Quiet departures in the E&C vertical?

The 'cost optimization' talk is standard procedure before a shake-up. I saw the same thing happen in the Heavy Civil wing two years ago. They start off with vague warnings to push out the veterans so they can replace them with cheaper new hires or contractors. If your manager is being cryptic without setting real KPIs, they’re definitely trying to manage the headcount through attrition. Start updating your resume quietly, because once the word 'optimization' becomes the daily mantra, the formal layoffs usually follow within the quarter.

It is honestly exhausting. I’ve seen three people from my department update their status to 'open to work' this week alone. The pressure is palpable, and the lack of clarity from leadership is what makes it so draining. Everyone is walking on eggshells waiting for the other shoe to drop. If you have five years of experience, you have value elsewhere. Don’t wait for them to force your hand or offer you a miserable severance package. The culture here has shifted, and it’s clearly not heading in a direction that supports long-term growth anymore.