#worklifebalance

But by now I know the systems, I know the people, and leaving feels like starting over. So I stay. It's stupid but it's honest. I think there are many stuck at IBM with a similar mindset.

Lately almost every conversation turns into someone talking about applying elsewhere, and a lot of them are willing to make less money if it means escaping this place. That says more about what working here has become than any employee survey ever could.

Anyone wonder if they are willing to provide gas assistance for flex staff, and or reduce work in the office to two days a week during this economy to help cost of living at this time?

I know that probably sounds strange, but when layoffs actually surprised people, it meant they happened rarely enough that nobody was constantly expecting them. These days, layoffs feel so normal that there’s barely even shock anymore. We’re always waiting for the next round, so when it finally happens, it just feels like more of the same.

A recent study analyzed worker risks across the United States. Affordable Contractors Insurance conducted the comprehensive report. Mississippi ranked eighth among states with the biggest risks for workers. Factors included high layoff rates, low wages, and limited unemployment benefits. The state also lacks paid sick leave and family leave laws.

Biloxi, Mississippi

https://amp.sunherald.com/news/local/article315646434.html

Are we going to have a schedule bid for Juneteenth like we had for Memorial day.

I used to love coming in on Friday because the office was empty, the manager never showed up, and it was a peaceful productive day. Too many of you are now thinking the same thing and coming in on Friday now and I need you to go away lol. That is all.

PNC implemented a five-day return-to-office mandate this week. This policy requires most employees to work onsite daily. Many employees expressed strong negative reactions on social media. Concerns include long commutes and childcare challenges. PNC states the policy supports collaboration and culture.

Pittsburgh, PA

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/news-2/labor/amid-five-day-return-to-office-mandate-pnc-employees-vent-on-social-media/

All those posts reporting bl oo d baths
All the hysteria
1000 cuts is SOP
The real issue moving forward is RTO less flexibility. How will we be punished if we can’t make it in due to extraneous circumstances?
I heard many ppl complaining this week is there truth to the rumors that they may tweak it? Or is that just wishful thinking?

SAP used to be the greatest company to work for, at least as far as I am concerned.

But now? Not anymore. The current board is su-king all joy and enthusiasm out of work.

But are other companies that different? Oracle... meh. Microsoft... no thanks.

Is there an alternative that a) pays well, b) treats their employees well, and c) is large enough not to disappear in the near to middle future?

I am not aware of any, unfortunately.

I was not laid off but am not happy with layoffs and very sad to see close people leave. I will have a lot of work and be miserable. Can I get a package to leave Fidelity? Could I return later?

I was laid off today and just sat there like “now what?” What are your plans for now to the end of the month?

I’m thinking to just show face at daily meetings, don’t do anything else and ignore 90% of teams and email messages. I mean this was worst case right? They can’t really do anything else?

Ever coming or we hybrid now

do guidelines on responsibilities handled by each gsr even mean anything? ive been gsr 7 for four years and my responsibility, scope, and importance of work dramatically increased but im still gr7 all the same. Exceeded on all reviews with the exception of met on my second year.

is this my direct management holding their cards close to their chest or is Ford not a place that cares about fairly compensating employees for workload

Hearing that there is another round of layoffs happening today?

Anyone know anything?

Long story short: After a long time of searching I finally found the right therapist for me, and was reassured that RTO couldn't interfere with my appointments. Well sure enough, my manager allows me to leave the office for my appointments, but the real issue is having to commute basically 4 times just to continue seeing my therapist. I literally cannot afford it. Thank you Bill.

I want to work from home tomorrow, but I don’t want to miss my mighty badge swipe

To Fidelity only, but are you all aware all the professionals in many huge multibillion dollar companies their employees are as pi---d off as we are for FT RTO?!. They have all stirred the hornets nest! No one is happy, if they successfully did their wfh massively productive employees have proven they can be trusted to wfh and be flexible with coming into an office. It just shows we are completely off their radar for loyalty or respect or for their MASSIVE PROFITS they’ve enjoyed. Maybe just maybe there’ll be infinitesimally small reductions in productivity by naturally being back in a distracting office and I hope they see an overall decline because of RTO. Nothing evil or malicious just a natural decline because being in a busy noisy office lends itself to more distractions. Be careful the powers that be you may be cutting off your nose to spite your face. WFH was a long planned situation and it worked fabulously well and they’re still unhappy with the workforce . Give the professional adults in your office the due respect they deserve. Allow flexibility.

With gas prices rising at an astronomical rate, I've heard rumors that T is considering lowering the in-office average for the summer months to 2 days a week. Obviously this would be amazing for all of the employees who are suffering with increased cost of living across the board. Is there any truth to this?

If your account was temporarily locked out early this week confirming your pending surplus, what is your current plan? What are you going to be doing different now?

I was so scared to leave for a long time. I always thought maybe the problems were me. I've been gone for a year now and I can tell you with confidence it wasn't me. My stress is gone. My weekends are mine again. Leaving was the best decision I've made in a decade.

came into the office today to find my microsoft account has been disabled… said it should be back in 30 minutes…. 4 hours ago

and I kick myself everyday that I didn't have the stones to leave 10 years earlier.

They say the grass isn't always greener. In this case, I have yet to fine someone who didn't find better grass.

I love coming to the office to see everyone (including me) play on their phones.

I should NOT have to watch a video on how to get time off entered. Why the he-l do we only have videos for training??? This is actually dog sh-t

Background, fairly new engineer less than 3 YOE and im on a new team (not by choice) and the team is not what I was expecting it to be. This role/work is better suited for someone with more experience. I want to leave this team already and advice on this

when you tell people at wprk you’re unhappy, you think you’re putting the co on notice... like, im a good employee, i’m telling you something is wrong so go fix it before i leave.

but that’s usually not how it works.

your boss tells their boss. then everyone starts asking what’s up... and maybe for five minutes it sounds like they care about the problem.

but then all of this always flips...

because the problem you brought up is probably happening under their leadership. so now it’s not “what do we need to fix?” all of a sudden becomes “is this person becoming a problem?”

then come the usual labels. you know them all...

ur not a culture fit. probably checked out. might leave anyway. maybe we need a backup plan, who's covering for him, who else knows her work, etc...

and now the thing you complained about is no longer the main issue. you are the main issue.

meanwhile you’re sitting there thinking they’re working on it. but behind closed doors, they are deciding what to do with you...

because fixing a broken system is hard. replacing one fu--ing unhappy employee is sooo much easier for them...

so before you tell them everything, just understand the game. rarely feedback leads to change but, often, it just tells them who to plan around.

stay safe.

The company doesn’t believe or care about Work Life Balance anymore. To the company it’s all about compliance reports.

A few days of this and I'll feel like I'm paying for the privilege of working.

Hey Billie D! Let’s see how well the bank does this quarter coming up with lower productivity because you can’t adapt to modern time and need to save face with all of the real estate you purchased by displacing employees who could manage work life balance for once. How fun!! Can’t wait to hear about it!

Considering applying for a WF role. Been monitoring this thread and there seems to be a lot of complaints around the in office policy, which I understand to be 3 days in office, and they are ensuring people stay for 8 hours on those days. My current role is 4/1, but no close monitoring of actual hours in office (yet).

Want to confirm it’s 8 hours in office they are requiring, and ask if you can come in earlier, for example 7am, and leave earlier if you need to - versus 9-5.

We can't do our jobs from home, but our jobs can be outsourced to a completely different country on another continent. So they can do the same jobs we supposedly can't do from home, from India or wherever else? Make it make sense, please.

I told them no, not unless truly desperate. The hours are long, the pressure is constant, and the company treats employees like they're disposable. Take a job here and expect to have no life outside of work. And to think that I used to recommend this place to people.

I've been here five years and the last five have been miserable. If they offer a package, I'm gone the same day.

Management in my BU looks mostly upset about having to come back to the office. No one really seems to think there will be layoffs.

It makes me feel better that the leaders are also unhappy about having to come back to the office.

Sitting in AT&T's open office today. No assigned desks. Five day mandate. "Collaboration" is the official reason.
The reality: complete silence. Cold shoulders. Headphones. Everyone either annoyed or running on fumes. The only conversations happening are between people who already knew each other before they got here.

Forced proximity is not culture. It never was.

McElfresh posted about collaboration last week and got 403 likes from 130,000 employees. The open office told the truth he won't.

And for the person who always replies "see you on the commute" congratulations. You've perfectly summarized what AT&T calls culture.

Two hours of traffic. A hot desk with no name on it. Headphones in. Eyes down. And a COO posting about collaboration from a corner office while the rest of us perform presence for a badge reader.

This is what market-based culture looks like from the inside.