For those who have worked in several companies over the years, not just AT&T: do you know of a place with a worse and more toxic work environment and leadership that simply couldn't care less about its employees than at AT&T? I'm really curious about what those companies would be...
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One company had an employee that made a mistake that was supposed to be reviewed by a manager prior to going out to a customer. The "manager" was the son of the owner. The son was not disciplined; it was the employee. He was stood up in the middle of the office and scolded and then told to go home for the rest of the day. They have no health care, no personal days, no pension.
Whatever you think about T, there's always worse companies. All the complaining in the world won't help. Make the best of your situation and seek to improve it anyway you can whatever that takes.
I have worked for other companies small and “Fortune 50” large. Grass is NOT greener there! Actually the severance and benefits are better at At&T. if you are good and know something useful you will find a job.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise...
"The military. You don’t know how good you have it. Try working 80 hours a week with no overtime...."
Thank God there are those that VOLUNTEER to do that job ( as I did). It's not the same thing. Apples to oranges.
"AT&T is an unfeeling, nonliving thing meant to generate money, we receive our share based on our contribution."
The first half is obviously true. The second half ("we receive our share based on our contribution.") is so ludicrously wrong that I can't believe anyone could think that. Does that mean that Randall's share is justified by his contributions? Really? The man that put the company in debt for DTV and Time-Warner? How's that contribution working out? I'll tell you how: the blood in the water is drawing sharks like Elliot. Predators like Elliot don't prey on healthy companies. They prey on companies like AT&T that have been damaged by bad management.
@12HLkqmJ-2mby You missed my point . I said "parachute", as in Golden Parachute. I get a fine salary for what I do, but if I choose to suddenly retire no one will hand me $8m in severance - 6 months tops.
$8m - that's 60 jobs at $100k salary + benefits. What does a person making $12m /yr need with $8m severance? Nero fiddles and we pass the water buckets.
But to the original poster, again, you work for the company, and it's their game. Toxic or not, your choice is to play or join another team. Some teams win, some lose. My position is neutral, when AT&T management find they no longer need my contributions, I am gone. Fact of life, no matter where you work. God has it, no matter what.
I’ve worked at several different companies - top notch Fortune 500 and a couple small ones. You are somewhat correct in that ATT doesn’t care about most employees. But, if you are part of the VERY chosen few, you are golden. Sadly, most are NOT and the ones who are should reconsider the long term trade offs of sticking around or leaving for better pay, options etc.
Hey @12HLkqmJ-cgi s— it up you signed up for it and you get out after 4 years. Try having 21 bosses in 19 years with 2 of whom you never met. a AT&T S—S
It all depends on your supervisor and then the next in line. This determines your work life rating.
@12HLkqmJ-2xzy PITTANCE, what do you do for AT&T. I make great money for work that's not that hard compared to other places I've worked. Most who talk this way have never worked anywhere else. Upper level communication problems absolutely, no direction on budgets you bet but pittance no sir. Yes I've worked at much worse auto assembly line try that out and tell me how you like A&T.
AT&T was worse then MCI Wordcom
I have worked govt contractors, SMBs, and large tech companies, and the best I've ever had it was as my own boss. You trade your skills for their money...that's all they owe you. At AT&T and elsewhere, c-levels take their multi-million dollar parachutes while the worker bees get a pittance, but it's their show. Work for yourself, you control your fate, work for someone else, it's up to them. AT&T is an unfeeling, nonliving thing meant to generate money, we receive our share based on our contribution.
All the best to those who recently took the buyout, and who will be laid off in the coming months. It's not you or me, it's business, and when we lose our value they have no reason or obligation to pay us.
Yes! I’ve been at some real sweatshops. The kind where folks get tapped on the shoulder Friday afternoon and asked to go see the boss. You don’t see them again. I’ve been at agencies and small/mid sized companies. All of them are worse. Constant layoffs which happen at random with no warning, long hours, and very unprofessional. Most folks don’t make it 1-2 years at an agency and usually 1-3 years at small/mid companies. I’ve been at att for 8 years now. When I started it was an awesome job for the first 3 years or so. After that it’s been a merry go round of boss changes for me. I’ve had 6 different bosses in the past 4 years. This all means no opportunity for advancement or any kind of real career. By the time I get to know them, they move on and you start over. It’s a job. That’s all it is. I come to work, I get a paycheck. I treat it as such and am a lot happier. 5pm rolls around I’m out the door now. I no longer work late or on vacations like I had in the past.
It ranks as the top of the worst places. Lack of communication from leadership leaves all the employees scrambling and scared for their jobs all the time. Every three months some BS accouncements about cuts and to just keep your head down and work until you get the call. Leadership is tone deaf. They shove classes down your throat pushing principles they themselves don't practice. Your VP changes frequently. Every two years they leave to do something better for their career, leaving their garbage projects that stole hours of your time undone. I predict AT&T will be broken off into smaller companies in the next 5 years.
"My employer before AT&T. Reminded me of the pointy hair boss in Dilbert. "
That is because the creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams, worked for Pac Bell!
HONEST ANSWER=NOOOO
I think you can tell who is making the decisions. Yet they always blame it on someone from “above” to cover themselves. There is a lot of bs in play for all these cuts. Doing a good job will not save you. But taking the credit for someone else’s work on a good project and letting your superiors know will.
I don't know if AT&T is the worst or not but it is bad. No one get info on what the criteria is for loosing your job. Thus you can't perform in a way that lets you keep your job. Living in fear of loosing your job is bad. Also they keep it very secret as to WHO is choosing the employees who loose their job. Don't forget the full team Chop where are all on the team are let go or forced into contractor positions. Makes me fear for my children and their future jobs if this is how employment will be as a normal course of business in the future. (Mr. $uck$ToBeMe....forced out of AT&T Mar 2019 after 20.75yrs)
“5 years in a technical sales position. I had 7 managers during the time I was there. “
That pretty much sums it up. They switch managers all the time. Before I left had like 3 my last two years. And that was in IT. It was a joke.
I have been at south central bell, bellsouth and now at&t since 1979. It can be a good company, the pay is great to me. The problem is leadership, most call center mgrs are not educated and they beg so hard for a job, it is so shameful to watch then mgrs have their favorites, you always have those special people that have to kiss it. I'm thankful I have made it this far but there are some good people there.
We've heard the story of the blind men and the elephant.
- The first blind man reached out and touched the side of the huge animal. "An elephant is smooth and solid like a wall!" he declared. "It must be very powerful."
The second blind man put his hand on the elephant's limber trunk. "An elephant is like a giant snake," he announced.
The third blind man felt the elephant's pointed tusk. "I was right," he decided. "This creature is as sharp and deadly as a spear."...
AT&T is like the elephant. Their own description of the company is "AT&T is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates operate worldwide in the telecommunications, media and technology industries."
And within each subsidiary, there are different jobs, some of which are cherry, and some of which are terrible. I've done multiple jobs, and they vary from best job ever to terrible. There is not one job, or one AT&T. So, someone can say terrific, and someone else can saw awful, and both can be correct.
Easily the worst company I ever worked for. I was on management side for just past 5 years in a technical sales position. I had 7 managers during the time I was there. The last one was a peer who was promoted into the position that pretty much all of us shook our heads at. Once he was anointed I was put on plan as our numbers ( which in no way were realistic, 18k a month in new top line revenue between approximately 300 accounts (maybe 80 or so would buy anything). The rest wouldn’t so much as even return your call and if you tried to cold call them it was either go away and don’t ever come back to being told the person we need to see is out.
3 months in I was given a final 30 days to improve. I even tried going elsewhere in the company but was told my position was not capable of being backfilled. I ended up going on leave due the stress and ended up in the hospital for about 6 weeks for mental health issues. Came back and 3 days later was told I was released due to performance. I learned a lot about that place. Now I work for a competitor in a position better suited for my skills. I actually make more now am respected by peers, sought out for my assistance on national technical related issues for Fortune 100 companies across the country and am most importantly happy.
It’s sad how a company like AT&T can ruin the self esteem of someone who is not only ex military but also a veteran in the industry for 20+ years. Prior to that I worked for a smaller CLEC for about. 15 years and made the decision to leave because that company was down sizing.
Everything happens for a reason and although it was miserable to go through it the Lord taught me quite a bit about myself those last few months and what really matters. I just wish others there would realize they aren’t the only company to work for. But they do a great job with the propaganda and scaring people.
Will never work or do business with them again
"IBM much worse. At lest with AT&T we had active pensions and decent bonuses.
You think you have it bad, but you will see once you leave."
No pensions for new employees. And I am sure stankey is thinking ways of getting creative with bonuses.
I guess att is better than cleaning sewers but not sure because I never cleaned sewers. But I bet you don't hear surplus or layoffs as much cleaning sewers.
I have been told the creator of Dilbert once worked for and got his inspiration from Pacific Bell.
IBM used the same management consulting firm as AT&T.
Go figure...
IBM much worse. At lest with AT&T we had active pensions and decent bonuses.
You think you have it bad, but you will see once you leave.
Really we are going to compare att to the military and say how great it is? Ok then
The military. You don’t know how good you have it. Try working 80 hours a week with no overtime. Spending years away from your family. Missing holidays. Missing your child’s birth. Missing your loved ones funeral. Having the freedom to leave base just go get a beer when you get off the clock. Having an identity. Getting shot at. Quit your whining and man up. You don’t know what a horrible job is.
My employer before AT&T. Reminded me of the pointy hair boss in Dilbert.
Private owned. Had to fight to get paid for OT worked. Not paid for vacations ( claimed to reduced paid vacation time).
No att is the worse - no other company throws around surplus or outsourcing like att. It is a cesspool. Wish I knew what I know now before I took the job.