Mass layoffs, offshoring of US positions, toxic work environment - Anonymous employee American Express Employee Review

With the loss of CostCo and the organization's failure to attract new clientele, American Express is going to what it knows best. Layoffs. You'd be absolutely amazed by the number of people this place has let go over the past 10 years. The pace has picked up considerably as of late with the announcement of a billion dollars in reductions. Every meeting we are reminded of the layoffs that will be taking place well into 2017. Thousands and thousands of employees will be out of work. Additionally, the organization is a HUGE believer in moving formerly American based positions to India. While our Indian counterparts are smart, it's difficult to understand them and the hours are almost completely opposite. So if you have a question or need something, it takes a full 24 hours to get a response slowing the process and adding unnecessary frustration. From what I have seen, the organization focuses on laying off their most tenured (expensive) employees, but what I don't understand is what message does that send your current up-and-comers? That you work hard for 10-15-20 years and you'll be replaced by the cheaper alternative? The organization also force ranks its employees meaning someone has to be the bottom. So if you have a team of 10 AMAZING employees, the organization still forces the managers into ranking someone at the bottom. The purpose of this is an ever-ready list of people to layoff at a moments notice. The result these company practices is nothing short of a toxic workplace. The high performers seem to be leaving in droves. The employees who don't know if they're being laid off are upset, anxious and apathetic. I always hear the phrase "honestly I don't care" when trying to get work done. The executives are just absolutely clueless on how to lead people. In a townhall recently someone asked "are you worried about great people leaving?" The exec's response was "well those aren't the type of people I'd want here anyway." So let me get this straight......you want people to be loyal to your organization, but your organization shows absolutely zero loyalty in return? Please..... I began looking for work as soon as they announced the layoffs as no one (especially me) wants an uncertain future where any month could be the month I can't pay my mortgage. I can happily say that I will be leaving the organization shortly! I cannot wait to quit this company for good.