Discussion

Do you feel like your role is actually 'essential'?

0x2e8f…59bc

·12d ago·2 comments

With all these headlines about headcount reductions popping up, I’ve been spending way too much time on the org chart trying to figure out what functions are actually safe. It seems like nobody is truly immune anymore, regardless of your tenure or your department’s contribution to the bottom line. I’m curious if those of you in mid-level management are hearing anything concrete, or if we’re all just guessing at this point? I’ve been trying to stay focused on my projects, but it’s hard to stay motivated when you’re constantly wondering if you’ll still have access to your email by the end of the month. Does J&J even have a long-term plan for the staff, or are we just trending toward a leaner, outsourced model? Would love to hear some perspectives from people who have been through these cycles before. Is it time to jump ship, or is this just the new reality we have to deal with?

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Comments (2)

0x1cd8…e6e5

·12d ago

Honestly, stop stressing over the org chart. After being here for over a decade, I’ve learned that 'essential' is just a flexible term management uses until the next quarterly report hits. Even the top performers in my department got caught up in the last round of cuts, so tenure doesn't mean much anymore. Keep your head down, do the work, and make sure your resume is updated on the side. Expecting transparency from leadership at this point is just setting yourself up for disappointment; we are all just numbers on a spreadsheet to them.

0x28dd…0833

·12d ago

It is brutal out there right now, but I have actually found some security by pivoting toward the high-growth R&D initiatives. If you are stuck in legacy administrative functions, that is where the target is painted. I have been talking to a few leads in other business units, and the consensus is that they are pruning the roles that do not directly drive innovation. Don't waste your energy trying to decode internal politics; just make your current project impossible to replace and keep your network active outside the company walls.