Submitted by a reader.
--Gus
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At a conference this week we (LANL people) had a chance to compare transition notes with Livermore. The people we talked to were actually positive about some aspects of the transition - they claim that the number of managers has been significantly reduced! Functions have been combined, and support staff reduced! So here we have just adopted the old LLNL failed management model, and there, a new management has cast out the old failed model.
Another issue that they told us - they were just notified that their salary raises were put on hold for several months, possibly longer. There again their management is showing some guts compared to our spineless management - wouldn't we all prefer some semblance of job security, rather than a meaningless raise when we are all in jeopardy?
Lastly, Mary Ann With (with@lanl.gov) who manages the postdoc program, sent out a broad email at Terry W's behest, trying to find out why less postdoc packages have been submitted in this last quarter. What a mystery... Here's my take: anyone applying for a postdoc position here is stupid, and we don't want stupid applicants. How's that for Catch 22?
Higher overhead means it's more difficult for TSMs to cover themselves with cost codes each year. Hence, less money for hiring postdocs. Why is this such a mystery?
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the fact that if a postdoc is
ReplyDeletelazy and insubordinate, management will always take the side of the postdoc. Why would anyone in their right mind expose themselves to that kind of liability now?
http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/dilbert-20071026.html
ReplyDeleteIt hurts that it is so true!
Why to we want Postal Documentation workers anyway?
ReplyDeleteI don't understand? How could the direction of things here at LANL be viewed as going wrong?
ReplyDeleteWe have smart guys like Terry making brave choices that will lead us to a bright future. He's helping to make us more dependent on good customers like NNSA with great projects like MaRIE. We have increased the number of high level managers to help us get things done faster than ever. We have increased FTE labor rates so that all the wonderful support staff can take more burdens off the backs of LANL's scientists. We have created lots of great policies that help ensure that LANL is run smoothly and logically. We have let it be known that we won't do anything at all unless Congress first tells us it's OK. And that influx of Bechtel workers... WOW!!! Aren't they all just spectacular! Where can we find more of these fantastic workers?
Each day, in every way, things at LANL just keep getting better and better under LANS' leadership.
And the morale? Why, it's better than ever! I know this because our Director said so, and he would never lie. In fact, he just spent the whole last year constantly reminding everyone that "there will be no RIF, and there are no plans for a RIF". I trust my Director, and so should you.
As an LLNL scientist, the number of managers has actually increased so you have clearly been misled.
ReplyDelete4:58 wrote ..."Don't forget the fact that if a postdoc is lazy and insubordinate, management will always take the side of the postdoc."
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get this crap? Name one example of management taking the side of a postdoc over a PI.
The reduction in packages merely reflects the fact that many postdocs are telling outside canidates not to come here - just look at the shitty comment made by 4:58. Besides, all the good scientists to work for are leaving and with the RIF coming nobody will get a job here anyhow.
ReplyDeleteI should elaborate on my earlier comments. Some LLNL managers have been reassigned to new positions (with new titles). This has given the impression that we have, in fact, reduced management. On the contrary, there has been a reshuffling of the deck and all managers have been given positions at the same level or higher. In addition, we have added a number of Bechtel employees, at the management level, to the staff (the number has not been publicized, intentionally). So the net effect is many more managers.
ReplyDeleteMore managers in Global Security, higher rates throughout to cover $130M in transition costs. Lots of redundant signatures. Lots of fearful compliance. Some layoffs of contract labor in Comp already. Anger bubbling up at meetings.
ReplyDeleteRumors of the devil sighted on top of B111 tonight under the full moon. Protective services tried to use the gatling gun but it misfired again and hurt another expert.
Me? I'm being extra careful not to make a mistake. Hope my office mates don't mind the snoring. I feel great when I go home.
12:11 am:
ReplyDeleteHas your snoring started before or after the transition? If it is before, you have no right to complain.
Facts:
ReplyDelete1) Managers incompetent
2) Managers greedy little fucks
Why in the hell would a post doc want to come? Crack? Meth?
At LLNL, a whole new layer of management has been created called the Principal Associate Director. They eliminated the Energy & Environment Directorate, which may be short-sighted as there is future work to be had in the energy field. Most companies, when they reorganize, flatten the organization to reduce cost. LLNL went in the opposite direction. Most companies, when they reorganize, write-off the expenses as a loss. Instead preservation of the incentive fee seems to be of paramount importance. Probably no raises for the rank and file, but I'll bet that management gets bonuses out of the profit. There's also wasteful spending as $$ are being spent in large scale office moves and refurbishment of managers' offices to support the empire building process. The cost of an FTE went up ~20% and workers are being EBA'd as a result. And yes, the LLNL blog is lame. It appears to be one person's soapbox. There's more useful information being posted here.
ReplyDeleteHow did we go from why aren't there more postdoc packages to LLNL upper management and how lame the LLNL blog is?
ReplyDeleteHello, McFly, let's focus people!
Congress and NNSA's demand for LLC management at LANL and LLNL didn't fix anything. Instead, the LLCs have destroyed staff morale, greatly enriched a few at the top, and created a financial 'poison pill' that may result in the destruction of both national labs.
ReplyDeleteAt some later date we may witness evidence of corruption at play in this whole fiasco (Hint: Watch the career trajectory of Tom D'Agostino very closely in the future). There may be a reason why the selection of LANS and LLNS as the LLCs was left up to a single individual at NNSA and not by an unbiased committee.
It's sad to witness this train wreck play out, especially for those who are riding the train. Unfortunately, this train is moving too fast for most of the staff to contemplate safely jumping off to the side.
As for the labs, your loyalty and good service over many years has been thrown into the gutter by those running DOE and NNSA. The so-called leaders of these organizations don't even demonstrate the comon courtesy of visiting the labs to face the workforce for discussion about what they are currently about to implement. That tells you a lot about the people who are running the show in Washington DC.
9:15 PM - well, then Congress and NNSA will be prominently persecuted after the first person from a national lab ... well ... goes postal or chooses another side.
ReplyDelete10/26/07 8:48 PM - you see that nobody answered your question. Clearly there are no examples and 4:58 PM is full of shit and trying to stir the pot and creat controversy where there is none. Bottom line: the PD program at LANL is going strong and the nay-sayers are jealous of the successful TSMs like Klimov, Hollingsworth, Taylor, Boncella, Gordon, and Jia who get lots of postdocs knocking at their doors.
ReplyDelete10:18 is a laugh.
ReplyDeleteFirst, if the PD program is going strong, then why was Mary Anne tasked with finding out why it is cratering?
Second, how can you possibly list those people in the same sentence?
Third, these people are not getting PD candidates knocking at their door. Numbers and quality are both down.
LANS just splurged on a job fair for the postdocs about 2 months ago. If the future for PDs at LANL is so bright, then how come LANS is spending precious funds to help our PDs get out of town?
ReplyDeleteAnd 10:18 PM, I don't give a shit about any of these so-called LANL superstars. Most blog readers are probably not impressed with the name-droppings that litter your post.
Does anyone have this email from Mary Ann With asking about psotdocs? If so, please post it here.
ReplyDelete