Thread regarding Enbridge Inc. layoffs

We need a group that segregates us from the collective, sounds familiar.

https://youtu.be/fkLT6kz7Dqc

All this focus on getting more women into executive leadership is just window dressing. Federally regulated companies (like pipelines, rail, banks, etc.) have government targets to disclose their statistics on female and visible minority representation. It is just another compliance requirement, motivated by external reporting needs and not because leadership at all levels believes there is a problem with the status quo. It's just talk. All you men can relax. You will still get promoted, nothing will change for you. You can go through your whole career never reporting to a woman and feeling like you are "less of man" for it. It is still a good time to be a man at Enbridge. Aren't you relieved?

In response to @S7efAIn-5dwi...

I see it less of a Trump play and more similar to Trudeau and his approach to Canadian Veterans. Trudeau telling them, “Why are we still fighting certain veterans groups in court? Because they're asking for more than we are able to give right now.” Mind you, he looked a wounded veteran (amputee) in the eyes and said this. Might as well kicked him in the b-lls while he was at it.

The ELT is telling us they simply can’t give more right now and, like Trudeau and his cronies, they will fight to stifle overhead.

How about a quota for US citizens?

Break the Canadian glass ceiling!

Equal oppertunity for ALL North Americans!

I agree diversity is an issue. But equality for women is just the tip of the iceberg. There needs to be designated promotion quotas for Venezuelans, Indians, Asians, African-Americans. Both males and females. Only then can Enbridge truly be fair.

I agree with the last post.

I feel like the ELT are doing this to get employees focused on diversity issue while the morale, pay, benefits, pensions keep on changing for the worst.

Taking a page out of Trump's handbook of how to lead badly.

All this ELT talk of diversity and inclusion, and now these targets have made things worse for women at this company. There has already been a lot of backlash, and this is just the beginning. These days, there is even more passive-aggressive behaviors that male leaders are exhibiting than before.

Everyone is scared for their jobs and concerned about career progression. And now, the BOD and ELT have set up women and minorities to be subject to even more discrimination than before, as these scared people lash out with passive-aggressive behaviors and outright inappropriate commentary - "now, I will never get promoted because I'm not a woman".

If this forum is not a sign that the backlash is in full force, I am not sure what is. I do not foresee it getting better. Time to do the only thing that ever works - looking for another job and moving on.

Put up and shut up. Or, complain and get fired.

You choose.

Judging by the silence (my own included), I have a pretty good idea of what we’re choosing.

You know you work in a dysfunctional organization when illegal acts (such as discrimination) are passed over as "complaining".

Goodness. The gender topic has certainly struck a chord among Enbridge employees. It will no doubt take a concerted effort and a great deal of sensitivity to resolve this one.

@ sad but true

you sound like a real Enbridge leader. bitter as hell.

bet you'll be axed during the next round.

complainers first, then the bitter ones.

Let’s hope they also have a lot to say about gender equality, as we’re certainly not done with that topic.

I suspect that, once layoffs are over and the fear level subsides, Enbridge employees, whether male or female, will have a lot to say about supression and respectful treatment. However, at this point, transparency and freedom of expression are dead. So, as long as AM remains at the helm, those conversations will have to wait.

Just because we’re not “screaming” doesn’t mean we’re not noticing.

At the outset of the BOEF transition, and in preparation for the Spectra purchase, ELT and their consultants determined that a certain level of docility would be required in the employees, which is why many of the screamers are now gone. Otherwise, it would have been too chaotic.

One of the criterion for determining the employees to eliminate is the extent to which they accept the new OEF reality.

So if they express displeasure about being demoted, having their salary reduced, or revising their job responsibilities, they are candidates for the axe. Complaining females fall into this category, which is why we eliminate them. Sad but true.

I see that all the time. Also, in the last two or three years, I’ve noticed that the female employees who have spoken up have been labeled as being negative. Then they have been conveniently laid off. Because who wants a whining pain-in-the-a-- in the department? So now no one says anything, including me.

I’d like to see Enbridge’s layoff stats broken down by gender and level. I bet that at every level a greater number of woman have been laid off, even though men make up the majority of the company.

My own experience is similar to the person who said that, although no one talks about gender discrimination, it happens all the time. It takes the form of the man getting credit for a woman’s ideas or her work, or getting most of the glory (exposure, promotions, praise) for initiatives that a woman has led for years behind the scenes. I’ve experienced this many times, but have not known how to constructively address it without looking like a complainer who’s not a team player.

This is an extraordinarily difficult topic to talk about, because not all situations alre black and white, and men are often just better promoting themselves and accepting credit (and how can you fault them for that?). But keep your eyes and ears open and you will see it happening all the time.

Yup. And it scares the hell out of me.

man, woman, doesn't matter. Enbridge is not a place for people with original ideas, critical thought, constructive conflict, or anything else that disrupts the status quo.

How many high profile turds from other companies have gone down in flames recently for s-xual harassment? They're worried it's going to happen at Enbridge, so they're scrambling to get statements and policies on the record so their old boys club can't be accused of implicitly condoning it. They probably should be worried when their leadership goes in front of the whole company and calls a female co-worker a "beauty" as the intro to a presentation about s-xual harassment. Funny enough, I heard a couple of female coworkers say some positive things about enbridge's efforts to promote gender equality... "maybe this company is not as sh--ty as I thought" style comments. Then came the All Company Forum and that idiotic blunder. Whether or not their gender equality stuff has substance or is just pageantry has yet to be seen. But yeah, anyone who thinks "Enbridge isn't for men" should call a male coworker hot in front of the company and see if it gets a laugh from the ELT. Because it did when a guy did it. Face palm.

More likely, your idea just s---ed. And coincidentally everyone who knew that happened to be male. And the females who "took the side of men" actually were just taking the side of "correct".

My experience as a long-time (13 years) female Enbridge employee has been that no one formally talks about gender discrimination. Not in team meetings, not in performance reviews, not in project meetings. However, when it comes time to chose who gets to work on a high-profile project, attend an important meeting or be promoted, the man gets it. Almost every time. Even when he is younger and less experienced. And the woman ends up doing the low-profile grunt work to support him.

Also, when I work up the courage to speak up in meetings, particularly by saying something that differs from the status quo, the men find a way to shut me down, intimidate me, discredit me or take credit for my ideas. The really interesting thing is that other women often suppport the men in doing this. They just naturally and easily take the side of the men.

None of this, of course, gets talked about. It’s just assumed that the men know better and deserve more recognition and support. If you are female, you know what I’m talking about. If you are a male, what I’m saying here likely goes right over your head.

Does Enbridge have gender equality issues? You’d better believe it.

News flash!!! Nothing new here. Enbridge has been promoting based on gender for years! The male gender that is... Women make up 30% of the company, but only 5% of directors and above. Why do you think the company is in so much trouble? Cause the men are doing such a great job running it? Morale at an all time low, massive debt to earnings ratio with interest rates rising, stock price down 25% in one year and significantly below peers and the index... If Enbridge promoted the right people, the company would not be in such a mess. The lack of diversity is just another symptom of a failing performance management system where people are promoted based on being buddies with their boss, and not good ideas that they put into action.

If you can’t appreciate anything you can certainly leave. Nobody is holding anybody to work for any company against their will. You have to remember that everyone was demoralized coz if you are not then you must be as pathethic and narcissist as the ELT like some people say. I tried being both a contractor and employee, I was stepped over, back stabbed, got rate cuts but hey I still have a job coz I just want to make money. You can’t make everything personal, besides I doubt if anyone in ELT knows your name. You are a number along with the 16,000 people working for the company. I adjusted my lifestyle to cope with no increase/decrease in my pay and I am applying for jobs that I think can give me a better future. If and when I get a better offer I will certainly leave. I had certainly seen the highs of everything - so much projects going on coz the oil price was more than $100 a barrel, hiring people with less qualifications because either the company can’t find enough quality people or they know someone within, my colleagues can afford a one hour coffee break plus one hour lunch break and still manage to go home at 4pm, everyone can certainly order all the kinds of coffe and tea on the list, orders fancy pen and note pads. One unit can have as much as 3-4 admins and your people leader’s close buddy was making $100 an hour despite lesser qualification than the guy sitting next to him. Fast forward, the lows that hit only once in 30 yrs and everything seems to crumble. People were laid off and you see a lot of inequality. You see, I really think that some people were let go just because they got too expensive or their people leader doesn’t really like the face. And some who are more weaklings stays coz they are cheap but hey that’s how business works - it’s all about the money coz if not no one should be in business. If you are a contractor much better coz you will learn that rate cuts were applied to 85% of population coz 15% are so special they can’t afford to lose them. Regardless if you are a contractor or employee you are going to get demoralized specially if you see your colleagues got walked out and you learn your ELT even got increases. But hey you don’t have to take everything personal besides no one guarantee anyone an employment. Even the biggest energy companies in the past goes bankrupt i.e. Enron, Energy Future Holdings, Pacific Gas & Electric, Texaco, Calpine and many others. As for me, I am going to s--- it up and try not to lose any sleep over things I can’t control. Besides, imagine how much more unfair it is when your ELT is in deep sleep with their millions while you and I are stressed out over this situation. When you go back to work on Monday try to be nice to everyone coz we all fear for our future in this company or should I say our “no future” in this company.

"it's a start" "better than nothing" ?? You're just as dull as they are. People expect so much more from their employers! If they think that we should appreciate this "grand stand" for equality they're sorely mistaken!

And just a gentle reminder, it’s a target... not a goal. Therefore, not something that is a ‘must.’ Aspirational. Which is better than nothing. And just a start.

The 30% goal is so pathetic. They should be ashamed. And it's only for the top. The peons below won't see promotions, so don't worry, men, you'll still keep your jobs and also the promotions!

Enbridge is far from liberal. It's run by men who can't get their heads out of their asses long enough to see how they marginalize everyone.

Funny. I’m a woman and the feeling I’ve always had is that Enbridge isn’t a place for women.

Young, woman, engineer... Not saying they are not qualified and capable. Just saying it helps.

Your PL comes to the office? Cool!

I am not sure about this promotion conversation here. All I know is people got demoted and/or got pay cuts. Besides, everyone is throwing everyone under the bus just to survive so don’t know about promotion. I heard one guy on my team has no problem saying to his supervisor that his director is a micro manager and when he talk to the director he says his supervisor is pushy. How about putting on your IDP “need to survive the day to day work while keeping my sanity and bringing home money”. Many people just wanted to survive and doesn’t think even about promotion anymore. If you wanted a career maybe this is not the right place for you.

Women are one of Enb's most valuable resources. It is so far, a mostly untapped resource but that is about to change as ELT is recognizing the capability and potential of the female gender.

Collectively, women have the attention of the ELT...whilst the only group more valuable is IPLE..

Women are better than men. Enbridge is finally recognizing the truth

Don’t care about the man or woman - nobody is special and everyone is a number. If you fit within the cost savings measure you are gone. So being man/woman is the least of my worry. I just want the share price to go up so I can sell my 1 sharessssssssss.