#employeeengagement

Heard some senior folks talk about our high performing teams in terms of sports teams. It made me think about genuinely high performing sports teams - the ones who are given time to develop and train, given the best equipment, given support, given trust and empowered to perform and then I thought about XOM, the team on the field is despised by their managers, trying to perform with worse equipment each year, no support and a performance system that pits teammates against each other. I realised the sports team analogy is a pile of bullsh-t.

when are the drones at Larry's sweatshop going to do the same?

In this week's blog post we dive into the Around The Table's look at Optimism with Brendan Mooney, the CEO of Kainos
https://underthetable2026.blogspot.com/2026/07/episode-5-optimism.html

Upcoming role changes and AI agents (which seem promising so far), including mandatory check-ins, are all on the horizon. What's everyone's consensus on this? 🤔

How many people on this site are commenting with perspectives from Retail vs Corporate functions?

Call is going on now. Add your impressions of the call. 🍿

How we feeling? Comment below.

We worked perfectly fine remote during Covid. Then it’s back to the office but no assigned seating. Fine. Then it’s tracking days in office. Ok. Then it’s tracking hours in office. Alright making it work. Now they are taking away specialty locations. Annoying and decreases talent pool. But now they want to focus on making teams sit with each other and move offices so people are co-located. Are we children? Give back assigned seats or treat us like adults as long as we get the job done. Next they will be required 4 days and/or certain days. I prefer to find a nice quiet corner to get my work done.

Why is the Women Lead session being lead by a Man? He rewords what she says and does most of the talking. Can someone tell him to he is not a woman? Another example of Optum not getting it right. I just want him to shut up.

Can’t believe the CEO just announced Schrute bucks.
I’m like 80% confident he just read the article below and thought it was a magical way to improve morale.
https://peopledevelopmentmagazine.com/2026/06/22/challenge-coins/

I put so much effort into my work and I know it's good. Other people notice and comment on it, but I never seem to get anywhere because I'm not part of the favored group. I don't know why I keep trying so hard.

I've seen so many formerly dedicated people just doing the bare minimum now. What was the breaking point?

I remember when Dell actually pushed us to learn and grow. That seems like ancient history now.

For those who previously worked at CDW, I’d appreciate hearing which VAR you’ve joined and how your experience compares to your time at CDW. Many of us are exploring opportunities within VAR organizations that place a stronger emphasis on coworker value and overall culture, and your insight would be extremely helpful.

To Humana upper management….
The recent communication encouraging employees to use our time more efficiently to better serve our members was discouraging to many of us. While I understand the intent may have been to improve efficiency, the message came across as though our efforts are not valued or that we are not doing enough to meet our members' needs.
Many employees are already working under significant pressure. We were required to work mandatory overtime to meet organizational demands, did not receive merit increases this year, are closely monitored in nearly every aspect of our work, and face disciplinary action if chart audit scores fall below 95%. These expectations create an environment where employees feel they are constantly being measured but rarely recognized for the work they are already doing.
Those of us on the front lines genuinely care about providing high-quality care to our members. We understand the importance of efficiency, but efficiency alone should not come at the expense of employee morale. Communications that acknowledge employees' hard work, recognize the challenges we face, and express appreciation alongside performance expectations would be far more motivating than messages that imply we should simply be doing more.
I hope leadership will consider how these communications are perceived by employees. Feeling valued and supported is essential to maintaining engagement, retaining experienced staff, and ultimately providing the best possible service to our members.

Figured I’d use AI to create this since AI is our future. Thanks copilot!

A chronological descent into corporate madness.

• 06:30 AM | The Commute of Champions
  Spend 55 minutes staring at brake lights because burning gas and inhaling highway fumes is the ultimate prelude to productivity.

• 07:25 AM | The Hunger Games: Parking Edition
  Waste 15 minutes circling the concrete labyrinth just to park half a mile away, then walk to the building like a corporate nomad.

• 07:40 AM | The Hoteling Ritual
  Spend 20 minutes hunting down an unassigned, sterile cubicle and plugging in cords like you're setting up a temporary command center in a disaster zone.

• 08:00 AM | The Mandatory Weekend Recap
  Endure 40 minutes of grueling small talk about Brenda's nephew's soccer tournament and Dave’s lawn aeration schedule. You cannot escape.

• 08:40 AM | The Stealth Hydration Mission
  Take 15 minutes to carefully plot a route to the restroom and coffee machine, attempting to dodge eye contact with anyone who might ask "how's it going?"

• 08:55 AM | Actual Work (The Rare In-Between)
  A shocking, uninterrupted 60-minute window where you actually perform the tasks you are paid to do. Cherish it.

• 09:55 AM | The Pre-Meeting Packing Migration
  Pack up your entire digital life 15 minutes early because God forbid you "squat" on a shared cube while you migrate to a different floor for a meeting.

• 10:10 AM | The Disappearing Desk Era
  Lose 90 minutes of your life to a 60-minute meeting because the first 15 were spent figuring out the conference room HDMI adapter and the last 15 were "organic banter."

• 11:40 AM | The Power Lunch Sprint
  Shove food down your throat in exactly 23 minutes so you aren't late for the next round of synergistic alignment.

• 12:03 PM | Sensory Decompression Walk
  Spend 15 minutes pacing the perimeter of the building just to regulate your nervous system after surviving the deafening roar of the company cafeteria.

• 12:18 PM | The Hallway Ambush
  Attempt to return to a desk but get cornered by a manager for 20 minutes of unsolicited "brainstorming."

• 12:38 PM | The Cult of Collaboration
  Sprint to the next room because arriving late to a 90-minute slide-deck reading is a sin against the company culture.

• 02:08 PM | The 443-Minute Meltdown
  Look at the clock. Exactly 443 minutes of your waking life have passed since you arrived at the office, mostly spent pretending to care about things that don't matter.

• 02:11 PM | The Personal Hogwash Trap
  Try to use the restroom again. Get trapped for 20 minutes hearing about someone's upcoming kitchen remodel.

• 02:31 PM | The Final Stand
  Sit down and frantically work for 51 minutes, typing at 120 words per minute with pure, adrenaline-fueled rage.

• 03:22 PM | The Great Escape
  Spend 15 minutes shutting down, packing your backpack, and walking toward freedom.

• 03:37 PM | The Doorstop Conversation
  Get stopped for 5 minutes right at the exit by someone who "just wanted to catch you real quick."

• 03:42 PM | The Commute Home (Part II)
  Spend 55 minutes crawling back home in gridlock, contemplating every life choice that led to this moment.

The Hard Truth Math
Total Time Invested: 10 Hours (600 Minutes)

Actual Time Spent Working: 111 Minutes
>
Total Time Wasted on "Culture": 8.1 Hours

If this day happened at home, we all would have finished actual work before lunch, attended the meetings while comfortably and wouldn't need a stiff drink just to survive the evening once you got home.

But hey, at least management got to see your face in a cubicle. Culture!

The office is already dead/empty. Curious if they'll sublet one or more of BR's 7 buildings in order to make it feel less like a ghost town? "Don't miss your friends and colleagues, you've got all these new ENERGIZED people to sit and discuss AI with!"

Be truthful.

HR was actually too nervous to post the numbers for those regions. Honestly, I don't want to waste my time on it. Plus, if I did take it, my responses would just look like an outlier anyway.

The morning began quietly, with a cool breeze drifting through the open windows and carrying the scent of fresh rain across the neighborhood. Birds gathered on telephone wires, taking turns singing while the streets slowly came to life. A delivery truck rolled past, cyclists waved to one another, and the first customers entered a small café where the smell of coffee and warm bread filled the air. People hurried to work, students gathered outside schools, and gardeners watered flowers that had begun to bloom after several sunny days.

Across town, a public library welcomed visitors looking for a quiet place to read or study. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, holding books on history, science, art, engineering, literature, and countless other subjects. Some readers searched for novels to enjoy over the weekend, while others researched topics for school or personal projects. In a nearby room, children listened carefully as a storyteller described distant mountains, mysterious forests, and adventurous explorers who traveled across oceans in search of knowledge and discovery.

As the afternoon arrived, parks became busier with families, joggers, photographers, and people simply enjoying the weather. A group of musicians practiced together beneath a large oak tree, filling the air with melodies that drifted across the walking paths. Nearby, artists sketched landscapes while children built elaborate sand structures in a playground. Conversations shifted from everyday routines to dreams of future vacations, new hobbies, favorite meals, and memorable experiences shared with friends.

Meanwhile, technology continued to connect people around the world. Engineers collaborated on complex projects from different continents, teachers held virtual classrooms for students thousands of miles away, and researchers exchanged scientific discoveries in real time. Farmers monitored weather forecasts before planting crops, doctors reviewed medical images with specialists in other cities, and volunteers organized community events through online platforms. Small innovations combined to make daily life more efficient while creating opportunities for creativity and collaboration.

As evening approached, the sky gradually transformed into shades of orange, pink, and deep blue. Lights appeared in homes and businesses, restaurants welcomed dinner guests, and families gathered around tables to share stories about their day. Some people relaxed with books, others watched movies, practiced musical instruments, solved puzzles, exercised, or planned future goals. Before the night ended, many stepped outside for a moment to admire the stars overhead, appreciating the quiet stillness that contrasted with the busy hours that had come before.

Although every day follows a familiar rhythm, no two days are ever exactly the same. Small conversations, unexpected opportunities, changing weather, new ideas, and simple acts of kindness all contribute to experiences that shape our memories over time. Curiosity encourages people to continue learning, exploring unfamiliar places, meeting different individuals, and discovering perspectives they had never considered before. Through patience, persistence, and a willingness to adapt, ordinary moments often become meaningful stories that are remembered for years to come.

If there was one thing you could change in the next year with Truist Investments, what would it be and why?

I'm sure a few folks have gone through the new mid-year check-in. What is involved ... was a meeting necessary or could an email take care of it?

This board could use a little balance, so here goes.

Yes, restructuring is hard — and if you were impacted, you're talented and any company would be lucky to have you. But for the rest of us: take a breath and zoom out.

We work at a company that's been trusted with the world's most important data for over four decades. The biggest banks, airlines, retailers, and telcos on the planet run on what we build. That doesn't happen by accident.

And credit where it's due — the ELT isn't hiding from hard decisions. They're making the tough calls to keep Teradata lean, focused, and built for the long haul. That's what real leadership looks like, even when it isn't popular.

The sky isn't falling. The mission is intact, the customers are still here, and so is the team. Choose to see the opportunity.

Proud to be here. 🧡

While Starlink is pushing the industry forward and Wall Street is raising concerns about what that could mean for AT&T, we’re still consumed by RTO, presence reports, and building a new headquarters. That’s the only focus here and it feels completely backwards.

Instead of talking about how we’re going to compete with Starlink, people are talking about badge swipes and making sure they sit in a chair for eight hours before heading home. Time that many employees once spent working extra is now spent commuting. The result is 8&skate culture where people check the box, do their eight hours, and leave. That’s not how you build an innovative company, but that’s the culture Stink has created with RTO, FTW, and Presence monitoring.

At the same time, we’re spending billions on a new headquarters nobody wants while facing one of the biggest competitive threats the company has ever seen. Shouldn’t the priority be improving our competitive position, controlling costs, and attracting and retaining the talent needed to compete?

The conversation should be about how we beat new competitors, not how many days people are in what office. If leadership wants this company to be successful, the priorities have to change. Right now, it feels like we’re looking inward while the competition is looking forward.

Time is running out, and if things don’t shift soon there won’t be an AT&T left for these egos to lord over.

We've just had Mid year reviews (which before that we hadn't long done our prior reviews, so what was the point) and now Growth plan reviews?? This just seems like busy work for the sake of it.

My job (and others around me's jobs) is uncertain currently and due to undergo a restructure etc in around August. So having these reviews so frequently is all just a fat waste of time in my eyes. Because my job wont be the same as before due to them wanting to silo by function or it maybe wont even exist and I'll be made redundant, who knows. There are currently no activities for me to add to this growth plan. If I was brutally honest it would be 'continue applying for more jobs'.

I do LinkedIn training etc, but these box ticking exercises are infuriating (also the 'Now assist' AI on the growth plan su-ks, because of the whole making our job titles more generic it doesn't know where to point to).

We was told the annual employee survey was supposed to happen in June. Still nothing.

I have to wonder why… Are they worried the results will look like they did last time?

Because the feedback has been pretty clear… Employees have been saying the same things over and over, five-day RTO is hurting morale, the presence report is damaging trust, and people feel like leadership isn’t listening.

The action plans that come out afterward have become a joke. They check the box, put out some talking points, and nothing changes. They never actually address the issue employees are raising.

The answer isn’t another mental health program or another communication campaign. The feedback has been loud and consistent about what the biggest problem is.

At some point, leadership has to decide if they actually want honest feedback or just feedback that confirms what they already believe.

If the strategy is working, release the survey, get the results, and prove it. Or are you too scared to get your ego bruised again, Jon?

What’s your final answer? Are you staying opted in? Why or why not? Hmmmmm? There is just soooo much to look forward to! It’s gonna be Hhhuuuuuuggggeeeeee!! Centene is gonna be the biggest and bestest health plan EVER! No one has ever seen anything like it!

Bring back the survey you bloody cowards, too afraid of your employees you’d rather bury your head in a hole?

If you want to raise employee morale, it's quite simple. Reinstate real paid time off, FTO is evil. Remove the thrive together requirements, people want ultimate flexibility. Stop off-shoring business critical roles to India, it's horrible. Nothing makes me want to go above and beyond quite like not having PTO having to attend an office to make big real estate happy all while having to train my excellent eastern replacements.

Hey everyone, let's stop falling for the bait. People are testing our responses to see if leadership comments here. Having a positive, negative, or neutral opinion just means people have different thoughts. It doesn't make them leadership. Don't let them trigger you.

May be July 15–16 could mark the start of Verizon hiring. Good news may be coming soon—stay tuned!

A company built on innovation cannot thrive without top talent. High turnover, burnout, and disengagement will erode creativity, slow new product pipelines, and weaken competitiveness—ultimately damaging long-term growth, reputation, and shareholder value.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I've been offered a position at CDK, four years after I left because the culture was falling apart. Has morale and the work environment improved any since then?

It's a new week, layoffs are behind us (at least for now), but the atmosphere still feels heavy. I have a feeling productivity is down as well. I certainly still can't concentrate fully on work. You can only push people so much before it starts influencing their performance.

If you accepted the offer, why are you still nervous? This is an honest question. If I got it, I'd have accepted it and been relieved. I don't understand all the anxiety over a longer wait. Either you get approved, which is what you wanted, or you don't, and you stay in the same situation you're in now. What's the issue? What am I missing?

In CLT technology and told the employee survey was bad this year. Are they really surprised? I bet BE’s explanation will be that the 12,000 people in her org are wrong and it’s not her. They just don’t get her “leadership”. Anyone else getting any information?

When will PDS feedback start / end?

Are supervisors/ managers having a rough time giving feedback?

Give it your best. I'll answer truthfully to the best of my knowledge.

My friend is a director in compliance and works with facilities CHQ & coming in 2027 hearing we’ll be implementing badge in badge out to ensure people are in the office. Also being said Q4 they’re advised to review reports of people who are not in 4 days a week. They were originally pursuing the idea of tying in office personnel, bonuses to days in office, but couldn’t make it equitable for the work from home employees..

Can onky imagine rhe Dan direct reports hiding in offices amd DEI Sr Directors using AI to answer " Now what?"

Really miss seeing Directors walking around Basking Ridge HQ parking lot claiming volunteer hours!!!