This BLOG is for LLNL present and past employees, friends of LLNL and anyone impacted by the privatization of the Lab to express their opinions and expose the waste, wrongdoing and any kind of injustice against employees and taxpayers by LLNS/DOE/NNSA.
The opinions stated are personal opinions. Therefore,
The BLOG author may or may not agree with them before making the decision to post them.
Comments not conforming to BLOG rules are deleted.
Blog author serves as a moderator.
For new topics or suggestions, email jlscoob5@gmail.com
Blog rules
Stay on topic.
No profanity, threatening language, pornography.
NO NAME CALLING.
No political debate.
Posts and comments are posted several times a day.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Employee morale at both LLNL and LANL
How the state of employee morale at both LLNL and LANL? it'd be nice if the topic could be discussed realistically and rationally.
40 comments:
Anonymous
said...
As strange as it sounds the moral has actually improved in LANL due to the recent hit that LANs has taken. I am not kidding about this and would love to see what others have to say on this point. It is true that the managers are not happy but the sense among everyone else is that there is hope that LANs will be forced out and things can only get better. What a crazy system where the workforce hopes and prays for the demise of the company.
LANS will not be leaving LANL anytime soon. The NNSA will announce next year that LANS has made terrific progress in improving things at Los Alamos and gain additional years on the contract. People loves a good turn-around story and McMillan will deliver in spades. In return, he'll be extremely well rewarded, as he should be. He's been an excellent Director, one of the best.
Morale has never been better at LANL and most employees want LANS to stay as the operator of LANL. While the road has been rocky over the last few years, the incredible "can do" attitude of the LANS executive team is invigorating to behold. Everyone at LANL is prepped and ready to give a full 110% effort during this next year. Go LANS!
"...What a crazy system where the workforce hopes and prays for the demise of the company..."
Perhaps crazier to believe LANS will be replaced with an improved LLC by Devine intervention. You can wait for the polished HR Power Point presentation introducing the next for profit LLC to the worker bees at LANL, or systematically capture the strengths and weaknesses of LANS and make constructive suggestions and reasonable expectations to DOE and NNSA before hand. Way way way before hand.
Will DOE and NNSA listen? Maybe not to the extent lab employees would like, but it will be too late to hope for a course correction when the next LLC asteroid enters the atmosphere. Make your suggestions known early.
Same goes for LLNS down the road. Otherwise both labs will give birth to LANSLLNS 2.0 and employees will play the low morale record again in a few years time.
It is too bad lab employees have a validated fear that prevents them from making those suggestions now, and probably that fear will remain going forward. This is not a criticism.
Morale is never absolute, it is always relative, and relative to what it was one year ago at LANL, it's about the same now. During the year, it went down a lot as the story of WIPP and other scandals came out, but has since leveled out and maybe even ticked up a bit recently. The shocking news that NNSA cut a year off the contract was an instant boost to morale, which could get even better if they would publish the notice to compete for a new operator.
Relative to what it was twenty five years ago, morale today is in the bottom of the trench. It was pure bliss back then, with no worries at all. Sadly, it was not recognized as such at the time, but in hindsight those really were good times.
"...Relative to what it was twenty five years ago, morale today is in the bottom of the trench. It was pure bliss back then, with no worries at all. Sadly, it was not recognized as such at the time, but in hindsight those really were good times..."
OK no argument here, but what then is the path forward with new for profit LLCs on the horizon for LANL and LLNL? Kiss those "good times" goodbye, or be proactive with the bid qualification requirements for interested LLCs?
"The shocking news that NNSA cut a year off the contract was an instant boost to morale, which could get even better if they would publish the notice to compete for a new operator."
This really says all you need to know about how people feel about LANS. The salvation of LANL and perhaps the nation lies in the demise of LANS.
The root cause of the morale problem with the present contractor is that the selection of LANS, with lifelong adversaries from Livermore holding the key top management positions, was widely perceived as punishment by DOE/NNSA. Had the competing bid won, with widely respected Ambassador C. Paul Robinson (LANL ADW ermeritus) at the helm, morale would be quite different now.
Morale at LLNL is far better than it was 2 years ago, because the best people quit or retired and were replaced (if they were replaced) by young kids who don't know what they aren't getting, and who intend to stick around for a few years, gather experience, and leave. So by default, morale can only go up.
Morale at LANL is about the same as it was 20 years ago, with a valley in between then and now. 1:56p is correct that the positive gradient for morale steepened when the whiff of defeat for anything-Bechtel became more prominent.
3:52. While I agree that morale is about like it was 20 years ago, it is worth remembering that 20 years ago, with the cessation of testing, and the fall of the Soviet Union, the Labs had become essentially irrelevant overnight. Morale is decidedly lower than it was 30 years ago.
This misplaced notion that ANYTHING the employees of LANL or LLNL can do could possibly hurt a huge multinational corporation like Bechtel is ludicrous and pathetic. Even if there were no award fee for two years and Bechtel were forced to give up the contracts and go away, they still would be one of the largest and richest engineering and construction firms in the world, not even showing the slightest "hurt" from their disastrous stint as DOE/NNSA contractors at the weapons labs. Nothing you can do will "hurt" Bechtel. Get over yourselves.
Actually, Bechtel's only interest in LANSLLNS is that it is a convenient parking lot for Bechtel EBAs, and useful for beta-testing its crappy "business systems."
Bechtel has literally screwed up every function it was supposed to improve. Please go crawl back under your rock of profiteering. Do the country a favor and leave national security science to the professionals.
Actually, Bechtel's only interest in LANSLLNS is that it is a convenient parking lot for Bechtel EBAs, and useful for beta-testing its crappy "business systems."
February 22, 2015 at 7:55 AM
And their selection for the LANS/LLNS Deputy Lab Directors, which have been real "gems", since day-one of the contract. From taking home classified to taking an all expense paid by the taxpayers to see Madam Buttery at the SF Opera.
"...And their selection for the LANS/LLNS Deputy Lab Directors, which have been real "gems", since day-one of the contract. From taking home classified to taking an all expense paid by the taxpayers to see Madam Buttery at the SF Opera..."
Other than being caught by the IG, what was the direct punishment to LANS senior management employees for harboring the Beth Sellers "conflict of interest" secret for a year or so?
Other than being caught by the IG, what was the direct punishment to LANS senior management employees for harboring the Beth Sellers "conflict of interest" secret for a year or so?
February 23, 2015 at 7:48 AM
Just wait. The next step in the process after the issuance of a report by the IG finding wrongdoing, is the involvement of the IG's Office of Enforcement. The IG is not toothless by any means.
LLNL and LANL are not in the business to improve employee moral, they are in the business of making money. What is so hard to understand about this? If you have problem with than please leave.
LLNL and LANL are not in the business to improve employee moral, they are in the business of making money. What is so hard to understand about this?
February 25, 2015 at 5:58 AM
What is hard to understand is how LANS and LLNS expect to make money with a demoralized workforce. They aren't selling widgets, you know. The only way they "make money" is by relying on a workforce that can achieve PBI requirements so the company can earn award fee. There is no other source of "money" for LANS/LLNS. LANS in particular has recently learned this lesson the hard way by losing 90% of the possible fee.
"...LLNL and LANL are not in the business to improve employee moral, they are in the business of making money. What is so hard to understand about this? If you have problem with than please leave..."
Perhaps it is you that will decide to leave LANSLLNS
From another Blog Topic:
"...DOE and NNSA now believe BOTH weapons labs need a new contractor
DOE and NNSA now believe BOTH weapons labs need a new contractor operational model that moves away from a management profit funding focus, to a research and development funding focus.
The party is over for the bloated layers of LANSLLNS management and their self-compensation feeding frenzy..."
Not "forced out." Just quietly encouraged to leave, sweetened by a cushy Bechtel job until he retires. That's how Bechtel works. Charlie will take it - "an offer he can't refuse."
Not "forced out." Just quietly encouraged to leave, sweetened by a cushy Bechtel job until he retires. That's how Bechtel works. Charlie will take it - "an offer he can't refuse."
February 25, 2015 at 8:48 PM
That is also what happened to LANs ex-deputy director. She has a real nice job at Bechtel now.
The part of the show that will be most amusing is where Charlie makes a fast exit of his newly found hometown, and scuttles back to California.
February 25, 2015 at 5:42 PM
It has been amusing to see that Charlie and his family continued to live in Livermore even though he bought a house in Los Alamos after he became director. Considering that it was the most expensive house sold in the county, someone's likely to lose a wad of cash when he exits. Remember, just "follow the money."
40 comments:
As strange as it sounds the moral has actually improved in LANL due to the recent hit that LANs has taken. I am not kidding about this and would love to see what others have to say on this point. It is true that the managers are not happy but the sense among everyone else is that there is hope that LANs will be forced out and things can only get better. What a crazy system where the workforce hopes and prays for the demise of the company.
LANS will not be leaving LANL anytime soon. The NNSA will announce next year that LANS has made terrific progress in improving things at Los Alamos and gain additional years on the contract. People loves a good turn-around story and McMillan will deliver in spades. In return, he'll be extremely well rewarded, as he should be. He's been an excellent Director, one of the best.
Morale has never been better at LANL and most employees want LANS to stay as the operator of LANL. While the road has been rocky over the last few years, the incredible "can do" attitude of the LANS executive team is invigorating to behold. Everyone at LANL is prepped and ready to give a full 110% effort during this next year. Go LANS!
"...What a crazy system where the workforce hopes and prays for the demise of the company..."
Perhaps crazier to believe LANS will be replaced with an improved LLC by Devine intervention. You can wait for the polished HR Power Point presentation introducing the next for profit LLC to the worker bees at LANL, or systematically capture the strengths and weaknesses of LANS and make constructive suggestions and reasonable expectations to DOE and NNSA before hand. Way way way before hand.
Will DOE and NNSA listen? Maybe not to the extent lab employees would like, but it will be too late to hope for a course correction when the next LLC asteroid enters the atmosphere. Make your suggestions known early.
Same goes for LLNS down the road. Otherwise both labs will give birth to LANSLLNS 2.0 and employees will play the low morale record again in a few years time.
It is too bad lab employees have a validated fear that prevents them from making those suggestions now,
and probably that fear will remain going forward. This is not a criticism.
We hope and pray for the demise of the for-profit nuclear enterprise.
We hope and pray for the demise of the for-profit nuclear enterprise.
Amen
Morale is never absolute, it is always relative, and relative to what it was one year ago at LANL, it's about the same now. During the year, it went down a lot as the story of WIPP and other scandals came out, but has since leveled out and maybe even ticked up a bit recently. The shocking news that NNSA cut a year off the contract was an instant boost to morale, which could get even better if they would publish the notice to compete for a new operator.
Relative to what it was twenty five years ago, morale today is in the bottom of the trench. It was pure bliss back then, with no worries at all. Sadly, it was not recognized as such at the time, but in hindsight those really were good times.
"...Relative to what it was twenty five years ago, morale today is in the bottom of the trench. It was pure bliss back then, with no worries at all. Sadly, it was not recognized as such at the time, but in hindsight those really were good times..."
OK no argument here, but what then is the path forward with new for profit LLCs on the horizon for LANL and LLNL? Kiss those "good times" goodbye, or be proactive with the bid qualification requirements for interested LLCs?
"The shocking news that NNSA cut a year off the contract was an instant boost to morale, which could get even better if they would publish the notice to compete for a new operator."
This really says all you need to know about how people feel about LANS. The salvation of LANL and perhaps the nation lies in the demise of LANS.
The root cause of the morale problem with the present contractor is that the selection of LANS, with lifelong adversaries from Livermore holding the key top management positions, was widely perceived as punishment by DOE/NNSA. Had the competing bid won, with widely respected Ambassador C. Paul Robinson (LANL ADW ermeritus) at the helm, morale would be quite different now.
Morale is low because LANS was sold out to idiots, or what 7:00 said.
10:06 pm is smoking too much New Mexico dope.
Morale at LLNL is far better than it was 2 years ago, because the best people quit or retired and were replaced (if they were replaced) by young kids who don't know what they aren't getting, and who intend to stick around for a few years, gather experience, and leave. So by default, morale can only go up.
10:06 pm is smoking too much New Mexico dope.
February 21, 2015 at 10:24 AM
Actually, it's Colorado dope - legally purchased only 200 miles away.
10:06. I literally almost barfed reading this. You must either be:
1. Dumb.
2. Stupid.
3. A LANS Manager.
4. Kidding?
February 21, 2015 at 11:25 AM
Or any combination of 1., 2., and 3.
"While the road has been rocky over the last few years"
February 19, 2015 at 10:06 PM
You say "rocky"? That's an understatement!
5. Rabble-rouser
One can only realistically presume that 10:06 was being sarcastic.
Morale at LANL is about the same as it was 20 years ago, with a valley in between then and now. 1:56p is correct that the positive gradient for morale steepened when the whiff of defeat for anything-Bechtel became more prominent.
3:52. While I agree that morale is about like it was 20 years ago, it is worth remembering that 20 years ago, with the cessation of testing, and the fall of the Soviet Union, the Labs had become essentially irrelevant overnight. Morale is decidedly lower than it was 30 years ago.
Anything that hurts Bechtel improves the moral at LANL and may well benefit the United States.
This misplaced notion that ANYTHING the employees of LANL or LLNL can do could possibly hurt a huge multinational corporation like Bechtel is ludicrous and pathetic. Even if there were no award fee for two years and Bechtel were forced to give up the contracts and go away, they still would be one of the largest and richest engineering and construction firms in the world, not even showing the slightest "hurt" from their disastrous stint as DOE/NNSA contractors at the weapons labs. Nothing you can do will "hurt" Bechtel. Get over yourselves.
Only the truth can hurt Bechtel. Ultimately, the truth will prevail.
Actually, Bechtel's only interest in LANSLLNS is that it is a convenient parking lot for Bechtel EBAs, and useful for beta-testing its crappy "business systems."
Bechtel has literally screwed up every function it was supposed to improve. Please go crawl back under your rock of profiteering. Do the country a favor and leave national security science to the professionals.
Actually, Bechtel's only interest in LANSLLNS is that it is a convenient parking lot for Bechtel EBAs, and useful for beta-testing its crappy "business systems."
February 22, 2015 at 7:55 AM
And their selection for the LANS/LLNS Deputy Lab Directors, which have been real "gems", since day-one of the contract. From taking home classified to taking an all expense paid by the taxpayers to see Madam Buttery at the SF Opera.
"...And their selection for the LANS/LLNS Deputy Lab Directors, which have been real "gems", since day-one of the contract. From taking home classified to taking an all expense paid by the taxpayers to see Madam Buttery at the SF Opera..."
Other than being caught by the IG, what was the direct punishment to LANS senior management employees for harboring the Beth Sellers "conflict of interest" secret for a year or so?
Other than being caught by the IG, what was the direct punishment to LANS senior management employees for harboring the Beth Sellers "conflict of interest" secret for a year or so?
February 23, 2015 at 7:48 AM
Just wait. The next step in the process after the issuance of a report by the IG finding wrongdoing, is the involvement of the IG's Office of Enforcement. The IG is not toothless by any means.
But, so far, Charlie seems to be made of Teflon.
High heat melts teflon. The fumes are toxic. Just watch.
LLNL and LANL are not in the business to improve employee moral, they are in the business of making money. What is so hard to understand about this? If you have problem with than please leave.
LLNL and LANL are not in the business to improve employee moral, they are in the business of making money. What is so hard to understand about this?
February 25, 2015 at 5:58 AM
What is hard to understand is how LANS and LLNS expect to make money with a demoralized workforce. They aren't selling widgets, you know. The only way they "make money" is by relying on a workforce that can achieve PBI requirements so the company can earn award fee. There is no other source of "money" for LANS/LLNS. LANS in particular has recently learned this lesson the hard way by losing 90% of the possible fee.
"...LLNL and LANL are not in the business to improve employee moral, they are in the business of making money. What is so hard to understand about this? If you have problem with than please leave..."
Perhaps it is you that will decide to leave LANSLLNS
From another Blog Topic:
"...DOE and NNSA now believe BOTH weapons labs need a new contractor
DOE and NNSA now believe BOTH weapons labs need a new contractor operational model that moves away from a management profit funding focus, to a research and development funding focus.
The party is over for the bloated layers of LANSLLNS management and their self-compensation feeding frenzy..."
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/nuclear-weapons-complex-reform-could-mean-pay-cut-contractors/
High heat melts teflon. The fumes are toxic. Just watch.
February 24, 2015 at 8:09 PM
Anybody selling tickets for this show?
The part of the show that will be most amusing is where Charlie makes a fast exit of his newly found hometown, and scuttles back to California.
For Charlie to leave he would have to be forced out by the LANS Board of Governors. Not going to happen.
Not "forced out." Just quietly encouraged to leave, sweetened by a cushy Bechtel job until he retires. That's how Bechtel works. Charlie will take it - "an offer he can't refuse."
Not "forced out." Just quietly encouraged to leave, sweetened by a cushy Bechtel job until he retires. That's how Bechtel works. Charlie will take it - "an offer he can't refuse."
February 25, 2015 at 8:48 PM
That is also what happened to LANs ex-deputy director. She has a real nice job at Bechtel now.
The part of the show that will be most amusing is where Charlie makes a fast exit of his newly found hometown, and scuttles back to California.
February 25, 2015 at 5:42 PM
It has been amusing to see that Charlie and his family continued to live in Livermore even though he bought a house in Los Alamos after he became director. Considering that it was the most expensive house sold in the county, someone's likely to lose a wad of cash when he exits. Remember, just "follow the money."
Give Charlie a break.
Post a Comment