#worklifebalance

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This place operates like a spreadsheet with badges. If you are not part of the small group steering decisions, you are just a cost line waiting to be adjusted. There are companies that still treat people like long-term investments. T is not one of them.

Y'all. Optum/UHG/UHC whatever you want to
call the entity is a giant joke. Utilize your benefits and get a new job lined up. Do not sacrifice a relationship with your spouse
or children or friends for some weirdos across the country or world behind a computer. I promise the grass is greener.

My mouse cursor suddenly disappeared on the screen and will not come back on.

This is surely a sign from God that my workday is finished.

I don't see how they are going to replace the workforce with AI when we can't even get 50 year old technology working as it should anymore...

Ok, let me get this straight, Walgreens wants employees to donate to a fund to help under paid coworkers? Am I understanding this correctly? That can't be what it truly is. No company would expect its employees to make up the pay gap for them not paying their employees a living wage? Am I missing something or is Walgreens really that out of touch???

This has always been a job. If you are lucky enough to move up the ranks good for you. I always put in the time to get my work done and if that included extra time occasionally so be it. However if I got my tasks done at 4:59 I was signed out at 5.

I’ve never had it this bad in 26 years, across several workplaces. I honestly don’t know whether this is WF or just exceptionally bad luck, but it’s almost impressive how many incompetent and petty people have been assembled in one place. What makes it worse is that every time layoffs hit, some of the last decent and capable people are the ones who get cut. Negative selection at its finest. It truly boggles the mind.

Then I’ll just put in less effort. I’ve always been responsible and usually gone the extra mile, including being available well beyond official hours. I’ve helped resolve plenty of crises and messy situations. But if this is how it’s going to be, I’ll simply stop being available after hours. I’ll coast until they lay me off. That’s probably coming anyway, for all of us, so why bother anymore?

HC had a meeting to talk about feedback on the new policy and out of our 7 wealthy white SLT GP's FIVE were working from home, one was even taking the call from the car??? It's Tuesday, isn't Tuesday a required in office day? So for you marginalized peons with four kids working a part-time job because we don't even pay you enough, be in your seat from 8-5, we will do whatever we want.

Hike is coming in Q4.

Just don’t ask which year.

Meanwhile keep giving 200% effort.

Structure w/out trust just feels like punishment.
The people you are chasing will still hide, just now from a desk.
The rest of us lose flexibility that actually helped us deliver.
Thats why this feels like optics- not strategy.

I get it, times are tough here at AT&T. You might live really far away from a hub and now you have to drive for hours to get here. Maybe you are even sleeping in the parking lot over night. I feel for you. But for the love of God, if you are going to be hotboxing cigs for hours in your car, keep some fresh clothes in a bag and think about using the showers on the first floor. No one should have to smell you all day long.

Seems like the world has gone downhill fast these last few years. Not just at work, but at home.

There suddenly seems to be fraud everywhere, people manipulating other people, people willing to lead children astray, possibly for a little cash.

You can't trust anyone these days. You can only do the best you can. Try to raise your family to have the right values, but with so much corruption around them, what can you do?

Even those places you think that are safe, maybe aren't.

Then, your workplace goes out from under you. You lose your job and there you are with just one more thing to take care of.

Hi all. Been reading this forum while interviewing with Aramco and obviously the situation doesn’t look very promising. But I wanted to ask anyway even if to confirm my negative bias.
I’m in my early 30s, married, no kids. I live and work in Europe earning low 6 digits. I very quickly got to a place where further career progression is very difficult and even if achieved would mean a salary increase incomparable with the increase in hours and responsibilities. I don’t want to say the exact area just in case Aramco HR reads this forum.
The offer is in the 200-300k range. Net it will more than double my salary most likely. I’ll also spend a lot less because I live in probably the most expensive city in Europe where rent is crazy. Most people in the team (including the line manager) are either American or European. The plan would be to stay for a few years, save aggressively and come back to Europe. I know that life is Saudi is strange but I’m sure I’ll be able to survive a few years reading books, playing PS5 and travelling to Europe for holidays a few times a year. I understand that it’s possible for family to visit which would make things easier for me. I also think that in my area Aramco would look pretty good on the resume, and there’s actually an area in which I can grow professionally in Aramco simply because it’s part of the job.

Is this a realistic view given my goal and current position, or am I missing something?

Target tech and product is cooked.

If fidelky thinks he’s going to get anything out his tech team, he’s stoned out of his mind. (I spelled his name wrong - it’s not worth the time spelling it right)

This is the most reactionary/pedestrian group of senior leaders ever assembled. And if you add to that the layer of DEI VPs over the last 8 years, you will get leaders who monitor sprint metrics while the place burns down around them.

Glad that I landed a new job outside Target -staying at target is worse than getting laid off. It’s a complete clown show funded by a bunch of ignorant stock holders and board. good luck all - use Christmas to reassess your career.

Dear Uncle Billy,

I have decided that I do not wish to return to the office. Therefore, I won’t be doing so. This conclusion is final; and just to be clear, entirely beyond your power to control. You may find this frustrating, but rest assured, your ability to compel my presence in the office exists only in your imagination.

Sincerely,

Your #1 Teammate

Optum/UHC jobs exist less to create real value and more to sustain systems, hierarchies, and the appearance of productivity.
People often sense—quietly and uncomfortably—that their work doesn’t truly help customers or society, even while it consumes their time and energy. This disconnect creates fatigue, cynicism, and a low-grade moral injury, especially when work centers on compliance, internal processes, or managing perceptions rather than solving real problems. The deeper issue isn’t effort or competence, but being asked to spend a life maintaining structures instead of meaning—while the work that actually keeps society functioning is undervalued and strained.

Seems to be a Dell thing. Wow!

Every year they remove support services. Every year they want more. Next year we will be fixing our own computers. It will be literally diy everything (hr services, it, travel, hse, visa) oh and don’t work from home you get a roaming cube with no locker. At least it’s equitable, psg21-27. Would blow my mind being a 27 and using weeks of your annual time doing it, hr, admin services. Time value or money!

I never thought I’d say this, but losing my job at Verizon actually feels like the clean break I needed. The place looked solid from the outside, but once I was in it, the long hours, constant pressure, and nonstop scrambling wore me down fast. I kept trying to push through it, but the stress just piled up and it got harder to pretend it was normal. Getting laid off stung for a minute, but a couple weeks later I’m honestly relieved to be out of that environment and figuring out what comes next without that weight on my back.

Lately I keep seeing coworkers walk out for jobs that pay noticeably less (I guess this job market only allows for that), and that says everything about where things stand. The nonstop tension around layoffs has pushed people to a point where any exit feels better than staying. No one even talks about matching their old salaries anymore. The environment has gotten so heavy that most of us just want out before the next wave hits.

I worked in Silicon Valley for years and years. What I found was that most people I worked with, who I thought of as friends, were actually not.

After I left work, I found that the people who I thought were my friends, were actually just people who had lunch with you to keep you as a contact. As soon as you are no longer in the workforce you are no longer worth their time.

Perhaps some of that is my own fault. Perhaps I should have spent more time cultivating friendships with different people... maybe not tech people? Not sure.

I suspect that outside of Silicon Valley things are a bit different. I have relatives that worked in tech and lived in other cities and did not seem to have the obsession with money and the next thing that would bring them more money. They were more focused on family.

The only thing that matters is the family around me. Their safety is pretty much the most important thing. There is nothing else that matters more.

It's very important for me to ensure their safety.

Working here is actually he-l and i would rather take a couple months pay to be laid off than endure more of this. Every employee that still works here is working 1.5x harder and paid the exact same or less every year due to inflation. I havent seen my family in over 6 months

Lately, it feels like my job is taking over everything. I leave the office late, then I'm still checking emails at home (which, I know, my own fault, but some things have to be done if I'm to ever return home). There's just no energy left for my family or anything I enjoy doing. Is anyone else feeling this completely drained?

"Famously brutal Fortune 500 CEO reveals the three rules every American must follow to avoid getting laid off as job apocalypse spreads"

Internet Archive version - https://archive.ph/DwCYF

His 3 points:
1) Go to the office every day - 'One of the problems in our society today is isolation. And working from home stems more isolation.' - Stankey

So he's worried about our mental health now?

2) Take AI training classes, NOW! - dang, I agree with Stankey on something. It's a sad day.

3) Forget loyalty, focus on results - He described the employer-employee relationship as transactional and constantly up for renewal.

Every day, you have to earn your keep at the company,' he said, adding that, 'similarly, the company has to earn the right to your skills.'

Funny. If we really went by his own measure, he should be the first one fired.

I've realized doing excellent work at Citi is frankly an outdated concept. Why exhaust yourself when the real promotion checklist involves laughing at the boss's jokes and volunteering for the flashy, pointless projects? Simply ensure you're the last person they see leaving each night. Productivity is secondary to perfecting the appearance of it.

You have to see this job as just a paycheck, nothing more. Your real purpose needs to be completely outside of this place. It's a losing battle to hope the culture here will ever improve, trust me. Don't let their daily nonsense steal your peace.

I know it's a little sad, but I am desperately looking forward to that week. It feels like the only thing getting me through this month. I don't even remember when this job started being so bad for my head. I just know it is.

So I am one of the people who was home based before and I guess I have to go to the office now until I find something else. Am I going to make more money? Being HBA means I don't have to pay for gas, daycare expenses for two under 5, even food since I can cook at home. Some companies are paying people in the office more money. Is Jones going to do that? I don't get how this benefits me if not. Still having 60% of the office at home but forcing us to come in makes no sense unless there is a financial benefit.

Is anyone else tired of only being motivated by the threat of losing their job? It is absolutely draining to work this way. There is nothing positive left, just constant pressure and anxiety. We deserve better than this.

The company needs to leave block schedules for long term associates. We have earned it with all the mess we have done over the years. Long term associates are the back bone and have earned the company a lot of money. Leave it a line we have a life out side of work

Will they track both Badge In and Badge out?
If so, say goodbye to Coffee Badging.
Your time locked in the zoo will be tracked.

Anyone know how they’re handling this? I’d assume the 2025 reviews won’t count since those are about to be released, and December probably won’t roll into the 2026 cycle either.

I’d hope they are a little more lax with the holidays.

Since the expanded in office 8 hours mandate has it been harder to plan meetings. Most people I know, including me, have hard start and stops now. Good luck trying to set up a call with india, nyc, mn and az. There is a window of like 3 hours. When they treated us like professionals most of us would take calls before going in to the office or after we got home. No more. When the measurement is time and not quality they get time but not quality.

I work as a Coding Analyst I’m going to be quitting. Anyone know if they make work out the two week notice? Debating whether to give a 2 week notice or just quit the last day I would want to work.

I’m hearing some people got moved from exempt to non-exempt (ie hourly pay instead of salary) Is this true? I can’t imagine people being happy about it?

Three times a week.

I have been at this company for 5 months and it’s nothing like it was sold to be in my interviews….. the promise of hybrid work just to be forced back into office. The promise of an upbeat environment just for it to be dull most days. I’ve heard through the grapevine that so many people aren’t happy….. Granted it’s better than Wells in more ways than not lol, but Man!? Am I the only person hired in the least year that feels like I was lied to?

Hertz will enthusiastically fork over a six-figure salary for the prestigious privilege of “leading” people on Teams—usually squeezed somewhere between your mid-morning nap, your daily Starbucks pilgrimage, your hair appointment, a quick load of laundry, a light workout, a heart-to-heart with your work-from-home spouse, and—naturally—your semi-professional pickleball training.

All while the company is basically on fire. Why visit a location when you can watch the flames from the comfort of your couch? Besides, going onsite requires effort, pants, and possibly arranging a babysitter. Absolutely not.

And here’s the best part: you too can snag one of these do-nothing, add-no-value positions. The secret formula? Olympic-level a-s-kissing, a PhD in micromanagement, and the uncanny ability to write “notes” like you’re transcribing a Supreme Court hearing.

Wondering how to land one of these cushy roles? Easy. Hertz will invent a work-from-home, zero-deliverables, six-figure job just for you—as long as they like you. So warm up that nose, dust off those “Excel skills,” and practice looking extremely busy while accomplishing absolutely nothing.

Dreams really do come true.