Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

Management needs to go all out like Verizon did and offer 1 full year of severance to long tenure employees instead of 6 month max. Period.

They would get the numbers they need and stop stressing out EVERYONE out about who/when the next ball drops.

Management needs to go all out like Verizon did and offer 1 full year of severance to long tenure employees instead of 6 month max. Period.

They would get the numbers they need and stop stressing out EVERYONE out about who/when the next ball drops.

@1sdh, let’s not get too technical there Grasshopper, the opinion written was only that, an opinion. Try to focus in on the general theme of this particular thread and not get wrapped up in the formalities of one Op-Ed.

Personally, I’d rather have the "Letter" delivered as a live stream speech, by a Big Wig upstairs so as to see the face of the one who drew the short straw....letters are something you can put in the mail, as it were, and disassociate yourself from rather easily.

Just my "opinion."

Based on the OP and the responses, what I get from the points being made, are that this is all just a game. We know the game pieces, Surplus, Outsource, MVO or just plain quit. We also know some of the rules which can change, like 6 mo severance, no severance if offered outsource, etc. And the smart advice from an experienced people tell your boss your true intentions. I think that this is key in winning the game on your terms. Just like all things in AT&T, it's who you know, not what you know. It's still the L3 and up that decide who goes and who stays, a good ole boy network, are you part of whatever inner circle that will impact you? Play their game, to save your skin, and to exit the best way possible for you. I think this does best work for you if your 55+, MR75+, and are finally at a point in your private financial life (debt free, house paid, car paid, zero CC balance, etc.). I need 10 more months, and I would love to take an involutery MVO, get 6 mo sev, and apply for max employment ins. I'm still young enough to keep working if I chose, hence the emp ins filing, but, I will not work in anything like what I have for AT&T, I've been ruined by what has happened over all the years.

"Letters are easy, I can write a letter and then decide to change some of the rules two months later.

• If you’re willing to believe everything in print then you’re right, it’s not a rumor."

I think you don't know what the word rumor means. It doesn't mean it might change or ultimately not be what happens. Rumor means not coming from a known, legitimate source. If you have a letter from the company, it's not a rumor.

VP Hopkins announced Thursday that the # of involuntary cuts still needed will be known after the current ATO MVO offer closes on Dec 5th. She alluded to those cuts being announced soon after. In that case, you could still be off payroll by end of year - not 1st qtr - if you don't look for an internal job.

The “involuntary offer” is what is known as surplus and/or outsourcing and for MANY, MANY of us, it is coming sooner vs. later, T +‐ 3 years, but it’s definitely coming....no if’s and or buts, about it !!!!

The Titanic has set its course, just brace yourself for impact, as much as possible, and pray !!!!

There will be light on the other side.

God bless everyone.

If you are reddy to go then by all means take the current offer. A lot of people are not reddy to retire. There is no involuntary offer, you are told your last day at work. If you know it’s coming then you can let your manager know that they can pick you and they may be able to accommodate you. Or you can try to find an open position to move to, good luck with that in the current environment.
Letter or no letter I have seen what happened to the legacy AT&T, Lucent and Telcordia (old Bellcore now Ericsson). They had massive cuts and all the signs are there for the same thing now at the company now called AT&T. Massive unprecedented debt, shedding customers by the millions and Wall Street vultures circling. Don’t need a crystal ball to know there’s gonna be massive downsizing over the next three years or more. Unless you believe HBO Max and 5G will somehow save the company. Wall Street doesn’t think so. A decade of Randy and extremely very bad acquisition deals have destroyed the company. He wasn’t kidding when he said it wouldn’t be the same company in 2020.

Randall gets $30 million, free trip to the Masters and Pebble Beach and the company will lose over 500k video subscribers!!

This is a sure thing for the 1st qtr of 2020!!

Thé only thing we know is what is written, an involuntary offer may be coming in January but we don’t know for certain who will be tapped. Outsourcing, before or after that Involuntary, doesn’t tell us when we will be reaped. I Don’t trust managements letters!

So let me get this straight, you get this letter (which you base your whole argument on) that a guaranteed offer will make you wait until after January 1 so you can get the 6 month package, probably unemployment and fade off into the sunset.
So with that guarantee, why would anyone take the current MVO? Why not wait? Can you guarantee that you, or the person next to you will even get an offer? Sorry, but no one can actually give me that assurance 100%.

Perhaps I’m not on the same planet, but I’m not willing to chance that Januarys "Involuntary" will fail to include me! Or that I won’t be outsourced instead, (before the Involuntary happens) or the Severance has been reduced to 3 months, or more, or healthcare goes up as a condition.

Have to agree with the OP’s general thesis, the current MVO is on the table where I can see it so I will wave by to unemployment as a small sacrifice.

Seems the point the OP was making was missed. Letters are easy, I can write a letter and then decide to change some of the rules two months later.

If you’re willing to believe everything in print then you’re right, it’s not a rumor. But if you have a nagging amount of skepticism, like me, then it’s definitely a rumor, until proven otherwise. Seems some are willing to accept the company line because they received a letter....the rules can change and perhaps you get your package minus six month.

Again, as the OP mentioned, maybe the MVO, or Surplus doesn’t include you on this go around....now you’re left to the fate of the next episode....outsourcing.

No sure what planet the OP is on. No rumor. It was stated in the MVO letter there would be surplus come January if not enough takers.

Outsourcing is not so bad vs MVO or surplus if you don’t want to retire or you are to young to retire. You Still get a full paycheck and benefits. I know every state is different but in NJ max unemployment is about $2,700 a month. I am sure most people at the working level make two to three times that a month. So getting outsourced for at least a year at full pay is better than six months severance, unemployment and no benefits. Also gives you at least a year to look for a new job. Most outsourced make it to two years and there are people who are there six or more years.

I was laid off in Sep of 2018 after declining the MVO. I also told my 2nd level if there are layoffs then please choose me first. I was ready to go and also didnt want younger people to go instead of me. I'm 60 and was going to retire a year later anyway. So I'm just saying that if you want to be laid off then tell your boss this. I was #1 in productivity but also had health issues he was well aware of. If you tell your boss they may lay you off. 2nd levels are human after all. No one likes to lay people off so if you volunteer you make it easier on your boss and you get what you want. I thanked him for laying me off and he said I made 1 decision much easier for him. If you are older like me with 30 years than why not go and relax a bit. The stress was totally lifted from my shoulders when I was told I was getting laid off. If you need your job than I wish you the best.

It's like that big dude that says, 'are you going to eat that?' Sure, he wants you to volunteer, but he's not really asking.

Not really a rumor. There will be an involuntary.