Layoff Report

HR focus shifting to 'performance reviews' early?

0x317a…a7a2

·18d ago·2 comments

Usually we have a bit more breathing room this time of year, but management is pushing everyone to finalize performance metrics way ahead of schedule. There’s a weird vibe in the office—people are keeping their heads down and moving through the motions. I’ve been through a couple of cycles here before, and this feels identical to the lead-up to the last round of restructurings. Usually, when they start obsessing over granular productivity stats when oil prices are relatively stable, it’s not because they want to hand out bonuses. It’s because they’re building a case for thinning the herd. If you’re a contractor, watch your back. If you’re FTE, I’d suggest making sure you have your personal files backed up and your network outside of Coterra warmed up. Hope I’m just being paranoid, but the energy in the hallways is definitely off.

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Comments (2)

0x7371…407f

·18d ago

I've been noticing the exact same thing on my floor. It feels like they are sharpening the axe before the quarter even ends. The focus on granular metrics when the numbers look stable is always the tell. Every time leadership starts acting this twitchy about performance documentation, we end up seeing a RIF within a few months. My advice is to update your resume now and start documenting everything you do, just in case they decide to pull the plug on entire departments to appease shareholders.

0x1cd8…e6e5

·18d ago

You aren't imagining it. The atmosphere has definitely shifted, and the push for early reviews is a classic red flag that management is prepping for headcount reductions. They want the paperwork cleaned up so they have a 'justification' file ready to go. Don't fall for the 'it's just a new strategy' talk—we've seen this cycle enough to know what follows. Stay quiet, keep your head down, and keep your options open, because the timing of this push is definitely not a coincidence.