The big news around here in Idaho is the potential layoffs at Micron, one one of the largest employers in the valley. The Idaho Statesman has been writing articles all week about how the employees are nervous and how to survive layoffs and to find a new job, on and on.
Screw Micron and their weenie employees.
Now, I know some people that work at Micron and I’m not trying to say anything bad about them. But Micron employees don’t know anything about a shitty work environment.
Hewlett Packard, where I work, has been having layoffs… er… excuse me… Work Force Reductions (or WFR) for the past 7 years. I started 8 years ago when we were fat and happy. We were growing. Then Carly Fiorina took over and drove us straight into the shithouse. I think I have survived probably a dozen rounds of WFR, at least. Absolutely no one in the HP Services are safe. They even had one round of WFR that was only managers. NO ONE is safe.
Of the people I worked with in my first year, I would say that 90% are now gone. But, HP in their infinite wisdom spaces out those WFRs as to not really make the news. The downside of this approach, however, is that it never stops hanging over your head. Ever. You think that its fun to work with your head permanently cemented on the chopping block? Lemme tell you, not particularly. On my current web team which I have been on since it was created 7 years ago, we started with 4 people. The first one was let go maybe 4 years ago. Another was gone a year and a half ago. Leaving two of us… and as of 2 weeks ago, I am now the only remaining member.
As you can probably imagine, the morale around that place has been just stellar for YEARS. Every single person that I’ve talked to does not expect to be at HP for their career. Most are amazed, as I am, that we’re even still there. Everyone has lost close friends to the WFR process. Nobody knows when another round of WFRs will come or who will be hit. All anyone knows is that it is going to happen again. All this does is foster a very poor environment. Some people still try to care about the company, but HP does everything they can to beat that out of you. To be perfectly honest, those who are WFRed are more relieved than anything. At least they can finally stop thinking and worrying about it.
I wish I could work somewhere where I would feel valued as an employee. That would be a wonderful change of pace.
So, you wussy Micron people who are scared for your jobs, I don’t wanna hear it. Get back to me when you have been looking at layoffs which could come at any time for 7 straight years. Then, I might feel a little sympathy for you. Until then, shut it.
I think that pretty much sums up your position. Keep looking.
Hang in there buddy……
Sorry to hear about your job security. It’s the same way around here. Imation (formally 3M) is leaving small town of Wahpeton to head to Mexico. That will be almost 400 jobs leaving the area in the next year & a half. Not good 🙁
Very good topic J…as you know, my wife is a Micron employee and the combination of me at HP, ferociously trying to get out of HPS (which I finally did btw…last week…got a job in IPG!!!) and this recent news with Micron has not made it easy in terms of being ‘upbeat’. I and obviously yourself have been hostage to HP (Services) for so long now, and I was to the point of waving the white flag of defeat. I didn’t care if I was laid off and was ready to give my 2 weeks if a soon to be laid off message didn’t come my way. I’ve felt like a door mat for so long and my wife has had to rebuild me on numerous occasions after getting the ‘thanks but no thanks’ for the last 6 jobs I’ve appied for in the last 6 months…luckily one finally stuck. Even though I’m moving into IPG…who knows how long it will last…the rumblings of WFR go on over there too from time to time. My wife knows what I’ve gone through at HP, so for her, she’s already lived the agony of layoff in some respects, but I’m supportive, and she thinks the layoffs are done in her area…whew! I’ll tell you one thing…if Micron is gonna drag this out for years, she won’t hang in there like I did…it isn’t worth the pain.