I have never worked in a massive company that has immediate leadership pretending like everything is okay when it's clearly not. People are losing their income and heading into a hellscape of a job market. Insanity.
31 replies (most recent on top)
My leader has been very open about the fact that he has no idea what's actually going to happen to any of us, including himself. As soon as he's heard anything (typically from this site), he gives us the unofficial heads-up. It doesn't make it any less of a maddening wait, but the candor is appreciated.
He also, in years past, was very open about how sh---y the previous layoffs were and that we had to soldier on and try to make the best of bad situations, while also encouraging us to not get stuck here and keep updated on anything that could potentially get us another job within or outside of the company.
That attitude was a large part of why I stayed up to now, and I realize I'm extremely lucky to have that sort of leadership. Waiting to see how the hammer drops this time.
@av if you even have to ask, it’s too late, don’t bother. Or read below for the real conversations being had. EQ is not an inherent trait in everyone.
@a5 @ad @a8 @aj @ar @as I hope you all get the opportunity to be the fearless ideal leader you would like your current incompetent, spineless, weak leader to be. I hope you survive and get the opportunity or wish you get the leaders you really deserve.
In my experience middle management is a thankless job, can never satisfy higher ups or reports, I will be happy to walk away from all this BS and start fresh somewhere else! Good to you all
@a2 whats the point of leaders lying on an anonymous website 😂 my leader has told me that overall he has been kept in the dark as well but has acknowledged lay offs are coming.
@OP please suggest how leadership should behave or act? CFO made the announcement, no information is coming down to lower / middle management, I have seen messages from SVPs (if true) that even they don't know or they are just good actors, but could also be part of this RIF, no one knows. Not defending any one, sure we all deserve answers and clarity but true blame goes to the very top of the chain which does not give a flying f***k about your, mine or anyone else’s feelings.
My favorite was at a recent townhall, maybe 2 months ago where they address job security with no plans for cuts and all the lemmings clicking applause in Teams. Depending on your level your direct supe has no fn idea.
I told my direct supe about the CFO comments a month ago. Ruined his lunch that day.
@ap Repercussions? This transition is public information. Pretending otherwise to cover your own back isn't management, it's self-preservation. True leaders have already had these conversations. True leaders prioritize transparency and support their teams through transformations. End of story.
@ap OoO scared of the HR boogeyman? There’s a way to communicate honestly, keep your team grounded, and manage uncertainty without overstepping. You don’t need confidential information to demonstrate leadership. You need emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and the ability to communicate realistically. That’s what you’re paid to do.
And those who can lead effectively through uncertainty, even if they’re laid off, have skills that will serve them well beyond this company. Leadership is a capability, not a title.
@a5 The point is that some leaders may not even be aware that this is happening, so they wouldn't know to address it with their team. There has been no internal communication about it, I only saw it by chance
@a5 if a leader does that without any direction or explicit instructions from their supervisor, specifically encouraging their employees to prepare their resume and one of those employees take it to HR or skip level do you understand the consequences? No manager in their right mind will risk their job. They are all called middle management for a reason.
@ak If they don’t have the information, all that’s left is to wait for your pink slip. Like the rest of us.
@a5 as a leader, I did do this all day
@aj So flattening to what degree? How will it solve the problem or have a desired outcome which seems to be my leader needs to give me information which they don't.
@ah No one expects managers to have answers they haven’t been given. But what exactly is the point of all these titles, layers, and salaries?
Let’s not pretend the problem started with layoffs. Many of these leaders couldn’t provide clear direction when business was good, and now that things are difficult, their lack of leadership is even more apparent.
Ironically you’re making a compelling case for flattening the organization. Props to McKinsey for the idea! If these roles weren’t adding value during the good times and can’t provide leadership during the bad, what exactly are we paying for?
Perhaps the company has finally recognized what employees have known for years: a title doesn’t make someone valuable.
Just wondering what people are expecting their managers to say when there is nothing being shared from the top? If people are unable to see the writing on the wall or cope with this situation we all are in (it is clear that all levels will be impacted) maybe they need not their leaders but therapist.
And I know this comment is going to get down voted but f’k u all and grow up, this is at will employment, these corporates don’t have soul or empathy, pure capitalism at its best!
@ab can’t wait to destroy this one! Used to play by the rules but gloves are off now.
@ad When a company allows this type of person to operate as a “leader,” I’m out. I don’t get paid a manager’s salary to manage someone else’s emotions, ego, or lack of maturity.
The Peter Pan effect at Comcast is real. Too many people want the title, authority, and recognition of leadership without the emotional maturity or accountability that comes with it. The entire company is a joke.
@aa that person is a wench, good luck.
@a1 a real "leader" powers through tough decisions and does what they can for their people - even of that means just talking and being available. These "leaders" are not equipped to deal with hard situations. I saw my "leader", an SVP in CB, melt down this time every year when hard decisions had to be made and we had to pull her through it.
@a3 Proof that whoever your leader is, su-ks!
@a9 new enps in a week!
Our new "leader" in CB has not even visited our floor in two months. Since her husband is in finance, assuming she got a heads up and her job was going to be eliminated on the resi side so jumped over to CB. That's how this company rolls. What a joke.
My favorite was their incredulous reaction to workplace in the last eNPS survey lol.
This is exactally why I dont recommend my friends for family work for comcast because we lack direction
Also no one I know lives in India or the Phillipines so its a pointless question.
@a1 respectfully FU-K THAT. If your only way to make more money is to climb the corporate ladder and to manage people, and you cannot #1 manage employees, or #2 manage them through an enterprise layoff with humility and kindness, and actually check on them, you look like you are on board with the mess. So no, the minute you take those leadership roles, you need to step up and be a LEADER. I know people at Comcast who have open and honest convos with their leadership. I, however, have tried, and they wanted no part of it, so we were both playing pretend. Welcome to the Comcast Circus.
@OP yes. It’s sad and pathetic really.
They either extremely tight lipped or they have no clue. I’m guessing the latter
To the leaders posting they know nothing - you’re missing the point. Communicate that to your employees face to face. Talk about it. Tell teams to get their resumes updated and hear their concerns. Be humans.
Leader here, I'm only aware of any of this because of this site and the news outlets reporting. We've been kept in the dark as well.
Leader here! We have no information. We are just as dark as you all.
Almost all of them are tied to NDA's they have no other choice but to lie or follow a script. Remember that you cannot trust leadership here. Do what's best for yourself, keep your head down, and be curious.
Did you ever think it’s just as hard for them & they may also be impacted?