Thread regarding 3M layoffs

Oh, now we are in “bro” territory. Ba-f!

Life goes on, bro. You can't count on the people you work with. It's dog-eat-dog, man. Get some skills that no one else has and start your own business. Turn to crime. Don't rely on the man, man.
These people still here are part of the problem. Their unwillingness to depart this toxic place creates the more of the same. But, alas, they are clueless. Don't hold them in contempt because their fear of the unknown keeps them here. They have bills to pay as they keep up with their status quo. Empty lives in empty jobs with empty futures.
Those of us who got laid off are the lucky ones.

Oh so now we are going to cry over post traumatic stress on not being sympathized with. WOW! You want to leave desperately but not be forgotten. Choose a battle.

So many people don’t even know people are eliminated anymore. And if a person des hear about it, most won’t reach out to the person in case it’s a rumor. This is not at the fault of your coworkers, I blame the company, I blame management. There was a time, all 3Mers would rally and try to help impacted people find jobs internally. I encourage you to fight the feeling no one cares, etc. and yes, I have been eliminated before, I am well aware of how difficult it is.

Let it go. You'll find support all around you. But your former colleagues are just as damaged as you, and know that they're next.

In '22 I was one of 4 left standing when our entire dept was gutted. I felt like cr@p and had survivor's guilt for weeks. I spent the next 9 months trying to shoulder an insane workload while the global director in charge of transformation sniffed his own f@rts and used six sigma math to tell a lie about improved ops. Then two more of us got the axe in '23. The remaining two in '24.

You are expendable. 3M doesn't care about you, just what they can extract from you in the shortest amount of time.

Happiness comes within. Never expect someone else to make you happy. I don't have friends at work. They are my coworkers. I work for pay check. That's it. I have friends and family outside of work. I spend my happy times with them.

@OP sorry to hear you got a case of the layoff flu like I did in '21. It was really hard to feel like a leper. I was able to tell my extended team personally and it was nice to chat with them and get encouragement from them before I left. But it is really hard to be thrown into a new world of looking for work as the primary breadwinner in your household after 30 years of your life with one company that felt like family when you started. It takes time to mourn the loss of life at 3M. It used to be good. It sounds like it's not so any more.

I have been blessed to keep up with several of my friends from 3M. It took me four months to find the next job. It was weird and hard and good all at the same time. It's a lot of emotions all at once.

Having seen multiple rounds of layoffs before mine, it is a weird place to be left behind. Not sure what to say, whether or not to reach out, etc. In my new work, my boss, who was amazing, was laid off in a sweep of middle management changeover layoffs. I gave him a couple weeks to just be and figure it out, but did reach out and offer my words of encouragement, thanks for everything he taught me and well wishes and support.

There actually is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I miss my 3Mer friends and coworkers, but it is such a great fit where I am and I love my new life.

Same exerience I had back in '23. People I worked with for decades stopped talking to me because they didn't want to become infected.
I did however, have a couple of people actually reach out. A division president (not in my division) (Gunderson) and Senior VP of R&D. Both gave me good advice and one sent my resume to a colleage in another company. Is it so hard to talk to us, connect with us on linkedin, send us info on open jobs etc.? It is a simple thing - we can and should be better. I have tried to do this for folks in the past, but it is crazy how it wasn't reciprocated. GOOD NEWS - 3M is not a fun place to work. My new company is fabulous. The job hunt su-ks, but you will find something and be happier!

The amount of toxicity at 3M has become overwhelming for so many of us that it’s daily survival mode. The constant inherited projects, insecurity of which coworkers to trust or if your manager is gaslighting you to others to save themselves. And being in the office only intensifies the need to keep your head down, say nothing and smile.

@OP @OP+1kza9y19v
I was also impacted in June and understand your feelings regarding the little interaction or feedback from your co-workers/friends. Although it may be a little guilt, it shouldn't stop people from showing compassion and empathy, even if the person who was laid off mighr have expected the outcome.

In the end, take heart and know that you are valuable, you are sincere, you made great contributions, you did your part and look forward to the great things and people you will meet in the next phase of your journey, because the road doesn't end with 3M. There is so much more of this beautiful world for you to see, experience, and commune with. All the best!! Greater is coming!!! 🙂

Admittedly I have been guilty of doing this and this is a good reminder. It is some strange mix of survivor’s guilt, being almost embarrassed to be playing the squid game, feeling horrified at this reality in general almost rendered speechless over it, and if at work feeling like you don’t want ti upset them further. I think people do not know how to act and I am sorry for this common experience. I had a friend laid off in June and I have rather enjoyed hearing from them some of their silver linings. This company used to pride itself on people being its main asset is now viewing people as its greatest liability.

@OP
I'm sorry that you got laid off.