#rto

Truist bank will require all employees to return to the office five days a week starting early next year, ending pandemic-era work-from-home policies. Hybrid work arrangements split between home and office will end starting Jan. 5, the Charlotte-based bank confirmed to The Charlotte Observer Wednesday. This shift from pandemic-era remote work policies is meant to boost in-person collaboration and reinforce corporate culture, Truist said.
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article312885549.html#storylink=cpy

LE's son's acorn didn't fall far from the tree:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/600-paramount-skydance-employees-quit-instead-of-returning-to-the-office-and-it-cost-the-company-185-million-filings-show/ar-AA1QeuAq?uxmode=ruby&ocid=edgdhpruby&pc=DCTS&cvid=691415c2ca144a0197f8d3c562227e9a&ei=9

I wonder if LE is more interested in this industry more than high-tech.
The circus continues.

heard rumors about more lay offs coming in December (including lower level) & a 5 day work week coming back. any confirmations?

Let’s start this thread for further discussions, cheers

Work as prescribed 9-5 M-F. Been done nearly a century. Prove they do not need to send your job overseas. RTO is for collaboration and winning. No whining.

https://www.businessinsider.com/paramount-skydance-leaked-memo-rto-logistics-5-days-david-ellison-2025-11

OK, let's vent here.

Article:

Toxic Work Culture On The Rise At GM Following IT Leadership Changes, Layoffs

• Summary: A GM Authority report describes rising employee discontent tied to stricter performance policies, remote work rollbacks, and rounds of layoffs across software and IT. Sources cited internal turmoil following leadership changes and site closures.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/11/toxic-work-culture-on-the-rise-at-gm-following-it-leadership-changes-layoffs/

If the execs had any clue how many core employees on their “critical initiatives” are just weeks away from working at another company, they’d lose it. The people holding this place together are the ones leaving, and they have no backup plan for that.

So many people are hanging on to hope of change to RTO that if 5x RTO bleeds into next year they’re in for a rude awakening, and when they realize their mistake as late as they usually do it’ll be too late. Once you leave toxic T nothing can bring you back. Nobody is willing to accept 5x RTO when they can work remote or hybrid for a better company who actually respects them. The job market is opening back up, so FAFO is about to hit hard.

What will you do when all the high performers walk or retire and you’re stuck with a bunch of duds nobody else wants? Good luck!

Do we know if PBE and Freelance employees are required to RTO in Jan?

I've been mandated to return 4 days a week. During the last month of this, I've talked to 3 people (total) in the office and taken meetings from conference rooms where hardly anyone in the office showed up--instead taking the calls from their cube or a focus room or remote. The people I work with are not in the office or even my location. But my life has been disrupted completely to meet some ridiculous ego-driven mandate. I'm using more water, gas and energy--not good for the environment. My stress level has risen--not good for my mental state. And add to this the other things I had to buy to accommodate going into the office (lunch stuff, clothing, shoes, backpack that holds a laptop, etc.) that makes RTO costly to the employee. This is after 5 years of little no pay increase and minimal if any bonus and 5+ years without a promotion. Feeling trapped because the job market is so horrible. But yeah, at least I have a job and didn't get riffed. Looking forward to the tide changing back to favor employees however long that takes.

An on point post from @cf+1k9p3cq31.

Between unclear directives like the fact that we are being given an activity score but not told what makes up the score and things like we have to be in the office 8 hours but some days there are no seats I feel like all of us are being set up to fail. That way they can go through and remove anyone they want and make up some excuse. No severance because you didn’t meet unclear targets.

For 5+ years, Wells Fargo has run an ambiguous layoff machine under the banner of “efficiency,” with quarterly severance accruals ($750M–$1B in 2023 alone) and global headcount slashed from ~268,000 (2019) to 217,000 (2024)—a net loss of ~51,000 souls. Meanwhile, India/Philippines ops ballooned: ~10,000 hires during the pandemic, VP-level Risk/Compliance roles offshored (requiring FINRA licenses), and threads here scream “All India Project.” U.S. employees train replacements in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Manila, then get the axe. Identity theft teams to Manila, compliance VPs to India—classic knowledge transfer before the pink slip. RTO mandates, hub consolidations , non-backfill policies, and location strategy force quits or relocations, masking the real goal: cheap offshore labor. It’s the account scandal 2.0—unethical cost-cutting, abuse shifted from customers to employees. No genuine restructuring; just coercion in “wagile” clothing. Signs it’s failing? India hiring freeze + 400 cuts in 2025, Chennai shutdown—optimization after U.S. displacement backfired with expertise loss (EPL flops, SSIS relics, cloud messes). Psychological safety? Zero. Teams? Ghosts. Innovation? Dead. Ethics demand shareholder scrutiny—until the next crisis exposes the rot. Document everything, join Wells Fargo Workers United, file EEOC if biased. Upskill (tuition reimbursement for certs and training), quietly quit, job search—JPMorgan’s building fearless AI teams (30% costs down, 20% sales up). Read The Fearless Organization. My mission: fearless workplaces. There’s a better option! #WellsFargo #OffshoringFail #FearfulBank

I noticed new items have been added in the expectations. Consider this an official warning that HR can use against you.

• In-office days are expected to be eight hours in the office (i.e., don't come in at all if you can't stay 8 hours, even if you're coming in an extra day more than required).
• Employees who need to leave early for medical appointments or childcare should come in extra hours in-office on other days or "talk with their managers." (like the 3 day requirement, your managers should be able to override it on a case-by-case basis if they document it beforehand).
• Half day PTO of all forms of time away count as in-office days still, even with the 8 hour requirement going forward.

Anyone privy to the strategy for Call Center reps that either work in T buildings or WFH? What's the plan for Ocean Springs, Orlando... centers? When Black contracts ends will virtual reps be forced to move back to office?

I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts on the latest RTO development, at least in the U.S. where an announcement was made this week of selling a couple of the buildings in Greenville, but re-stating the RTO of 4 days per week. This seems odd to me, in that I don't see how you can force more people into significantly less space? In addition, I understand there will be no dedicated desks, making this objective even more complicated. Anyone have any insight?

If you’re still classified as a virtual worker, you’re in the crosshairs. Notices are starting to go out that NVWs will be required to “follow the work” and RTO full-time in Dallas, Atlanta, or New Jersey depending on org. My source says the plan is to eliminate all remaining virtual roles before year-end with any remaining to move and RTO by June 2026 or terminate.

Don’t assume you’re safe, they’ve already pushed out some of the best and most experienced people here. Titles and “essential” status won’t save anyone. This is your warning since the company won’t give you one.

I know they said it would be rare to have it approved, but curious if anyone gave it shot and what the outcome was?

Paused, don’t have the money to pay severance. Plan B = 4 days, 8 hours to drive attrition.

Anyone here planning on quitting come January when RTO goes into effect?

Anyone who was RA'd still abiding by the RTO 3 day mandatory badging in?

Capital One offices and amenities now open on Fridays. They are totally doing that because SOO many people want to drive in Fridays 🙃. Get ready for full time RTO

Happening Wednesday. Su-ks for sure.

Hi All,

Does anyone have experience with a medical exception that can change their working arrangement? Are they lenient on the conditions that may qualify for this? What is the process? What was the end result? Was documentation needed? Did you experience discrimination from management after?

I personally have a condition, that although is not life shattering or major, would greatly benefit from a relaxed work arrangement.

First ATT has the left over timewarner so called leaders that made a bad decision got stock , bonuses and millions. Second many in power have less than I say 8 years but more like 5 years with ATT. Third they broke the foundation that made ATT work meaning the New bee executives to the point that Innovation is now creeping along because the hours from managers are now focused on 8hrs only. Fourth the BIG mistake was instead of hurting the company which they are doing likely listening to a consultant company on RTO( same as our executives going to a psychiatrist) follow their advise. Fifth MAKES sense newly hired 5 days and in a hub. Existing managers remain as they were especially if status has been for 20 years. Sixth and final do Hybrid 3 days office, 5 days remain for marketing and sales. Those at ATT handle break and fix and part of the guarantee flow a few days a month office……I think spot on, oh by the way just fire the ones everyone knows that have nothing to do and don’t use color, ethnic, or male/female/ confused as an excuse
Recently T-Mobile and Verizon booted their CEO is ours next?

Mine went up 20 bucks a pay period for a comparable plan. So much for the savings with UHC.

More lies. Just like the OHI and then the RTO 3x/week.

One of your best opportunities to voice displeasure with Trane is to leave a negative review on company review sites like Glassdoor or Indeed before you sign any severance agreement (or even after, if it allows). There is power in numbers, and it's time for the company to feel some pain related to its recent poor decisions.

This is an opportunity for you to warn other good people and hard workers about this company and its executive leadership team. Nothing brings about change like public pressure and a dose of shame. You can make a difference!

So this is what a “market-based” company looks like? Since John Stankey took over as CEO in 2020, AT&T’s stock has gone nowhere, bouncing between $14 and $24 while billions were wasted on failed acquisitions, buybacks, pointless reorgs, and the most tone-deaf RTO policy in corporate America.

Five years in, zero shareholder value created. Billions burned. Morale at rock bottom. The “market” isn’t buying his strategy, and neither are the employees who actually keep this place running.

If Stankey really wants to be “market-based,” then start listening to what the market is saying: no confidence. Bring back flexibility, respect, and results-driven work. The 5-day RTO punishment failed. It’s time to admit it and move forward.

Look at the stock price that all the RTO defenders pointed to. We’re back to the January levels, headed for sub-$20, bet.

Where are these RTO defenders now? Hope all you id--ts sold lmao.

By the way you also won’t be getting a bonus due to the increased operating costs RTO has imposed on the business. RTO is working!!!

It’s like someone holding you hostage, making you denounce your religion to be spared, and then they still ki-l you. Don’t trust the enemies of what we know is the way forward, working from home. These are the same guys that show up at the office to talk at the proverbial water cooler for 4+ hours a day. It is the ultimate act of deflection when these blowhards are projecting their disdain for “laziness” (a quality they have mastered) on WFH who simply don’t want CHAD blabbing about his Halloween party bleeding over into my fu--ing conference bridge.

When is the next layoff and which org?

Like RTO policy & procedures? Somewhere where I can see rules. I see different people being treated differently, unfair at best, possibly illegal. I am not asking for this to be posted publicly just tell me where to look for internally as I've spent some time looking for it and I could not find it (and I dont want to go to HR or my mgr).

I’m sick and tired of all the RTO complainers on here. If you don’t like it then you should leave. You complain and complain and yet you stay. No one is forcing you to be here. It’s time to buck up and go into the office like everyone else and like you all did before Covid. The company simply cannot afford to pay for your afternoon tennis lessons, golf rounds, 2 hour boozy lunches, laundry, Costco runs, child day care, etc. the list goes on and on. Too many people have been stealing from this company far too long and it ends now.

It’s very simple, just go to your designated office Monday to Friday from 9-5 as prescribed and be with your team members and actually work. I quite like RTO as do the majority of others here. Your colleagues are at the office. It’s time to Return to Oneness (RTO) and actually work.

For those that believe that remote workers are running errands and doing laundry on "company time", most remote employees are salary. That means they are paid to do a job, regardless of the # of hours they work. Some might get all of their work done in 25 hours, and others might need to work 50+ hours. It is the job of their leader to evaluate their work and determine if they are doing the job that they were hired to do. They do not make OT, so if they actually do a load of laundry between meetings, they are not stealing company time. If they are in the office 40 hours/week it does not mean that they are completing more work.

Hearing some sub-orgs in S&T (specifically Dave’s org) are now requiring their teams to be in 3-4x a week. Can anyone confirm?

The messages on this site are making their way to HR. Apparently the RTO discussion is making some headway and was brought up on their early Monday morning call.

To HR: push back on this mandate, no one likes it and it has no benefit over 4 days.

Post here for tips and recommendations to those venturing into the office. It’s a bit of a free for all in my opinion, not like going into the office pre covid!

AT&T would face a lot less resistance to change if leadership finally dropped the RTO obsession. Most of us support performance-based expectations and accountability, but the forced return and relocation policies have turned the majority of employees against upper management.

You can’t rebuild trust while punishing the workforce. People aren’t resisting change, they’re resisting bad leadership. Until that changes, you’ll keep getting the bare minimum effort and zero loyalty in return.

It is concerning how the company is handling remote work and RTO rules. In the same team, some people are working 100% remote while others with the same job have RTO. This is not fair or consistent. If people in the same roles are treated differently, isn't this discrimination, especially if any protected group is affected.

No problem with RTO, but the rule should be the same for everyone, including those hired remote. If not, everyone should have the same choice to work remote or RTO.

It is also unfair that remote employees get same pay while avoiding commute time and costs that RTO employees have to deal with. If this difference continues, pay should be adjusted to reflect it. Remote employees are tone-deaf in setting meetings when RTO employees are commuting.

This setup feels unfair and is causing frustration among many. The company should apply RTO fairly and equally to all employees.