#encouragement

I'm retired now, but I lived that fight for years. The survival mode. The grind that wears you down with papercuts.

I made it out, but the battle left scars. What helped:

Guard your energy. No emails after 7pm.
Build skills. Ten minutes a day on something new.
Track your wins. Three tasks a day: work, growth, you.
Find safe connection. Outside company systems.

Keep going. Your resilience is inspiring.

I just wanted to say, there is nothing wrong with you. We are all talented, and we will figure out something better. We just need to remember lifelong who actually mentored us, and who stayed engaged and supportive at work. Today is your turn, yesterday was someone else's, and tomorrow it will be someone else's. Stay motivated and collaborative in life.
To the folks remaining at work: you aren't "over-smart"—it's just that your manager preferred you. Don't let the culture here spoil. Many of us will return for sure, or associate with you again in the future. Be nice and stay humble.

Good luck tomorrow

Best wishes for everyone that accepted the VBO. A new season starts tomorrow for all of us.

Last year my last day was October 13, 2025. I still don't understand why it happened.
It took me 380 days after that to land an offer and I start next week. This was the most stressful moment of my life and I have to thank God, my Wife, Mom, and Dad for keeping me propped up to keep moving forward.

I don't even know how many applications I've filled out since T-Mobile let me go. I started in August 2025 after the Jeff Simon cut during my garden leave. I even tried to interviewing in June to get back in and I got rejected since they wanted someone with billing experience under their belt. I had everything in the bag after a great interview and got rejected for something so small. Ridiculous!

I'm writing this to tell all of you that to NEVER give up. These corporations don't own your soul and they don't control everything like they think they do. I'm also writing to let you know that I can finally stop being a ghost on these threads after I deleted my Blind account since I couldn't post without having a job and it's a route I'm never going down again. It feels like a weight has been lifted off of me 😌.

Good Luck to you all and God bless! You will find your way!

Was reverenced two years ago. BEST thing the company ever did for me. Just relax and press on if you get it. Life is awesome outside of PepsiCo land.

I got laid off 2 years ago and my life turned for better not worse. I did decide to have my priorities in life changed and hence the lay off happened at the exact right time! I thanked all my management chain for laying me off and I started a new career. Sometimes things happen for a reason. Dont be scared. The clock maker always has something for you to clinch on. Hopefully you will find a job which marches you better. You learn new skills and brish up your resume. I still have very good relationship with all my managers even the one who laid me off. Believe in some higher power which has impact on your life and look for better opportuinities in life. Hope you guys calm down!

Well, if you've made it this far, almost three years in, congrats. Hopefully you make it through tomorrow!

I was laid off after a pretty long career at the company. I just want to share my experience. I was pretty burnt out, and after the initial shock and anger of being tricked into attending a meeting that turned out to be something completely different, I felt relief. I took advantage of the severance to actually address the burnout so that I wouldn't get into this situation ever again.

There was a lot of anxiety about what I was going to do long term, there were a lot of weeks where I wasn't sure what was going to do. Spent a lot of time applying for jobs, interviewing, and all the things that you're supposed to do. It was not fun, but honestly it really beat going back into the situation I was in before at the company.

I came out the other side a lot better, it su-ks while it was going on, but I'm glad I'm out

we will be ok! Work home 🏡 tomorrow and do something good for yourself . 🙏

Who knows what next will hold we all deserve better.

I'm old and retired from CMCSA but was laid off from another large telecom company before joining CMCSA.

Hopefully the following will be helpful if you are laid off;

1. It's NOT your fault,
2. You WILL find another job,
3. The culture at that new job may be very different (like CMCSA was for me),
4. Take this as a lesson to save as MUCH as you can on the new job as there
   is NOTHING like being able to walk away on your own terms.

Corporate America can su-k but take advantage of them.

Looks like SMB will be sla-ghtered tomorrow! Good luck out there to everyone!

Hello from a Cengage alum. Just wanted to say I love how active you all have been and please keep it up. Maybe things can change? I for one am rooting for you (non ET employees). Good luck!

Recognize that better days are ahead and you'll eventually be happier and more productive than you've been before. It took me 6 months of looking half-time. But, my new situation is better in every respect. I wouldn't have made it to this better place, if they hadn't kick me out.

I was let go roughly six months ago. I thought it would be devastating, but instead, I felt like I could finally breathe again. Now I have a new job that's, if nothing else, ten times less stressful. It turned out okay for me, it will for you as well.

Notifying mangers yet to receive training invite(usually one week before), it’s coming, but purely based on base + RSU and low performers. Good luck to everyone!

Tomorrow is approaching for those in the US, and with whatever you’re hoping to have happen tomorrow, I hope you’re going to be ok. I’m honestly sick to my stomach. We just had our son in April, and as the primary income earner of the house, I’m scared. Working in tech support feels like being a crew member on the Titanic. I’m mid 30s now. Not sure how to support a household and go back to school.

I know a lot of people are indifferent, or just want to it to happen. “Quit if you hate that much” has been mentioned a lot. And I’m definitely angry at the company. I would quit if there wasn’t anyone depending on me. The job market seems uncertain right now. My resumes looks depressing all of a sudden. It’s all exhausting.

Good luck tomorrow. Whatever you’re hoping for. I hope you come out the other side net positive.

September is coming in hot. Hug your coworkers, motivate and encourage each other, update your portfolios, and keep your heads up.

I think we are close to reaching a tipping point. For those who leave, be sure to encourage and pull anyone who is good with you after you leave.

So now it’s finally time for the attorneys to get their chance at the hunger games. May the odds ever be in your favor!

Look. I’m stressed out like the next person. The lack of clarity is exhausting.

BUT ….

Today I saw 2 things on Instagram that helped (a little):

(Search)

1. Cows after they had been shampooed and conditioned
2. Dogs under water

Neither will disappoint.
Both will likely help you smile.

I can’t offer job security, but I’ll do my best to bring you some joy.

This is all really eerie and so sad. Rest easy and take it one day at a time. Prayers for everyone. 🙏

Another anxious week to push through knowing the managers and uppers are not going to stand up for us and for what is right! The 9/4 folks are so lucky!
Take your well deserved severance and run!
I feel like we are living in a big nightmare.
Good luck to everyone!

Seriously, been praying for everyone who is not VSP eligible. Gonna be a rough one.

You have worked for this company who tries every day to squeeze the life blood out of you and you have been successful. Whether your end date is 45 days or 450 days, you can do this. Make it till the end and squeeze this company for every penny possible.

Just like waking up Christmas morning to either find what you wished for or to get coal in your stocking lololol
Good luck everyone and hope everyone sleeps well. Everything will be okay. Everything will work out the way it's meant to. Stay strong and just breathe.

Five years ago, today, while I was away on vacation - I received the call that dropped the bottom out of my world - but wound up being the absolute best thing to ever happen to my family.

It was a Monday @ 10 AM when I had a Zoom call with my old boss, and new boss, for some meeting that was innocuously labeled “performance results.” I’d been working on a number of high profile projects, this might have pertained to any of them.

Instead, 10 seconds into the conversation they informed me that I was taxing to the organization and was in the NSI rank group. I had the choice to take the PIP or PIL, yada yada yada. I remember not being able to breathe properly and turning my camera off. Surely this was a mistake?

These were people I’d spent more than 1/2 of my life with. We had moved from place to place across the country together. Attended showers - weddings - birthdays and funerals together. And now this? With zero forewarning? Just a few months earlier, I had received an award and accolades for being a critical member of the team.

What had changed?

Well, I turned 50 and refused to return to the office until I was fully vaccinated. I’d had one too many friends succumb to the ugly effects of long covid - or flat out die - to take any chances, what with four children at home. Apparently, they didn’t like that.

By the time I hung up, I knew I would never go back. Never to work at XOM, and never to Texas. Since we were away on vacation - we decided to never return. I’d rather take my chances, despite being the sole breadwinner with an impressive salary I knew I would likely be able to replicate, elsewhere.

Still, I took a leap of faith. It would have ki-led me to go back to a place that I knew didn’t value me as an employee or as a human. I definitely had a nervous breakdown, and questioned a million times over WTF I had just done… but I did it anyway. Sold the house from afar, donated most things because they were too expensive to move and updated FB I had a new hometown.

Then, the VP called and asked what I was doing and I needed to come back. It was a numbers game. It didn’t mean anything. Well, you should have started with that I told him. Because none of that had been conveyed and it sure as he-l meant something to ME.

Five years later - we have an awesome story to tell. Who goes away on vacation and never returns? Well, it turns out, I do. We live in a gorgeous area. Our children are thriving. My spouse is thriving in their own career. What was a chapter of uncertainty and incredible fear, has turned out to be the GREATEST BLESSING of our lives.

So, for those reading this: You may have already received the news, or maybe one day soon you will receive the news that you’re not valued. But you are. You are so important to people who mean a lot more than your “colleagues” at ExxonMobil.

Please, know your worth and do not settle. Be on good terms with everyone, but put yourself - and your family first. There is a huge world outside of ExxonMobil and things have a funny way of working out. Just imagine if your greatest dream came true … if you strove relentlessly towards it. This life is not a dress rehearsal. Make it count!

Chin up, and don’t give up!

I am hearing numerous layoffs this week. Good luck to everyone

You remember the people the most – no matter what you do – and how they made you feel
✨You learn the most from the days, projects, and leaders who challenge you to better
✨You know that any success is shared and it’s the journey that lasts, not the destination
✨You realize that while your energy may be infinite, time is not – make the most of it
✨You make time to celebrate the really meaningful moments

Former GT’r here. After over a decade at Nike and getting caught in last April’s layoffs, I finally accepted a new job offer this afternoon.
To my ex-coworkers still in the trenches—carrying triple the workload due to leadership decisions—I see you, and there is hope.
If you are a dedicated, smart professional, please hear this: there are incredible companies out there actively looking for your talent. You deserve to work somewhere where you can actually make a difference and feel valued.
It is completely valid to feel exhausted, frustrated, and anxious about future layoffs right now. Please protect your peace and remember your worth. I’m rooting for you all, and I hope you find a place that respects and rewards everything you bring to the table.

Wishing y'all nothing but the best. Also, fire infrastructure AC!

No matter what happens tomorrow, remember that your job is only one part of your story
Keep moving forward; life has a way of working itself out.

I wish you and yours the best of luck tomorrow.

I did not apply for the VSP. I hope it’s not a mistake for me. Best of luck to everyone! I hope everybody gets what they want.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Looking for words of encouragement to share that don't sound like bumper stickers. There is lots of support here, use it.

I've decided it's in my best financial interest and after looking at my entire career here that I should wait until they at least offer an interest in leaving. I'll have the 6 month severance and enough time to find another job of which skills are in high demand and with military background could go back into private contractor. Good luck everyone!

Stressing over layoffs won't change a thing.

To Everyone at AT&T —
Let’s be real: the work you do doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. But when a first responder radios for backup, when a kid submits a college application from his phone because it’s the only device he has, when a family connects across the country on a holiday — that happens because of you. That’s not a small thing. That’s the whole thing.
AT&T has lasted this long because it keeps finding people who actually give a damn. You’re those people.
And you get to do it in Dallas — a city that, like this company, doesn’t apologize for its ambition. Great food, real people, a skyline that earns its keep. There’s a reason headquarters landed here.
The road ahead is real work. But so is the team beside you, and so is the investment this company is making in your future — not as a talking point, but as an actual commitment.
Now go make something happen today. Millions of people are counting on the connection only you can provide

Hope you survive the upcoming mass layoffs