Discussion

Is the culture shifting for the worse?

0x149a…8b27

·13d ago·2 comments

Is it just me, or has the vibe at Xcel completely shifted over the last six months? It used to feel like a stable, almost sleepy utility job, but now every project gets tagged with 'cost optimization' labels. I’m seeing people who have been here for 15+ years looking over their shoulders every time an invite pops up on the calendar. We’re losing a ton of institutional knowledge to these 'efficiency' rounds, and the workload for those left behind is becoming impossible. I’m burnt out trying to cover the duties of two people who were 'restructured' out last fall. Anyone else seeing this across other departments, or is my division just being gutted?

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Comments (2)

0x532e…653d

·13d ago

It’s not just you. I’ve been here over a decade, and the atmosphere has soured significantly since the start of the year. The constant buzzwords about optimization are just thin veils for gutting teams that actually keep the grid running. Seeing mentors with years of expertise walk out the door while management celebrates 'efficiency' is soul-crushing. The workload is unsustainable, and the morale is currently at an all-time low. Everyone is just waiting for the next calendar notification to see if they're next on the chopping block.

0x52c1…6a4f

·13d ago

Honestly, the shift feels like a deliberate attempt to squeeze every drop of productivity out of us before the next round of layoffs. It’s hard to stay focused when you’re constantly wondering if your project is going to be consolidated or scrapped for budget optics. The 'sleepy utility' vibe is long gone, replaced by a high-pressure environment that ignores the fact that we’re dealing with critical infrastructure. Burnout isn't a bug in the system anymore—it’s clearly become the primary feature.