Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

So if there's ageism you are starting your legal journey then?

@cm You're projecting.

@OP In my experience, GN&T management talk the talk about best network and customer first but they don’t walk the walk. Most of them are short timers who will be in that position for a year or two max and they’re chasing flashy but dubious achievements. In your scenario, they’re chasing quantity of sites not quality. Did we build sites that only cover half the initial objective? No biggie, we’ll request more funding and build more. They also need to stay on the good side of their real estate peers and the best way to do that is to rubber stamp whatever site candidate was submitted.

@c9 Technology has outpaced us? Really, you just wrote that in response to an ageism (and greed) grievance? Closed minded and unbelievably un self aware. Your statement might be true for you, but keeping up or not with technology is NOT age related.

@bz So here's the question...if you've been around long enough to see the decline how did you try to change the greed and ageism? What would you do now if you see a specific sector cutting based on age? What do you think should be done? How would you counsel these people?

We're not in the same era. Technology has outpaced us. Not sure what the Ron DeSantis move is about lol.

1) Older workers...are they Medicare aged people?
2) Those not considered "older" are paying more for insurance. This causes more people to skip general care becoming costly long term.
3) I personally find value in "older workers". They are needed but again I'm not sure what you're considering "older".

@c0 See Justice Samuel Olito in 2009 mouthing "Not true" (directed at Barack Obama during a presidential address). Or see Congressman Joe Wilson shout "You lie." Not a fan of either Olito or Wilson, but appropriate here.

@bt
This rings especially true since OP is from CARTN and they are perpetually at the bottom of every KPI stack rank. It’s shocking to hear how over staffed they were.

@bd OP here. I never said I was riffed, but I have a stake in the matter (and humanity in general), and I have seen the age report. I see that the age report was addressed by another post.

Others have explained getting riffed is not easy for anyone - 100% agree. It was merely pointed out that for RFEs in particular, the issue appears to be there, straight from the age report (ageism with associated greed). But by BDs logic (and some others), there is no grievance since it has been this way for a long time. I guess anyone at anytime should be replaceable if someone else is willing to work for a penny less, so ZERO security for job/health care (insurance) /housing (you should be kicked to the street if someone else is willing to pay a penny more in higher rent)/etc.). I guess the same goes for safety - those that are willing to go underground and dig coal cheaper (less/safety measures), then they get the jobs.

As for BD's comments about a person's skillset and tenure, the network will still designers, the jobs will now be taken by MORE contractors (cheaper for the "company"(in the short term, anyways)). The job didn't go away, and the profits made are still there. The difference in cost (money "saved") between the RFEs (and others) riffed and the replacement contractors is just going to fewer people.

In the 1950s (ignoring a lot of bad stuff of that time period here) a family could be supported by one person and the breadwinner could have a decent pension at the end of their career. Since then there have been thousands of percent improvement in worker productivity (much more money is made per manhour, so companies profits are way up), yet now it takes two people working to make a living, and if you start making decent money, you will be riffed anytime someone is willing to do the job a little cheaper.

So, BD, it sounds like you are all in for a race to the bottom? Do you have children? I heard Ron DeSantis wants to allow younger children to work. Maybe you and your family can live downstream from an unregulated chemical plant.

You built a poor network, you lose your job

@be Greed has been around forever. It's gotten worse over the years but to pretend Verizon cut jobs because it was 100% healthy is naive.

@be The ones not rif'd may work for less. No one wants to be let go but it's no more traumatic for an older worker than the one who is just getting a family started. No one thinks it's ok to layoff people just because they're older. After the VSP in 2024 did you believe things wouldn't progress to more layoffs?

I don't want any of my fellow VZ peeps to be in the panic of losing a job. It's beyond stressful but every sector in the US is laying off or will be laying off. This affects GenX on down. Baby boomers loss significant wealth in 2008 and only 20% have enough to retire. GenX and younger are paying off school debt. Again it's not your age it's expenses on a company needing to right the ship. Everyone is hurting I don't need a chart to tell me that.

@bd Yes, all ages affected OVERALL. But, look specifically at the RFEs in the pdf provided by VZ (one of the GNT groups) if you can get someone to show it to you, assuming you were not fired). You will see the age distributions for those keeping their jobs, and the same for those that were kicked to the curb. It clearly shows a line above and below 50 years of age. Older than 50, gone, with a couple of exceptions (for show?). The real reason: is GREED and a f'd up set of values by decision makers. Take from the many to give to the few....

@a8 You're stuck on THE WRONG REASON for RIFs. Layoffs are affecting ALL generations. Self assess and look at what you're saying! YOU say your skills were necessary to to future of the company due to your tenure you shouldn't be rif'd. In actuality it's not about your age since it's affecting many people younger than 45.

IF you're older than 45 you've known sine the 80s life-long careers at one place haven't been the norm since 1990. Verizon has been laying off people of all ages...as they see fit...since 2008. It's NOT your age. Good grief 😔

It's an old industry

100% agree , but we can't control it and while it stings to see the Network we built and optimized go down the drain...yes it is already happening we have to move on. I personally only need a few more years so a contract job wouldn't be the worse thing, plus you don't have to deal with the political BS among other things.

Look at T-Mobile, bare minimum network, all contractor, shoestring budget and whipping us. That’s all Dan sees.

@a3 So the knowledge of the younger RFEs is different [i.e. better] than that of the older, riffed RFEs? BS. Same job, same skills needed, and the older employees probably have more experiences within and external to the domain to draw on. Plus, the older workers have shown they can adapt by STILL being there after all of the years building the company. Pointing to any AI tool that may be used in the future is not justification for riffing a population that can adapt to the new tool as well as any younger population (if/when whatever new tool comes along).

The older workers being part of the company's insurance plan may make the cost of the insurance plans higher (older workers and their families may have more claims). The salaries of the older workers may be higher. So the argument could be made that it is about money, but is that anymore fair? As stated earlier, the older workers experience may make them more valuable since they probably can create better solutions faster.

The older workers are being kicked to the curb at their most vulnerable time of their careers, AFTER they have helped BUILD and GROW the company. So, from the company, it is Thank You for working hard and meeting all of the timelines, but since you are efficient and effective, but not willing to work 60 hours a week to do more, and TRY to get promoted into one of a very limited number of positions, your are Fired! We want hungry (i.e. young) people who haven't figured out there is more to life than a job title and a few extra dollars.

@OP I've been told by multiple sources that RFEs were hit much harder than most, 40% on average. I know of one market that went from 8 to 1.
Looks " Sprinty" to me...

Come back as a contractor and make twice the money! Good luck

The preference is for contractors...it's not age related as rifs have affected all ages.

The technology has changed. The value of your knowledge hasn't diminished it's just changed. The mass layoffs are affecting many Americans. 60% of 2024 college grads with STEM degrees aren't getting a job in their field.

Ageism is real yes...but many of those laid off are under 45.