FEBRUARY 2, 2022 — DANGER AHEAD. EXXON REORGANIZES AND WILL MOVE HEADQUARTERS
The company has announced that it is further streamlining its business structure by combining chemical and downstream companies and centralizing technology and engineering, and other support services, to better support customers, enhance performance, and grow value.
The company will move its headquarters from Irving, Texas, just outside Dallas, to its 385-acre campus in Spring, Texas, about 25 miles north of downtown Houston.
Effective April 1, 2022, the company will be organized along three business lines: ExxonMobil Upstream Company, ExxonMobil Product Solutions, and ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions. They will be supported by a single technology organization, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering, and other centralized service-delivery groups providing like capabilities.
As with any move, consolidation, or reorganization, employees are at risk and it is more than likely that the company will capitalize on the changes to reduce headcounts and other employee benefits.
JUNE 21, 2021 — UP TO 30% PERFORMANCE TERMINATIONS IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS OVER AND ABOVE THE COMPANY’S PROJECTED CUT OF 14,000 JOBS WORLDWIDE BY 2022.
Exxon Mobil has announced preparations to use peer-review criteria to reduce headcount at its U.S. offices by between 5% and 10% annually for the next three to five years using a performance-evaluation system to identify low performers relative to their peers.
This reduction in force will not be characterized by the company as layoffs, but performance review terminations.
The company is not commenting on whether this is a stacked ranking scheme that can severely penalize a brilliant, high-performing employee that has the bad luck to be placed with other brilliant high-performing employers that are marginally better in presenting themselves to management.
According to the company, this review plan is separate from Exxon’s announcement last year that it will cut 14,000 jobs worldwide by 2022, and it would extend reductions well beyond that original time frame.
MAY 06, 2021 — MASSIVE EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS ON THE HORIZON?
The company anticipates a further pace to deliver additional structural cost savings and expects up to $200 million in charges this year related to job cuts.
“The biggest U.S. oil producer has slashed costs, delayed projects, and said it could trim an estimated 14,000 employees globally, or 15%, including contractors.”
DECEMBER 11, 2020 — COMPANY ANNOUNCES FIRST LAYOFFS
The company has announced that 700 of the 1,900 layoffs will commence on February 2, 2021, per a filing with the State of Texas.
OCTOBER 29, 2020 — 1,900 EMPLOYEES TARGETED, MOSTLY CORPORATE EMPLOYEES IN HOUSTON, TEXAS
The company has released a statement noting, “As part of an extensive global review announced earlier this year, the company plans to reduce staffing levels in the United States, primarily at its management offices in Houston, Texas. The company anticipates approximately 1,900 employees will be affected through voluntary and involuntary programs.”
“The workforce reductions are the result of ongoing reorganizations and work-process changes that have been made over the past several years to improve efficiency and reduce costs. These actions will improve the company’s long-term cost competitiveness and ensure the company manages through the current unprecedented market conditions. The impact of COVID-19 on the demand for ExxonMobil’s products has increased the urgency of the ongoing efficiency work.”
”The company recognizes these decisions will impact employees and their families and has put these programs in place only after comprehensive evaluation and thoughtful deliberation. Employees who are separated through involuntary programs will be provided with support, including severance and outplacement services.”
OCTOBER 21, 2020 — A MAJOR REDUCTION IN FORCE IS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
According to a company spokesperson, "We are very close to completing the jobs review. Details will be forthcoming soon after the company's board of directors is informed. "I wish I could say we were finished, but we are not. We still have some significant headwinds, more work to do and, unfortunately, further reductions are necessary."
JULY 9, 2020 — Original post…
Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corporation, the largest oil, and gas company in the United States, has announced a reduction in force among its domestic employees. The cuts are estimated to be between 5% and 10% of the workforce. The company will also divest some under-performing or troublesome assets.
An unofficial spokesperson has noted that the cuts will be based on performance and individual employee reviews.
The decision was driven by the travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the price wars playing out in the oil and gas marketplace.
The news may come as a surprise to some because Exxon responded to a May 2020 announcement that rival Chevron was making cuts and Exxon claimed they had no such plans. Exxon Darren Woods explained that the company was prepared to cut operating expenses by 15% that the cuts did not affect employees. “As you all know, we work hard to avoid layoffs. Today, we have no layoff plans.”
Of course, cuts based on performance reviews are not considered layoffs, but terminations and will affect those who normally receive performance reviews -- mainly managers, technical personnel, and support workers.
There may also be some consideration of pending climate change lawsuits which will be expensive to defend and expensive to settle.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?