carrier, it to is challenging work. But every day I'm thankful I left.

After talking to a field rep whom I see from time to time, things are getting worse.

I think I'll now roll over my ira, I see nothing but a company that no longer cares for it's employees, only the bottom dollar.

To the happy campers upthread, more power to you, but do, please, lose the sanctimonious tone.

The company threw the baby out with the bath water.

Clearly you don't understand the independent agent contract and how sales work. Try replacing the 70,000 employees of agents with SF employees. That is crazy talk. The agency model is great! The company handling and restructuring of claims and underwriting are bringing this company to its knees. There is no question though that the company does not respect or appreciate tenure and the knowledge these employees possess. I have been through multiple restructures and moved three times to stay employed. I am thankful I no longer work in claims or underwriting. The bitterness displayed is totally understandable.

I was with State Farm for 24 years.

There was no path to advancement outside (or inside) of claims without being UNCONDITIONALLY MOBILE. People got tiny little promotions and had to move all the way across the country.

They are not ASKING MORE from their employees. They are treating the employees like robots. With metrics, word tracks and ridiculous micro management. Micro micro micro management. "Big Brother" monitors the mouse movements on your mouse. That's crazy.

I left before these closure announcements were made and ONE WEEK before the call center environment was instituted. I wasn't going to squander my education, my skillset, my experience and my CPCU designation answering calls and reading word tracks and getting "demerits" in a call center.

I have learned more in my new role at my new company in 6 months than I learned in the last 20 years of employment with BIG RED.

GJ Meherle is rolling over in his grave. THIS IS NOT WHAT HE WANTED. It can't be.

WHY HAVEN'T THEY UNIONIZED?? YET???

"Says former employees who lacked the drive, ability, or mobility to stay."

Yes, because employees who feel upset, betrayed, or disappointed by all of the changes and lies would have been perfectly fine if they simply had the work ethic and drive that you possess. Get out of here with that nonsense.

Luckily for me, I left SF a while back because I was in a position that afforded me some intel others did not receive. I'd consider myself a neutral third party at this point. I will say that your gross generalizations about affected employees is unfortunate, if not completely unfounded.

That's great that you have enjoyed "benefits and advancement" throughout your career. Unfortunately, that path to success has been taken away from many, many people. Just recently, over 4,000 NEW MODEL employees were told they are out of luck. This is after they were migrated and assured they worked in grow locations.

Having trained EOM, conferenced in on many CM calls, and worked knee deep on the 3 year long migration, I will say that the changes involve much more than "holding people accountable", as you seem to contend. I traveled to all the hubs and smaller offices. I saw first hand what was being done to fantastic, tenured employees. If you really believe that this is all about weeding out the "lazy workers", well, you are flat out wrong. There are some really good people, hardworking folks, getting the shaft right now. I've had many of them call me asking about employment, and I'd be happy to refer most of them.....the "lazy" people, as you say.

I get it. You want to stick up for SF, and I don't blame you. However, perhaps you should take the perspective of someone who has been placed in a no win situation prior to coming on here and generalizing folks as lazy and less hardworking than yourself. It's not a good look.

I worked for the Farm for 36 years in Louisville, KY and in 2007 was let go 21 months before I turned 55 and lost all retirement benefits. They started getting worse in late 90s. I wish I had left the company years ago. I was very hard worker and loyal to the company, but they were not loyal to me or anyone else.

OP - this is just your opinion. a flawed one but you are certainly entitled to have one...

I've been with the Farm for about 11 years now, I like it as much as I did on my day one (very much indeed)

Says former employees who lacked the drive, ability, or mobility to stay.

Consider the source of information.

I've been there for 18 years and have enjoyed benefits and advancement. Why? ...because I am willing to work, rather than expect a hand out, work from home, etc.

Yes they are consolidating locations as a business decision. Yes they started to ask more, started holding people accountable for their production, and stopped being the handout to lazy workers.

Welcome to adulthood.

Lol State Farm has been doing this to their faithful employees for years.... since the early 2000's so this is nothing new - duh. Bad dog, State Farm. Like a good neigh-bear, you weren't always there.