#benefits

Hey, Comcasters! Let's help each other out. List your best tips, tricks, or advice for on what to do to maximize Comcast benefits before being laid off.

• For example, Flex Days and Floating Holidays are not paid out, but vacation days are. So, use your Floating Holidays first, then your Flex Days, and save your vacation days for last.

• Also, take advantage of your EdAssist educational benefit, which provides up to $8,000. According to the PDF, you become ineligible on the day you are notified of your layoff, so be sure to submit your request before you receive notice.

Healthcare costs continue to rise. Will we see big increases in employee contributions?

Remember that employee survey a year or two ago about benefits? I wonder what happened with those results.

Greetings. The latest 2025 5500 form has just come out. This tells you in general where IBM is headed
So 2025 medical participants for full time and part time workers for the USA = 46,188
The 2024 number = 50,667. So down 4,479 in one year

This equates to 2025 short term disability = 45,240
The 2024 short term disability = 49,586. So again down 4,346 year over year

The net of this is even with IBM buying USA SW companies they are still dropping 4,500 employees per year
REMEMBER this is a one year look back, so 2026 numbers are closing in on 40k USA employees

If we don’t want to continue the Cobra coverage, do we just do nothing and it lapses on its own or is there some formal process we have to go through? Anyone reading who has been through this already please advise. The person on the phone when I called did not inspire confidence with her answer. Thanks

How can we contact Centene about our Cobra subsidy? Every time I try calling Centene, it forwards me to Optum. What a cluster. So glad to be out of this disgusting, disgraceful & dishonest company.

Has anyone compared their healthcare costs? I just looked and HSA went from roughly 2k/yr to 9k. Am I seeing straight? I did get an email about a pay tier change… but that’s not worth a 7k increase. Anyone?

The Chevron that I’ve known and loved for 25 years it’s just not the same. Our share of cost for benefits has increased so much, the changes in our disability plans and mental health has been astounding. Did you know that if someone dies in your group now, they send you a phone number? They don’t send Chevron people to help. How does this even make sense? We’ve made so much money this year and we are whittling away. What made Chevron special.

I just received a 2nd notice from Optum today. No subsidy reflected yet. Still showing the full amount due ($2,200+ monthly). Over 2 weeks since my last day (9/4), which has been more than enough time for them to correct this situation. So frustrating. Keep any nasty or ignorant replies to yourself.

So I just wanted to give an update on this after my surgery
While lantern says they require bariatric surgery on the insurance card, UCH ended up covering my OP 100% so I ended up not having to wait.

Whats sc--wy is if you call lantern, they'll say some backwards stuff going back on the "bariatric surgery required" thing.

I hope Dell removes lantern from offerings in the future, that deceptive statement can really backfire at some point in my opinion and delay care. I have once been harassed over my BMI. UCH PPO is fine, I reached my pocket maximum earlier this month. I just wanted to update anyone out there that was curious on it. If you need help just go through UCH, its not that bad.

I did not write the questions, I just passed it through a LLM to categorize - the original posts are here @OP+1m2fy22jr

Performance Ranking |---

• Why were protections against dramatic ranking changes removed?
• Why were NRE protections removed?
• Can employees now move from the top quintile to the bottom in one year?
• Is relative ranking being used to reduce headcount?
• How can employees challenge a ranking they believe is unfair?

Employee Surveys

• If surveys are anonymous and voluntary, why can managers identify who has not completed them?
• What survey participation data can managers, HR, or EMIT see?
• How does leadership validate claims that engagement is improving?
• Why was the 2026 survey skipped?
• Will leadership publish more detailed survey results?

Morale and Retention

• Why are so many employees leaving?
• What is the current voluntary attrition rate?
• Which groups are seeing the most attrition?
• What is leadership doing to retain experienced employees?
• What are the biggest employee concerns leadership is hearing?

Workload and Efficiency

• How much more work are remaining employees doing after headcount reductions?
• When does "doing more with less" become unsustainable?
• What work will AI and automation actually eliminate?
• Will AI productivity gains reduce employee workload?
• How does leadership measure burnout?

Management and Overhead

• Does the company have too many managers, advisors, and chiefs?
• What is the manager-to-employee ratio today versus five years ago?
• Has management headcount fallen as much as individual-contributor headcount?
• Is the company planning to reduce management layers?

Offshoring

• What determines which jobs are moved to lower-cost countries?
• How much more work is expected to move offshore?
• Which functions are most likely to be affected?
• How is leadership measuring the impact on quality, morale, and institutional knowledge?

Layoffs and Headcount

• Should employees expect more workforce reductions in 2026 or 2027?
• Does the company have specific headcount reduction targets?
• How much of the reduction is layoffs versus attrition, retirements, and performance exits?

Compensation

• With strong oil prices and profitability, should employees expect higher compensation?
• Will there be a cost-of-living adjustment?
• Has employee compensation kept pace with inflation?
• If productivity per employee is increasing, how are employees benefiting?

Pension and Benefits

• Is the company considering changes to the pension?
• When would employees be notified of pension changes?
• What is the long-term plan for the pension?
• Will current employees keep their existing pension benefits?

Leadership

• Why did Kathy Mikells resign as CFO?
• Does the CFO transition change the company's cost or restructuring strategy?

This is still one of the better places to work. Yes, there are issues, but some of you can't see the forest for the trees. With everything happening in the world, I'm willing to overlook a lot for good pay and benefits, and I still get that here.

I am considering another opportunity with a required start date in early November. The other company is not willing to change the start date.

Leaving before year-end may affect my annual bonus and 401(k) match. Does anyone know the last date we must remain employed to receive both the bonus and the 401(k) match?

I would like to understand the eligibility rules before I make a decision.

Anyone know how annual benefit enrollment can impact COBRA? Specifically if I switch plans during AE, which will be the COBRA plan?

How does everyone plan to spend that extra cash.

Hello everyone,
I am considering leaving Oracle and would appreciate some advice on whether it is better to resign or retire.
Could anyone clarify the key differences between the two options, particularly regarding the severance/benefits package, notice periods, and overall requirements? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

Has anyone noticed that less providers are accepting UHC coverage?

nothing to say about layoffs as there are none. i am an account mgr (gov't). i think it really depends on who leads you and the person that's leading my group is a great mentor and she cares. nothing else to add here, good benefits, stable company and highly recommended for anyone that's looking for a meningful job in a very stable company. again, no layoffs that i am aware off. w-w-grainger

Oracle has conducted consecutive layoffs blindly for stabilizing itself against the blind decision it took for AI data center. The severance, health benefits offered to laidoff candidates are very below to industry standards just covering the basics.
With Oracle resume its getting hard to search jobs in current market. The first question you get is are you impacted. once I said yes, they don't even think how skilled I am to come out but just treated me so negatively.
It hurts. I am marching forward taking it easy.
But its NOT OK. the health care support from Oracle is bad, salary is bad, severence is bad. its too much to tolerate.

Keeping Dell medical insurance is a great option, but cobra is very expensive. So many suggestions and options out there. If you went with another option, please share.

Layoffs have decreased significantly this year, but the way Social Security handles different types of post-layoff payments can impact retirees. State unemployment benefits are not considered earnings and do not affect Social Security benefits. However, supplemental unemployment benefits (SUB) can be treated as earnings if paid as a lump sum or not directly tied to state unemployment. This distinction can lead to reduced monthly benefits for those under full retirement age. Understanding the specifics of these payments is crucial for retirees to avoid unexpected benefit reductions or tax liabilities.

https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/social-security/2026/09/15/layoffs-are-down-41-this-year-for-workers-claiming-social-security-the-two-checks-after-a-job-cut-are-not-equal/

I just got off the phone with lantern before a procedure I was gonna have done (removal of tumor) and they said I have to go through one of their providers-- that have less than 1% complication rate.

I never called because the card says "bariatric surgery required" now they wanna slow everything down and start the whole consult all over again delaying my procedure.

I dont know what to do, what is even the point of that- seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Has anyone happened to report HR to the EEOC and/or any other entity that handles disability claims/disability benefits for employees?

There are some specific steps to take that might be beneficial to some of us on here:

1. If you still have floating holiday, use it ASAP
2. Check if your state requires payment of PTO. If you don’t take it, it may disappear
3. Be sure your manager is aware of any protected status you have. That may positively impact your severance
4. Know the cost of COBRA
5. Build the relationships that will be valuable to you if you’re laid off - references, networks for future jobs, and future business contacts are invaluable. Personal phone numbers and email addresses are crucial
6. Build those LinkedIn connections now, before a layoff
7. Do NOT do anything the company might consider crossing a line of taking confidential information. I’ll let you figure out how to navigate that!
8. Any health or ancillary benefits that you want to take advantage of, do it NOW. The year is wrapping up quickly anyhow.
9. Max out your 401k if you’ve got the ability
   10, Make sure you have the HR number and any benefits numbers or addresses.
10. Get your information out there on LinkedIn and other sites, and keep your status as “Open to Work”. It’s easier to get a job when you have a job, or so the saying goes.
11. Keep your head up, don’t doomscroll on this site, and try to avoid too much gossip with coworkers - Optum is just a paycheck, not the meaning of our lives.

I hope this helps - it’s a partial list, and others might have additions etc.

Just returned from vacation to find that the long awaited enhanced package has arrived. I don't see a bridge to Medicare in this offer. I guess I'll be staying for the four guaranteed years of the latest contract extension. I guess the company wants a bunch of sixty four year old semi disabled people on their payroll.

I’m currently on approved medical leave and still an employee, but my employment is ending in October 2026.
Since Wells Fargo pays the 401(k) match as a lump sum at year-end and usually requires you to be employed on December 15:
Will an October termination forfeit my entire 2026 match?
Are there exceptions to the Dec 15 rule for medical leave or involuntary termination/severance?
Has anyone in a similar situation received a prorated payout or offset?
Thanks for any insights!

Has anyone received a letter from Optum / Cobra after taking the VSP. I got a letter today stating that my premium due starting 10/1 are a total of $1,188.74 PER MONTH. How does that make sense? I thought they were paying a portion? this is absolutely fu---d

those are many unable to add catch-up contributions because of no Roth and income limits, did anyone hear about the possibility of HCSC adding the Roth option for 2027

With Amazon's recent announcement of investing 230 million in pay and benefit increases I bet Robin and the EC team will feel some pressure to also increase benefits.

You are all out of your mind nothing but good news happened. Raises. Better insurance. Free prime. No more JDs for regular TM just automatically 5% you all panicked for nothing don't you all feel stupid now because you should bunch of panicans

Xerox used to be a desirable place to work, decent pay, and great benefits. However, after decades of stale salaries they are basically paying minimum wage. If you take a look at the benefits, health insurance used to be worth something, but not it's just too expensive to use if you can even afford the premiums at all. They took our guaranteed vacation days away so now they are only as good as your manager that approves them. And now I hear that the tuition reimbursement program is suspended. Is there really any reason to stay?

Last year they re-did pay scales for my title and decreased the salary range drastically. Because of this, I was told I made just over the line and didn’t get a pay increase even though I had a meets ratings. When benefits increased in cost, it meant I take home less than in 2025 because of it. Wasn’t too happy but it was what it was…

Currently, I make about 82 percent of the max pay amount for my role in my area. Should I expect the same results this year—no pay increase even for meets? 2 years in a row I won’t be too happy about…

Anyone have actual insight? I’d assume they are starting that conversation, maybe?

After that, you can elect to continue paying for the next 18 month on your own or find a health plan on the exchange. For a family of 4 the payment is approximately $3600/month.

How do i log in to dayforce? I tried calling HR and recording says they have higher than normal volume and they cant get the call. I tried twice.

I was a VSP employee and want to see what my last paycheck looks like.

Also I contacted COBRA and my premium will be $1143/month just medical. Still have not received word on how much of a subsidy Centene will provide.

Did the ISP employees get subsidized cobra? Whether you are VSP or ISP its still a challenging journey.

Anyone know if the PIL document is available to view. What are the conditions and what if you don’t sign it? Does that mean you automatically get the PIP and 3 months pay? If they cut the PIP short, do you not receive anything offered in the PIL? What about benefits like medical and pension balance? Do those get forfeited?

I was laid off in June and I’m on my third billing cycle for my family plan post-layoff and I’m still getting half off. Does anyone know when the employee discount ends? I was told two cycles but surprised it’s still there..

My last day as an employee is on 9/18. Anyone know if the ARAG benefits continue during severance period? I know I will have the health coverage. Thank you in advance.

I’m a new hire in NC and was brought on as part-time, but my newest schedule has me working 37.5 and 38 hours.

My performance numbers have been really good, and I desperately need access to benefits.

Am I automatically considered full-time if I keep working these kinds of hours, or do I have to officially apply for a full-time spot?

Just wanted to remind everyone that you have until the end of September to opt out of contra benefits or you will automatically get signed up for them. If you opt out, it goes into effect t on 10/1 so if you change your mind you have until 9/30 to change. Also just putting this out there…if anyone is d-mb like me and left their pension in VZ and haven’t looked at it, you may want to. I lost $50k in the past 3 months and I’m sick about it!!!

What exactly are the benefits of retiring if I don’t plan on drawing from my 401(k) and I don’t need healthcare through the company? Am I basically just giving up my employee discount? I’m trying to understand what other perks I’d actually be getting, because honestly, I’m having a hard time seeing what’s worth spending five more years here just to satisfy the Rule of 75.