#advice

Hope this helps.

“ We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Don’t let an email take away your never ending hope and promise for a greater tomorrow!

Terrible work environment and have another job lined up. Can anyone offer any advice on how to handle the exit process? What do they do, what can I expect?

I feel it is what it is. The severence rules are laid out. Is there anything specific you should ask?

Looking for advice on how best to ask for a higher severance amount. Has anyone recently been able to successfully negotiate higher.

https://www.boredpanda.com/billionaire-changes-name-of-boat-after-realizing-what-it-spells-backwards/

Ex-Schwabbie here. If you are dissatisfied with work conditions, pay, treatment from leadership I would highly encourage you to check out the NLRA. It gives private sector non-supervisory employees the right to discuss such issues on social media, teams, a huddle, or even a screen saver. These are rights guaranteed regardless if you are part of a union or not. Check out the definitions of concerted activity. You have the right to bring up these questions and concerns to your leaders. If they retaliate then you have yourself a very strong legal case. Retaliation includes your work (phone calls) being more scrutinized than that of your peers. There is a reason Schwab doesn't train you on the NLRA.

I need to get proof that I was covered by group health insurance. Is there a way to contact HR that anyone is aware of. Thanks.

Here's one guy's take on this move vs. don't move.

ACCEPT:

If you are a L2 or L3 with little or no experience outside of AT&T. As in, you joined out of high school, military service, incomplete college, or an online degree
If you are in a role/job title in which you do not meet the minimum qualifications. As in, AT&T calls you a PM but you have never actually managed a project or if they call you an engineer but lack the qualifications to work on a L1 NOC.
If your role recommends an advanced degree but you never completed the undergrad.
If your 'industry experience' means that you are familiar with most of AT&T's products.
If you feel that your job at AT&T challenges your mental abilities.
Or, the inverse - If you feel that AT&T is a cake job and you feel like you get paid for doing nothing.
If you accidentally/purposefully took credit for work or ideas that weren't actually yours.
Finally, if you believe that losing your job at AT&T would make you unemployable at the salary that AT&T has shackled you with.
If you answer yes to any of those, you should consider relo. You are the kind of person AT&T wants.

REJECT:

If you have at least 1 prior position working in your chosen field with 3+ years of experience prior to AT&T.
If your supervisor has ever disparaged formal education or prior experience.
If you do not feel challenged by your role and consider that to be a 'bad thing'.
If the idea of fighting for office space reminds you of being back in kindergarten.
If you're tired of having to explain technology basics to your coworkers and managers.
If you feel that AT&T puts dividend checks before employees or customers.
If you're tired of hearing the story about that time your id--t director almost played a significant role in that billion dollar startup.
If you're tired of inept leaders who frequently remind you that Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Steve Jobs didn't have college degrees all while they rely on chatgpt to make up for their 8th grade writing skills.
If you are competent, confident, and employable.
If you answer Yes to most of these, you should hit the REJECT button. Take the package, brush up on soft skills. Practice interviews without using "AT&T" in every answer. Don't talk to your leadership any more than you have to. You aren't under any obligation to train your replacement. "I support my team and my customers" is a perfectly reasonable answer. If your director or VP can't explain what you're working on, tough luck, buddy. Guess that's another thing you don't have in common with Dell or Zuck.

Just remember, if you are willing to let your employer dictate your very life, you are EXACTLY the person THEY are looking for. Make no mistake, you aren't valuable to them. Just the opposite, you are a peg to fill a hole. You are table stakes. And yes, you can be L3, L4, or higher and still be table stakes. Need I remind you of our engineering SVPs who clearly weren't technical but they fit a particular hole for a period of time.

I've made my decision. I hope this helps you make yours.

Has anyone successfully negotiated the severance package?
Any tips or tricks?

I was let go last year along with 200+ people. I considered myself lucky cause at least we got an informal notice ahead of time and that allowed me time to make financial decisions. Last day of work was end of March, followed by 60 days of pay work (all the way to end of May), followed by vacation pay in June and package arrived beginning of July. So lucky, some people experience longer delays. That said, nothing prepared me for how bad the job market is. It's 1000% an employers market. I have a graduate degree, certifications, 15+ years of experience, I stay current with technology (not a dinosaur), I live in the suburbs of major city, etc yet I'm still out there. I am not the only one from my group, some are back to work but took significant pay cuts working for smaller institutions, others are doing odd jobs, others went back to do extra certifications/school, etc. So if there's a strong signal your team will be impacted, I suggest you to start looking and start saving money. It's wild out there, it's as bad or worse than the 2008 crisis. This is not fear mongering! If you have some savings and have stayed many years at citi wait for the package, its good and will give you a buffer but if you don't have a money cushion then don't wait and start looking. I will add, I have kids and no other potential employer has match Citi's health insurance (as expensive as it's) so bear it in mind.

Do employees get early access? Is there a way for employees to buy? HELP!!

I really want to be a VP or SVP. I’m currently an L5 and just started a couple months ago. People are telling me to do a lot of GTKYs and that it can get pretty political. Is this true? Any advice?

Since I had to get a new phone for my old concession line anyways I went ahead and switched to TMobile. I see why they are eating Verizon for breakfast. Everything is better! The customer service online and in store as well as the network. I had been overwhelmed with spam calls and missed calls before now no more! They even called me to make sure I understood all the processes. Dan was right they have surpassed Verizon in all areas. Do yourself a favor go ahead and switch those lines.

I’m genuinely surprised by the rumors of a Talk to Chuck reboot.

IIRC, the original campaign launched 20 years ago as a marketing initiative built on trust, integrity, and Chuck being approachable and aligned with everyday investors.

Hard to see how that message works the same today??

Edward Jones made a change at year end to investment choices in the 401k.

While Suzan and her s$@t HR function did the bare minimum to communicate these changes through the 401k provider (Empower), it was buried under annual disclosures and most of home office and the field were caught completely unaware that the company made new investment choices on their behalf (Really great precedent for a company managing CLIENT investments, right!?).

Not sure I am surprised at all given the character of this company and its leaders, but just a friendly reminder to be sure to check on your 401k.

I have been interviewing at Target HQ and today I received a job offer! Target seems like a great place to work at. I’m leaning more towards accepting the role. I know they have had layoffs but I think that is ok, my job should be pretty safe. They were all really nice too. Any advice? I need to accept by Tuesday.

It's been ages since I applied anywhere. That question about contacting my current job really gave me pause. With how things are here, that could end badly. What's the general move for everyone else looking around quietly? I need some advice on this step.

Some folks are being offered roles with their supervisors saying “don’t worry this won’t be the actual job when the time comes, we’ll get you something better” or “no worries, this says same CL, but you’ll likely get a CL increase next year.

Do not trust any verbal commentary that does not make it into a written guarantee whether in the offer letter or an email from your supervisor that you review with a lawyer. Now is not the time to believe some wishful hypotheticals. Now is the time to trust no one except the piece of paper that your lawyer explains to you and you are comfortable with.

Only assume they will give you what the offer letter says.

Also, if your offered job starts in 2027, assume that you may not get a salary increase Jan 1, 2027. Ie same pay all of 2026 and 2027.

Bottom line - don't get stuck here. We've seen they can spring layoffs on us without warning. If that wasn't a wake-up call to stop being complacent, I don't know what is. We all tend to seek false security and get set in our ways. You're not doing yourself any favors. Better to be prepared with other options lined up than to be caught off guard.

2 in the thoughts and 1 in the prayers for all you delta peeps. Your new CD&TO left a trail of pain and misery at USAA. Don’t believe me? Read any of the dozens of posts on here about her. Best of luck! 🤞

I got offered a job in a small startup. Less than 30 employees. They're doing great right now, and the offer is really good, but I'm so worried. While job security here is an issue, with startups the whole company can go under in a heartbeat. I have no idea what to do.

You stayed at dell to long and you working for a company like Dell never turns in anyone’s favor unlike if you worked for a company like tootsie roll who takes care of there people like family

If you feel someone is in a higher position who is not qualified. Speak up . Never do someone else’s job for them. Don’t bust your butt so the store manager can get paid a ton of $$$. Enough is enough.

Heard it mention in regards to layoffs and I have no idea what it could be. Google says it has something to do with revenue growth rate and profit margin but that makes no sense whatsoever. And in case it's not obvious, I'm relatively new here (just under a year).

I missed the communication that all my well-performing mutual funds would be mapped to a couple of ETFs, a target date fund and a generic bond fund. My well diversified portfolio that's averaged 12% annually, wiped clean by the geniuses running this ship like it's the Titanic. No more individual fund choices unless you go with the self directed brokerage account option, which I will be doing.

Nearly $500k between me and my spouse completely trashed by the geniuses on the 10th floor.

https://x.com/gebaidc/status/2004931798279586072?s=46
But yet if u go to Good Rx and compare prices for meds : Optum prices are
Higher than everyone else’s.
That’s why that
Poor kid died because they jacked up his rescue inhaler up to over 500 dollars and they lost a lawsuit when they denied a ulcerative colitis member his dr-gs and he had to drop out of college cause his condition worsened till he couldn’t get out of bed. Story after story.

Whatever you do, don’t think for a second that “hard work” will do you any good. It rarely if ever gets noticed. Whenever management talks to you, assume that you’re being gaslit by default.

TUPE a legal framework in the UK and Ireland that protects employees' rights when their business or part of a business is transferred to a new owner (like in a merger, acquisition, or outsourcing). It ensures employees automatically move to the new employer with their existing terms, conditions, and continuity of service, preventing dismissal just because of the transfer and maintaining their benefits.

What’s the point of anything?

Did this post somehow catch your eye?

Is it making you stop to think? Feeling the need to comment?

Does it resonate with you some way?

Moral compromises?

Are you lying to yourself?

Deep down, gut feeling, do you know you are doing something wrong?

No fear of what is to come next?

Remember we are but a blip on the timeline.

Looks like you made it this far.

Maybe this post is the reminder or push you need to turn around your soul rot.

Is your soul rotting at U.S. Bank?

Have a buddy starting there as a college hire

I have a job offer that pays about 10% lesser than Honeywell in a Tier 2 company. In Honeywell, the world around me is crumbling with key functions non existent, R&D dying, and daily churn in leadership. However, for me, I have been nominated to a few leadership development programs for whatever that is worth. It might mean I survive the next round of layoffs but maybe not the one after that. If I leave now, I give up my MIP. Is it time for me to leave? Will I regret leaving or staying?

I noticed an opening in this department. Does anyone have experience or know anything about working for this department? Do they use Verint? Do they micromanage the heck out of you? I presently work for Humana , just trying to get away from the horrible management I have presently.

Did you rent first to get a feel of the neighborhood or did you buy out of state and move?

It still hurts to see a decade of work stolen. I realized too late that I was hired to do the heavy lifting for others who took advantage of me. (Those who are adept at managing up but made little contributions.) The real disappointment was to see former co-workers who passed off my work as their own because of their lack of competency just to survive the ranking. If they go that then have the decency to acknowledge me when they published or present my work.

Yeah, I know some people only show up for the paycheck. But if you care about these things, then don’t work here.

To all,

Enjoy the holidays, love the time with family and friends, feel th peace of today. The New Year will be - changes, what you want it to be , exciting new opportunities or cr-ppy same ole. Don’t put your energy on tomorrow, instead embrace today and your peace.

Treat yourself to something you truly enjoy, cherish time with family and friends, and do everything you can to forget about work for a day or two. It does wonders to not let this place monopolize your time and mind. It’s not worth it. We can’t control what’s coming next, and more often than not, things sort themselves out with a bit of luck and effort.

Anyone use the the advisory service they offer? Is it worth it?