Comments on: Standing by Intel's CEO

By: Disappointed, Sacramento, CA

Disappointed, Sacramento, CA — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:16:24 +0000

I worked for Intel for 8 years (laid-off in January '08). During my last 4 years there, the company moved me, involuntarily, into a job I had no experience in, and that was far removed from my core skillset. I was then laid-off because my skillset was mis-matched with my position. Despite strongly emphasizing with my management my need for training, I was given none. I feel like I was set up by the company and then dumped. The corporation itself is fine to work for. The benefits were good, my salary was ok (although I do feel I was not being paid the market rate for my position). My departing impressions of the company are that it:

1. Tries to look good publicly by laying people off and supposedly creating more efficiencies in order to boost stock price (which has languished at the bottom since 2001).

2. Has senior management in IT that does a lot of shuffling of personnel in various re-orgs, but protects it's "good 'ol boy" friends (and I know of one senior manager who was rewarded with a Vice Presidency in the Corporation after exporting hundreds of jobs to Costa Rica).

3. Has a lot of people in Exempt positions who are really good at looking like they are getting things done, but are really just big wind-bags.

4. Treats rank-and-file employees like a "Human" resource.

Intel has managed to sour me on a career field I thought I would work to retirement in (IT). I am still paying for tuition to get into this field and have already been booted out of it by a company that cares more about trying to increase its stock price than taking care of its main resource, people.

By: Irina K, Santa Clara, CA

Irina K, Santa Clara, CA — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:33:03 +0000

I don't see how some people say that Paul should get the boot or not. You never worked with him side by side, so how would you know? I am embarassed to read such articles and comments, but until you know the person in face you have no right to judge him based on PR which most of the times are incorrect!

I do not find Paul evil, mean or to be breaking the rules. I also do not find HR department to suck and where did you find fascism? I'm confused. If you're having personal issues that you didn't get hired or you got laid off you have no right to BS your way, learn how to control yourself and deal with issues. No need to get steam off on people who did not deserve it!

I think Intel did the best they could looking at today's crisis. I am impressed that they lasted so long as other companies in Bay Area were failing (Google, IBM, Yahoo, HP, Cisco, etc). If you're saying Paul needs to give up his position, you need to give a clear and justified reasoning as the ones that were given are dumb. He is a person like any of us,…and it is disrespectful for me to hear that people can actually be so angry at one another. Shame on you!

By: John Dough, Hillsboro, Oregon

John Dough, Hillsboro, Oregon — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:48:51 +0000

I have worked at Intel for over 25 years and am still there. No, its not the same as years ago. What is? It's not better. Somethings in life are. One thing constant is change, including the leaders at all levels. The root culture of Intel is to out design, out develop and be the best in class in production. Yes, that means lots of spending, especially when the competition is down. As long as any leader continues to drive the employees to this belief, we will maintain their lead.

At what cost and for how long? Those are serious questions. How hard can you drive employees before they start to resist the suggested culture?

I think Craigs upcoming retirement and newly named successor will make bigger changes to Intel than Paul's take over did.

Personally, I liked the Andy years best. That's back when you did not have to remind employess to have "tongue in cheek" fun. Pauls years have definitly been the most difficult and unenjoyable. Did Paul inherit it? Most US big companies out there are hurting their employees more than Intel currently is.

By: Paul D., Beaverton, OR

Paul D., Beaverton, OR — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:46:18 +0000

i had worked in intel for about 15 years, i will say most of the old guards – engineers working in the fab. are so disappointed at PSO and wanted him to go. Only the sales and marketing guys want him to stay. In such a tough year, Intel just had its annual sales conference in Las Vegas – thousands of people flew in and stayed in Bellagio for a week. How do they explain to the shareholders, and the people that got laid off?

Also, I don't think this article is objective, it is actually biased. and they are limiting the comments here.

By: adam, singapore

adam, singapore — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:11:17 +0000

Paul is egoistical and does not connect with the field and sales teams. What all companies need now is a detailed operational driven CEO who can track the numbers on a weekly basis. Like a Mark Hurd. Paul is no Mark Hurd, mainly due to his false ego.

By: Park, SF, CA

Park, SF, CA — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 07:04:17 +0000

Did Intel really make only $234 million in Q4?? Intel in fact made $1.3 billion in Q4. Thats money in the bank!!

Thanks to accounting rules, $1 billion in paper losses stemming from Clearwire investment has to be reflected in the Q4 results. Clearwire valuation drop is in line with the rest of the Telecom Index and would recover with the rest of the industry. Until Intel divests the Clearwire investment, the paper losses don't materialize.

So, all this has nothing to do with the health of the PC industry and not as ominous as the media tries to portray.

As for Fortune's reporting, I hope Fortune returns to its roots as an objective business weekly and no go down this path of becoming yet another business tabloid (like Forbes!!).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:31:24 +0000

I don't see any mention of Intel's ethics violations that were committed through out the years.

By: Danny, folsom, CA

Danny, folsom, CA — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:29:45 +0000

The problem with Intel is the second tier management. I worked for Intel for 10+ years and for the last 2 years had exposure to Tier2 management. Everybody has their own interets in mind. They bend over backwards to please upper level management. Extremely self centric bunch of folks.

By: Kathleen C. Santa Clara, CA

Kathleen C. Santa Clara, CA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:48:09 +0000

PO is the biggest evil that could have happened to Intel and the BROADER COMMUNITY – unfair biz practices is the name of the game he has been following for years now. Their HR department sucks – Fascism at its best.

By: DC San Jose CA

DC San Jose CA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:20:23 +0000

I worked at Intel for 10+ years and PSO is not the right leader. Lack of integrity would be my #1 issue.