Tens of thousands of HP and Compaq employees who saw Carly Fiorina's mismanagement and lack of leadership understand why she should not be elected to the US Senate.
If you were employed at HP or Compaq while she was CEO, please click here to share your criticisms of Carly Fiorina.
Please note:
• This is not the place to post opinions of Barbara Boxer, Chuck DeVore, Tom Campbell, or other candidates.
Please limit your comments to Carly Fiorina's performance and track record.
• Please don't use profanity in your posts.
Number of entries: 96 | Number of pages: 10
Submitted by
Name: Gail
From: HP, 1989 - 2005
Name: Gail
From: HP, 1989 - 2005
Comments:
Because of Carly's greed and incompetence, I lost my home, savings and retirement after the HP/Compaq merger. I still cannot find full-time work because of the timing of the workforce reductions with the economic disaster that was soon to take place and continue until now. I had earned stock options which became worthless thanks to her crude business decisions. Before that, she eliminated profit sharing and bonuses, while purchasing company planes to travel around the world to gain political exposure. On the backs of employees, she lived a fairytale life while at HP. She cares about no one but herself while stepping on everyone around her to achieve her personal goals. There is something evil about her. The way she addressed stockholder concerns was deplorable. She will use any tactic to achieve her personal goals on the backs of her supporters. She cannot be trusted. After 16 years, everything I worked for is gone. She will never accept responsibility for her poor decisions and reckless behavior.
Because of Carly's greed and incompetence, I lost my home, savings and retirement after the HP/Compaq merger. I still cannot find full-time work because of the timing of the workforce reductions with the economic disaster that was soon to take place and continue until now. I had earned stock options which became worthless thanks to her crude business decisions. Before that, she eliminated profit sharing and bonuses, while purchasing company planes to travel around the world to gain political exposure. On the backs of employees, she lived a fairytale life while at HP. She cares about no one but herself while stepping on everyone around her to achieve her personal goals. There is something evil about her. The way she addressed stockholder concerns was deplorable. She will use any tactic to achieve her personal goals on the backs of her supporters. She cannot be trusted. After 16 years, everything I worked for is gone. She will never accept responsibility for her poor decisions and reckless behavior.
Added: April 21, 2011
Submitted by
Name: Andrew L
From: 1984-2008
Name: Andrew L
From: 1984-2008
Comments:
I'm a Republican and VERY happy that Carly failed.
Carly Finkorina destroyed the HPWay and stomped it with her 6 inch expensive heels. She had NO respect for Bill and Dave's vision of a company where people would literally ache to do their best every day, because they knew the company would do its best for them. A company that built upon itself and gave back to each community.
I recall all her daily lies and the gatherings in large halls where cheering recorded sound and applause were piped in.
Her policies eventually ruined my 25 years career with HP. I actually blame the next self proclaimed genius Hurd's cutting to the bone and ship it overseas policies as well, but it was Carly that started a process where she and Mark ruined the lives of 130,000 souls via merge-n-purge theatrics, that have built nothing but a new SONY that's going to fall apart as startup consumer product competitors will chip away at it.
so long to both of them - what a waste. Good luck in hell.
I'm a Republican and VERY happy that Carly failed.
Carly Finkorina destroyed the HPWay and stomped it with her 6 inch expensive heels. She had NO respect for Bill and Dave's vision of a company where people would literally ache to do their best every day, because they knew the company would do its best for them. A company that built upon itself and gave back to each community.
I recall all her daily lies and the gatherings in large halls where cheering recorded sound and applause were piped in.
Her policies eventually ruined my 25 years career with HP. I actually blame the next self proclaimed genius Hurd's cutting to the bone and ship it overseas policies as well, but it was Carly that started a process where she and Mark ruined the lives of 130,000 souls via merge-n-purge theatrics, that have built nothing but a new SONY that's going to fall apart as startup consumer product competitors will chip away at it.
so long to both of them - what a waste. Good luck in hell.
Added: November 4, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Sema
From: HP 1998-2001
Name: Sema
From: HP 1998-2001
Comments:
I started to work at HP in 1996 as Volt contractor. Unix System Administrator. I was hired as full time employee in Jan 1998 Colorado Springs HP at Garden of Gods Road. I loved my job. Even when we had 10% pay cuts, I loved my job. We were told that our jobs were in jeopardy, so we were allowed to go work at Agilent Technologies for a year, only to loose our jobs totally.
I will never forgive Carly Fiorina for nearly destroying HP. When Carly was hired, I did try to tell my co-workers that she almost destroyed AT&T by causing to split into two companies AT&T and Lucent.
I also wanted to know how she could start as secretary to become a CEO?
I started to work at HP in 1996 as Volt contractor. Unix System Administrator. I was hired as full time employee in Jan 1998 Colorado Springs HP at Garden of Gods Road. I loved my job. Even when we had 10% pay cuts, I loved my job. We were told that our jobs were in jeopardy, so we were allowed to go work at Agilent Technologies for a year, only to loose our jobs totally.
I will never forgive Carly Fiorina for nearly destroying HP. When Carly was hired, I did try to tell my co-workers that she almost destroyed AT&T by causing to split into two companies AT&T and Lucent.
I also wanted to know how she could start as secretary to become a CEO?
Added: November 4, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Cecil
From: HP 1982-2001
Name: Cecil
From: HP 1982-2001
Comments:
Carly Fiorina cost me more than $2,000,000 in work income and in retirement savings. I was one of the first 6000 laid off in August, 2001. It was after a lie she posted about the HR having hired 6000 more than she told them to. Anyone remember this? She said HR had hired 6000 people when she had a hiring freeze on. So she had to lay off 6000 to go back to the pre freeze levels.
I had 19 and 1/2 years. I could have retired in another 5 years. As it happened I lost my 401K (due to her stock price mismanagement), my house, and nearly $1Million in wage income since the layoff. The way she did it also caused other employers to question any HPer's resume because she told the world that she was laying off the lowest ranking workers. She had kept rankings from being done for nearly 2 years. Then all of a sudden rankings had to be done in just a couple of weeks. Forced rankings caused 10% of all employees to be ranked lower than they ever had.
In the layoff of August, 2001, 67% of all the effected were over 40, over 15 years, and over $75,000 annual salary. The older employees were the target, and took the hit.
This came at a time when my oldest was only a couple of years away from going to college. So when it came time for her to go to school, I couldn't support her.
I remember very clearly the morning when she was fired. I hadn't heard the early morning news so I was driving to town with NPR Morning Edition on. The report came on that she had been fired. It was just pure flood of relief. I began to weep deeply. I had to pull over to the side of the road. I began to cry openly and loudly. Imagine, a grown man weeping on the side of the road because of a CEO being fired.
Carly Fiorina needs to go away and never return to the public eye. There is a special place in hell for this woman.
Carly Fiorina cost me more than $2,000,000 in work income and in retirement savings. I was one of the first 6000 laid off in August, 2001. It was after a lie she posted about the HR having hired 6000 more than she told them to. Anyone remember this? She said HR had hired 6000 people when she had a hiring freeze on. So she had to lay off 6000 to go back to the pre freeze levels.
I had 19 and 1/2 years. I could have retired in another 5 years. As it happened I lost my 401K (due to her stock price mismanagement), my house, and nearly $1Million in wage income since the layoff. The way she did it also caused other employers to question any HPer's resume because she told the world that she was laying off the lowest ranking workers. She had kept rankings from being done for nearly 2 years. Then all of a sudden rankings had to be done in just a couple of weeks. Forced rankings caused 10% of all employees to be ranked lower than they ever had.
In the layoff of August, 2001, 67% of all the effected were over 40, over 15 years, and over $75,000 annual salary. The older employees were the target, and took the hit.
This came at a time when my oldest was only a couple of years away from going to college. So when it came time for her to go to school, I couldn't support her.
I remember very clearly the morning when she was fired. I hadn't heard the early morning news so I was driving to town with NPR Morning Edition on. The report came on that she had been fired. It was just pure flood of relief. I began to weep deeply. I had to pull over to the side of the road. I began to cry openly and loudly. Imagine, a grown man weeping on the side of the road because of a CEO being fired.
Carly Fiorina needs to go away and never return to the public eye. There is a special place in hell for this woman.
Added: November 1, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Debi
From: HP start 1973 ended 1991
Name: Debi
From: HP start 1973 ended 1991
Comments:
I worked for HP for about 18 years - my husband for almost 30 (working from about 1975 to 2007 under Carly).
We were old HP - both of us used to have lunch with Bill and Dave (mostly Bill) at the Palo Alto Country Club.
What a company to work for - we were so lucky to have worked for it, in its early years!!!
I cannot understand how ANYONE would vote for her. She is just pure evil, as anyone at HP knows. My husband would be so upset everyday, over hearing how many of his friends were laid off - sometimes this would be happening several times a week. I was so glad when he retired and got out of her rein.
I can understand voting your political party, but NOT when you know what this woman has done.
Is there anything we can do to stop her getting in to the Senate -I sure hope so, and I hope all you HP folks help!
I worked for HP for about 18 years - my husband for almost 30 (working from about 1975 to 2007 under Carly).
We were old HP - both of us used to have lunch with Bill and Dave (mostly Bill) at the Palo Alto Country Club.
What a company to work for - we were so lucky to have worked for it, in its early years!!!
I cannot understand how ANYONE would vote for her. She is just pure evil, as anyone at HP knows. My husband would be so upset everyday, over hearing how many of his friends were laid off - sometimes this would be happening several times a week. I was so glad when he retired and got out of her rein.
I can understand voting your political party, but NOT when you know what this woman has done.
Is there anything we can do to stop her getting in to the Senate -I sure hope so, and I hope all you HP folks help!
Added: October 29, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Jacob
From: 1986 -2004
Name: Jacob
From: 1986 -2004
Comments:
I was so proud to work for H.P back in the day. Just out of High School and fortunate to have experienced the tail end of the H.P. Way! Wow, an experience of a life time! I remember Lew Platt and his super thick glasses and his genuine smile. He worked on our floor and then became CEO. He was running a 40-billion dollar company. There was something about him that made him genuine and real. Talk about leadership. It was time for H.P to bring in some new blood. Fiorina, the only female CEO at a company in the Dow Jones average. Being open minded I was all for it, but she was truly different from the Culture of H.P. At first I was impressed. She spoke well at coffee talks. Then she stared to take on this glamorous look like she was in Hollywood. Limos in the Palo Alto parking lot that was fenced in. New Corp Jets at the H.P. hanger in S.J. Her husband on H.P. Payroll in charge of Executive Security. Something new at H.P. It all started to Rock n Roll after that. It got real ugly and she left Rich with the soul fabric of H.P. destroyed in her Path. I remember the day.
I was so proud to work for H.P back in the day. Just out of High School and fortunate to have experienced the tail end of the H.P. Way! Wow, an experience of a life time! I remember Lew Platt and his super thick glasses and his genuine smile. He worked on our floor and then became CEO. He was running a 40-billion dollar company. There was something about him that made him genuine and real. Talk about leadership. It was time for H.P to bring in some new blood. Fiorina, the only female CEO at a company in the Dow Jones average. Being open minded I was all for it, but she was truly different from the Culture of H.P. At first I was impressed. She spoke well at coffee talks. Then she stared to take on this glamorous look like she was in Hollywood. Limos in the Palo Alto parking lot that was fenced in. New Corp Jets at the H.P. hanger in S.J. Her husband on H.P. Payroll in charge of Executive Security. Something new at H.P. It all started to Rock n Roll after that. It got real ugly and she left Rich with the soul fabric of H.P. destroyed in her Path. I remember the day.
Added: October 25, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Bonnie Pontier
From: HP
Name: Bonnie Pontier
From: HP
Comments:
I can not believe Carly is able to get one vote. This woman ran HP like it was a giant party for herself. She bragged to employees about how stressed she was building her 14 million dollar house, acted like she was a rock star and made many comments and announcements about how - just because you have a job doesn't mean you deserve.
Right during the time she was sending a major anount of HP employee jobs to India and ending employeement for So Many HP employees in the U.S. - she made a statement during one of her big Rock Star Events saying that "just because you are an American it doesn't mean you are going to get the jobs," She is a Horrible Human. She only does what is good for Carly and would make the worst Senator ever - we need the oposite of Carly she is HORRIBLE.
I can not believe Carly is able to get one vote. This woman ran HP like it was a giant party for herself. She bragged to employees about how stressed she was building her 14 million dollar house, acted like she was a rock star and made many comments and announcements about how - just because you have a job doesn't mean you deserve.
Right during the time she was sending a major anount of HP employee jobs to India and ending employeement for So Many HP employees in the U.S. - she made a statement during one of her big Rock Star Events saying that "just because you are an American it doesn't mean you are going to get the jobs," She is a Horrible Human. She only does what is good for Carly and would make the worst Senator ever - we need the oposite of Carly she is HORRIBLE.
Added: October 16, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Bob
From: HP 1982 - 2005
Name: Bob
From: HP 1982 - 2005
Comments:
I was a bit leary when Lew decided to hire a CEO from "outside" of HP but put those thoughts to rest after Carly first visited our site. Like others, I too was initially impressed by Carly's ability to speak for an hour or more without notes and her seemingly quick mastery of all of our products and technology. However, it didn't take many of us long to see that when you turn over a rock, there are often very creepy things underneath, and this sure proved to be the case with her. Unfortunately, we could not put the rock back in its place and simply go back to work because things only got worse after she was "downsized" herself.
A few things that I can give Carly credit for is starting the trend in HP (that still exists today) of trying to buy technology through acqusitions instead of invention. I guess that's what you get when you purge a company of the world's smartest engineers, managers, and most productive employess with a bunch of MBA's whose only real contribution to date is the constant reorganization of their own internal business processes. I have not seen a single new technolgy come from HP since Carly came on board and it's not likely we will again.
The other thing that I can give Carly credit for was introducing a new language in business: replacing the time honored "you're fired" with HR friendly words like "down-size, right-size, and outsourced". Too bad she wasn't around long enough to see some of the personal damage that was inflicted by her purges. Many of us who left HP have done well on the outside but in some cases it destroyed the lives of people who were kicked out the door. For that, I can never, ever, forgive her.
DO NOT ELECT THIS WOMAN TO CONGRESS!
I was a bit leary when Lew decided to hire a CEO from "outside" of HP but put those thoughts to rest after Carly first visited our site. Like others, I too was initially impressed by Carly's ability to speak for an hour or more without notes and her seemingly quick mastery of all of our products and technology. However, it didn't take many of us long to see that when you turn over a rock, there are often very creepy things underneath, and this sure proved to be the case with her. Unfortunately, we could not put the rock back in its place and simply go back to work because things only got worse after she was "downsized" herself.
A few things that I can give Carly credit for is starting the trend in HP (that still exists today) of trying to buy technology through acqusitions instead of invention. I guess that's what you get when you purge a company of the world's smartest engineers, managers, and most productive employess with a bunch of MBA's whose only real contribution to date is the constant reorganization of their own internal business processes. I have not seen a single new technolgy come from HP since Carly came on board and it's not likely we will again.
The other thing that I can give Carly credit for was introducing a new language in business: replacing the time honored "you're fired" with HR friendly words like "down-size, right-size, and outsourced". Too bad she wasn't around long enough to see some of the personal damage that was inflicted by her purges. Many of us who left HP have done well on the outside but in some cases it destroyed the lives of people who were kicked out the door. For that, I can never, ever, forgive her.
DO NOT ELECT THIS WOMAN TO CONGRESS!
Added: October 13, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Judy
From: HP
Name: Judy
From: HP
Comments:
Do not be fooled by this woman. She is an amazing public speaker and you WILL be fooled if you listen to her. At first,I drank the Koolaid. A woman CEO, incredible speaker, inspiring speeches. Described HP employees as the "shining soul" of the company. (I was standing 20 feet away from her when she said that.) I'd heard rumors of a fleet of private jets (unheard of by former CEO's), expensive wardrobe, extreme paychecks/bonuses but our board members were as fooled as me. One specific very powerful (local HP leader we all trusted)thought she was perfect.
I awoke from my Koolaid-induced coma when she began talking about HP "entitlement" employees and about US employees feeling "entitled" (when competiting in global markets). Then the "offshoring" announcements came. What a shock. Then she changed the way we ranked our employees. "A new effective way to manage performance to bring out the best in our employees...our "shining souls". We were forced to put a certain percent into the bottom band. How odd. We always hired the cream of the crop...pick of the litter employees. No one at HP was considered a bottom band employee or they were not hired or quickly ushered out. We were very very careful in our hiring process. I myself left a higher paying job just to work for this legendary company and all employees were the same. But we did as told. Then a few months later, the "layoff" announcements came. And, of course, our bottom band- perfectly great employees..people who ANY company would be glad to have...were let go. As time wore on the bottom band became larger and larger until we were all "bottom band" employees.
As I retired, 70 percent of my direct reports were gone and more to follow....all going to either India or Costa Rica. Customers were calling continually complaining of poor support, "never buy HP again", etc.
So much for the "shining souls". Yes, I get it is all about money, business, but in the long run, customers lost out.
Carly did not leave of her own volition. The company asked her to leave. No matter how I feel or think...it is a fact Californians need to understand.
Do not be fooled by this woman. She is an amazing public speaker and you WILL be fooled if you listen to her. At first,I drank the Koolaid. A woman CEO, incredible speaker, inspiring speeches. Described HP employees as the "shining soul" of the company. (I was standing 20 feet away from her when she said that.) I'd heard rumors of a fleet of private jets (unheard of by former CEO's), expensive wardrobe, extreme paychecks/bonuses but our board members were as fooled as me. One specific very powerful (local HP leader we all trusted)thought she was perfect.
I awoke from my Koolaid-induced coma when she began talking about HP "entitlement" employees and about US employees feeling "entitled" (when competiting in global markets). Then the "offshoring" announcements came. What a shock. Then she changed the way we ranked our employees. "A new effective way to manage performance to bring out the best in our employees...our "shining souls". We were forced to put a certain percent into the bottom band. How odd. We always hired the cream of the crop...pick of the litter employees. No one at HP was considered a bottom band employee or they were not hired or quickly ushered out. We were very very careful in our hiring process. I myself left a higher paying job just to work for this legendary company and all employees were the same. But we did as told. Then a few months later, the "layoff" announcements came. And, of course, our bottom band- perfectly great employees..people who ANY company would be glad to have...were let go. As time wore on the bottom band became larger and larger until we were all "bottom band" employees.
As I retired, 70 percent of my direct reports were gone and more to follow....all going to either India or Costa Rica. Customers were calling continually complaining of poor support, "never buy HP again", etc.
So much for the "shining souls". Yes, I get it is all about money, business, but in the long run, customers lost out.
Carly did not leave of her own volition. The company asked her to leave. No matter how I feel or think...it is a fact Californians need to understand.
Added: October 13, 2010
Submitted by
Name: Dave
From: HP 2000 2001
Name: Dave
From: HP 2000 2001
Comments:
I was starting a promising career at HP back in 2001, was given a star award in my first 6 months, had an excellent review in the Home Products Division. This is when Carly announced that HP was going to lay off 6000 people for the first time in company history. She said it was to save 500 million dollars...a business decision.
Well, I ended up being one of those 6000. I accepted it as business. I had my boss break down in front of me saying this is not the HP way. My division VP gave me my papers and told me that he would help me in any way he could and did because he felt it was wrong, but again, business is business. My last day was August 24th, then on Sept 3rd HP announces that it will be spending 21 billion on acquiring Compaq.
What happened to this needed savings? I felt betrayed and lied to by Carly and it became clear that the 6000 people were a sacrifice only to make the stock price do better. If she knew she was going to be acquiring Compaq, then why couldn't she have waited for any layoffs. It was the beginning of the end for how people matter for innovation at HP and to where you are just a commodity.
I lost any respect that I had for Carly which had been already deteriorating over the year. Mainly due to the fact that it seemed she was more just a face for herself rather than a leader of HP. I would constantly hear her say in company meetings that "I know that Bill and Dave would agree with this and approve of that", but I learned from other old timers...how would she know as she never met either one of them!
In any regards, I learned that Carly is a person who is all about herself and she will try to tear down anyone who apposes her as she did with Walter Hewlett. She is a selfish individual who I honestly think would make things worse for California if ever elected to any public office. She is not from California and should not pretend that she is.
I was starting a promising career at HP back in 2001, was given a star award in my first 6 months, had an excellent review in the Home Products Division. This is when Carly announced that HP was going to lay off 6000 people for the first time in company history. She said it was to save 500 million dollars...a business decision.
Well, I ended up being one of those 6000. I accepted it as business. I had my boss break down in front of me saying this is not the HP way. My division VP gave me my papers and told me that he would help me in any way he could and did because he felt it was wrong, but again, business is business. My last day was August 24th, then on Sept 3rd HP announces that it will be spending 21 billion on acquiring Compaq.
What happened to this needed savings? I felt betrayed and lied to by Carly and it became clear that the 6000 people were a sacrifice only to make the stock price do better. If she knew she was going to be acquiring Compaq, then why couldn't she have waited for any layoffs. It was the beginning of the end for how people matter for innovation at HP and to where you are just a commodity.
I lost any respect that I had for Carly which had been already deteriorating over the year. Mainly due to the fact that it seemed she was more just a face for herself rather than a leader of HP. I would constantly hear her say in company meetings that "I know that Bill and Dave would agree with this and approve of that", but I learned from other old timers...how would she know as she never met either one of them!
In any regards, I learned that Carly is a person who is all about herself and she will try to tear down anyone who apposes her as she did with Walter Hewlett. She is a selfish individual who I honestly think would make things worse for California if ever elected to any public office. She is not from California and should not pretend that she is.
Added: October 10, 2010