#remotework

https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/cvs-health-aetna-layoffs-hartford-21335365.php

Something is happening. No clue what. But all associates were instructed to work from home tomorrow.

"We will discuss important organizational updates and critical information about our organization."

I know they exist. I see the people in webphone. So, why are they the exception? I see job posting with “5 days in-office”, but clearly, that’s not always the case. Applying internally, are all the jobs genuinely gonna be 5 days in office still?

There are so many opportunities I would love to see through, but I am not gonna commit to another job with 5-day mandatory office. I can’t do it anymore.

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to manage workforce transitions and offshore operations? We are seeking a candidate to join our operations to assist with local workforce reductions and restructuring initiatives.

Job Requirements:

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment to recklessly reduce headcount
• Ability to follow directives (be a Yes-man) and execute strategy without reservation (don't ask questions).
• Extensive experience in minimizing FTE value while promoting offshore and H-1B talent.
  • Familiar with AI. We've been claiming there we know AI just secure our position in the company but now the lies have caught up to us and we need someone that really knows it so we take credit from you.

Perks:

• Exemption from Return-to-Office (RTO) policy.
• Work from home and spy on employees.
• Opportunity to lead workforce management strategies (degrade employees to force them to quit).
  • High potential bonuses - the more workers terminated, the bigger the payout.

https://apple.news/AB3GL7V95R7qXMGPLPTdnqw

The best employees in the world are trusted to work where they want, when they want, and how they want. Not because no one is watching, but because they’re capable adults with talent, character, and integrity. When you hire people like that and give them autonomy, they consistently deliver more than any mandate ever will.

A five-day RTO policy sends the opposite signal. It tells top performers they aren’t trusted. And they respond the way the market always does, they leave. What’s left is a shrinking, less competitive talent pool made up of people with fewer options, the bottom quartile of talent.

If connectivity and flexibility are truly our product, we should be the company that proves it works, not the one that contradicts its own message.

Been with the company for 2 years, only had 1 meeting in person. Why cant we just be remote?

About 10 were displaced today from the Barn (they were all WFH but based in Oregon). Estate care center. I wonder how many folks from the Barn remain that are still working from home.

Worth reading:
https://www.inc.com/leila-sheridan/kevin-oleary-loves-why-his-companies-will-never-force-a-return-to-the-office/91291726

Kevin O’Leary, a real investor with actual companies laid out why forcing people into offices is a losing strategy:

“If you’re trying to say to people, ‘Oh, you got to work in an office,’ you’ll just get the bottom quartile of people who have no choice.”

I was a product manager laid off with no notice. The severance package su-ks. Plus given less than 60 days of pay until I'm officially laid off from company. I think they are trying to get rid of Remote employees.

i walk in, log into MS Teams, and talk to people who are halfway across the world. i don’t even know what they look like, and most of them are contractors

I forgot my laptop at home and didn’t realize it until I got to the office. It’s kind of hilarious how there’s literally no work to do without it. No systems. No tools. Nothing.

Which exposes the flaw in the whole RTO and “collaboration” argument. If presence alone created value, being here would still matter without a laptop. But it doesn’t. All the actual work still happens digitally, exactly the same way it does at home.

If the office adds no functional capability beyond what a laptop provides, then forcing people to commute just to open the same apps on a different desk defeats the entire purpose.

I know there are people active on this site that have been helpful as we’ve faced these recent layoffs.
I’m curious if they, or anyone, has credible information on the strategy here. It seems this past round had a large focus on remote, performance review, and a bit grading. Is there a magic number of reduction we are aiming for? Or a magic number of remote workforce?

Was laid off last Wednesday with the rest of the team. Was told HR would help with finding employment and it was encouraged to communicate with hiring managers. How can I communicate without slack/internal email? Also, I need remote employment and none of these other jobs offer remote. They simply don’t care about members and their own employees. So much for the culture and leadership. This place will go down. It is just a matter of time!

I see many job postings for Austin online but am curious if that is a shift to bring staff back locally instead of India? What are your thoughts?

Just got email from emergency response telling us to wfh tomorrow.
Good news.

You get to work remote PLUS level up a job grade!

How many years of service?
Remote or hybrid?
Current Age:
Position level:

It's coming. They're going to do it. They're gonna say we are a co-located company first, and you have 6 months to get back into an office or you're considered voluntarily terminated.

Start saving now and always have a plan. Juan doesn't care about remote employees.

Only been a couple of weeks and I am already on my 2nd and 3rd rounds with two remote companies offering higher pay and minimal travel. Anyone else planning their exit after bonuses?

So we are mercenaries if we prefer to work from home? He didn't even answer the question that was asked and then said we are an in-person company. No we aren't. Haven't been for awhile but gotta get those mercenaries into the office so we don't waste money on all our corporate real estate. No issue with coming into the office a few days a week but to call us mercenaries is a ludicrous thing to say. Do better Rick.

Heard a few people got exemptions to work remotely after building closed. How many out there has this happened to?

I'm trying to work remotely today and the WiFi says no connections available when in fact there are many available connections. For example, My cellphone is connect to the WiFi and I can see all of the WiFi connections from my phone. This happened to me last Thursday as well and when I went to the office it worked. Did the company decide to shut down WiFi and force employees to go to the office by shutting down the WiFi?

In case people have not heard the directors of several LOBs have granted remote work during the time when everything in Minneapolis is going down.

That’s a low move if true. Wishing everyone affected a speedy move to a better job. I know being laid off is never easy, especially when times are tough, but leaving this place might not be the worst thing. The grass is almost certainly greener anywhere else.

I'm virtual in Europe, do I have a number on my back ?

How long have I left realistically

are any orgs hiring for remote or hybrid? Curious if there were a select few people could name

More layoffs in IT late last week
Hear it was ~100 people
Almost all remote workers gone
still no CTO since Scott Spradley (IT being run by HP / Tyson cronies )
Plenty of Chicken People still around pushing for more of their chicken friends to join

Just a quick rant….why in all that is holy do we have to wait for management, who does not live in a location where they are dealing with ongoing below freezing temperatures and lasting impacts of the winder storm that hit this past weekend, to “allow” us to WFH

Why won’t a team manager who is onsite just say I am the manager on site and the conditions are still bad so I’m going to let my team WFH.

Just sad…..

As part of our multi-year strategy, we have made the decision to exit previous target locations over the next few years. Non-target markets include:
• Wilmington, Delaware
• St. Louis, Missouri
• New York, New York
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• San Francisco, California (including Concord)
• Chicago, Illinois
If you are not in one of our target locations, please know that there are no immediate changes to your day-to-day responsibilities or where you work-business will continue as usual as we work through this multi-year journey.

That's one of this years IT KPIs.

A recent Zety survey highlights American workers' concerns for 2026. Zety's report indicates 49 percent of workers anticipate more job cuts. A majority, 65 percent, expect the U.S. job market to remain stable or decline. Inflation concerns and fewer remote jobs also trouble workers. AI and automation competition worries 48 percent of respondents.

https://www.cnybj.com/survey-nearly-half-of-workers-predict-rising-layoffs-in-2026/

Infosys has launched an initiative to survey employees about their work-from-home electricity usage. This effort aims to accurately estimate greenhouse gas emissions for environmental reporting. The company's hybrid work model means its environmental footprint extends beyond office campuses. Infosys states the survey is voluntary and for internal assessments and regulatory compliance. This move is part of its long-standing sustainability program.

https://www.latestly.com/technology/infosys-asks-employees-to-share-work-from-home-electricity-usage-data-know-why-7290500.html/amp

Rachael Clark told her group a few weeks ago that the bank is letting MN folks work from home until January 30, but she expected that to be extended. Has anyone heard if that has changed?

So remotes within the radius will be RTO before Jan 2027

What about remotes over the 31 miles ?

Got e-mail that we can WFH on Monday due to storm and there will be a relaxed office policy. Does this mean we can do only 2 days in the week and will be fine? Or do we still need to do 3 days in the week?

They will be coming out very soon. AI is accelerating at a rapid pace. Remote days are numbered. Time to bring them all home.