Thread regarding General Electric Co. layoffs

GE management took only 5 years to take Austin Digital from a profitable and well respected leader in flight data analysis to the point where about half of the employees had to be laid off. A lot of ladder climbers who spout buzz words nonstop: "big data", "Internet of Things", "disruptive technology", etc., ad nauseam. I doubt any of the GE Aviation managers, who were sent to "manage" the Austin team, have ever actually logged into the product system to see what it's all about. Watch 30 Rock to see the parallel of comedy writers being "managed" by the "director of microwaves and entertainment". It's the same thing (but not so funny while you're living it).

GE Aviation in Austin was a complete sham. All I can say is "no wonder".

The Austin crew squandered millions and millions of dollars on hardware, software and data-center costs, with initiatives managed by a group of clowns passing themselves off (for many, many years) as a proper IT Operations Department (TechOps in Austin).

Much of their focus was spent on getting drunk, playing with plastic printers, mountain biking/slacking in Denver, skipping work for dance lessons, finding excuses to take trips to Houston (with company credit cards) and generally keeping up old jazz-hand appearances and practices; in order to simply hang onto their jobs after the Austin Digital buyout.

Culture shock now for TechOps, as GE was never interested in the "Austin Digital Culture".

Never, not once.

"Boom." A.R. -- LinkedIn

GE will keep re-paving and slashing costs, I'd expect more to come.

Sad to say but being spared in a layoff can mean more work , more stress and more face time with the leadership that created the GE empire. If you do not like the culture now, it may be time to exit door left. I hope this not the sign of times far ago when a set business unit was meeting metric but Jack still had to still cut , rack and stack. GE blows to work for anyway.

The Austin team also worked very closely with a group of software and QA folks in Portland, OR. Last I recall, there were 15 people there. Now there's only going to be 3, and whatever office they have now in downtown Portland is no more. They're considered "remote" employees. Kicked out of their workplace and now stranded. Here's to hoping they find better opportunities in that part of the country.

I'm one of the engineers spared by this round of layoffs, but I'm looking for a way out now. We're a tightknit group here, and yesterday we were told a lot of our friends are being discarded because of misguided, pipe-dream goals and projections. We're upset and angry. I'm not sure who would want to stay given how bad things are turning. Between these layoffs and other folks leaving out of fear, disgust, and frustration, the last ones left may not be enough to keep our Austin-based products alive.

I was also affected... horrible company. frankly, the team in Austin seemed old and tired. Total crap show.

For what its worth, both Boeing and Northrop are hiring right now (need a clearance for NG).

Boeing To Hold Five Manufacturing Job Fairs In Washington State. The Seattle Times (11/10) reported that The Boeing Company has “set up five job fairs” in Washington State “in a new push to hire manufacturing workers.” Boeing “says that aside from candidates with aircraft-mechanic experience, it is looking to hire and train people with skills in construction, auto mechanics, electrical work, precision machining, welding and similar manufacturing programs.” Job fairs will be held in Everett on November 17; Tacoma on November 20; and Bremerton on November 30. Two job fairs were held on Friday and Saturday.

For what its worth, both Boeing and Northrop are hiring right now (need a clearance for NG).

Secret Northrop Grumman B-21 Assembly Plant Ramping Up. The Los Angeles Times (11/10) reported that Northrop Grumman construction crews are preparing “to add 1 million square feet” to a “top secret aircraft plant” in Palmdale, CA, producing the new US Air Force B-21 bomber. The “pace of activity is ramping up sharply under an Air Force budget that has reached $2 billion for this fiscal year,” and the expansion will increase the facility’s size by 50 percent. The Palmdale plant supports 3,000 employees, and Northrop “is still hiring at a rapid clip.” Northrop Grumman Deputy Vice President for Global Operations Kevin Mitchell recently told a Lancaster Chamber of Commerce meeting that the site would have 5,200 employees by the end of 2019. Frost Tacoma on November 20; and Bremerton on November 30. Two job fairs were held on Friday and Saturday.

Sorry to hear this news. I wish everyone the best. Thanks for the post.

Very sorry to hear about the layoffs in Austin. That is a great group of employees that GE has. Hang in there.

Sounds like WARN plus a severance

So you get paid thru 1/12 without working + another week’s pay per year of service? That’s better than most (who are expected to work). In 12 months, you’ll be glad you left.

I was also let go today. They are eliminating a few digital products from the portfolio and combining teams.

Everyone has last day 01/12 but not expected to work. Severance package pretty sh--ty at a week per year.

Total of 50 in Austin... Shows that even strong business units are taking hit.

Sr VP said that San Ramon is being shelled and hit hard.

Hated GE and aviation anyways. Old technology combined with hubris people made life hell.

How many were hit there?

Sorry to hear that. Keep your head up, though. Life after GE gets much better!