Thread regarding CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield layoffs

No Need for Layoffs if You Pi$$ Off Your Employees and Get Them to Quit

Happy 2020! Lots of new reductions in benefits for associates have been quietly rolled out (as in, unless you are paying attention to your emails, you may have missed them).

First, unless you get "above target"/3.5 or above), you're going to receive less of your bonus. Yes, you can meet all your goals but unless you do more than that, you are looking at a 10% or more reduction in your bonus payout in 2021. You are effectively taking a pay cut.

Second, retirement benefits are being cut. Obviously, the intent is to get the highly tenured to take packages and leave. But, wow, the brain drain that our area is going to experience is going to be massive. We've got 35+ years folks in our area who know way too much about our systems, how they function and how they don't, to just watch them walk out the door with all that information. Yes, that much knowledge should not be in the heads of so few, and succession planning should be there (it's not) but this was obviously not considered when this new policy was put in place. And, we have a bunch of upset older folks who are feeling very slighted.

PTO rollover is being capped...

It is Brian's company now so in turn, his to run the way he wants. But, these are draconian, "screw you" messages to the rank and file. I keep wondering who is advising and counseling him on these ideas and telling him to implement them. If CareFirst were a commercial operation and publicly traded with shareholders and dividends, I could see it. But it's a not for profit that is supposed to also serve the community - its actual employees live in this community for which it is to be serving. But, they are getting nickled and dimed instead.

It also stings when you hear that CareFirst had one of its most successful years ever. Successful year? Let's punish the employees by rolling back their benefits!

I'm not in Baltimore, and DC is not a depressed market. What will happen with this is that the high performers will leave and go somewhere that they don't get their benefits chipped away. CareFirst has a mission, but I'm not volunteering here, and if I wanted to be one, I'd volunteer at a soup kitchen. I spend the 40+ at my job to make money, pay my pills, my mortgage and send a kid to college.

These new policies are insulting. You can drag everyone into ballrooms for a day and talk about diversity and inclusion but if you treat people badly, they will walk out the door.

Thoughts?

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| 2531 views | | 12 replies (last February 23, 2020) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+13c5VTs7

12 replies (most recent on top)

Do you mean blind loyalty? There is no such thing as being at a company for life. CareFirst may be a non-profit, but it still must compete, be profitable, and grow. This means having skills, people, and partners that can help drive innovation and change needed to be competitive. There is a big change in the industry coming, it's forcing many "blues" to rapidly change. Go search for other layoffs at HCSC, Anthem, etc....it's all over and not just CareFIrst. There are larger things knocking at the door, do read, search, and learn. It's easy to plan management, but prior management did not work to position the company to be competitive in the future, so here we all are. The job market is good, you may need to relocate, or drive further, but it is good in the DMV area so seek other opportunities and be happier.

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Post ID: @spda+13c5VTs7

In response to those who are “younger” and responding on here thinking those who are tenured and p-ss-d off shouldn’t be well guess what we can be. We’re tired of whiny entitled asses like you coming in thinking you can sit around talking about happy hour on Friday when it’s only Monday afternoon. If you could only learn a lesson in what it’s really like to put in an honest day’s work instead of checking Facebook or Instagram or whatever other social media is trending for the day you might understand. Loyalty used to mean something. Not like you all who have seven jobs with as many different employers by the time your 30. So, STFU and let us be p-ss-d off because our hardworking loyalty has meant nothing.

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Post ID: @anum+13c5VTs7

IT was dismantled, including it's Manager and outsourced. It already took a dull day to get a live person then a call back three days later to ask f the issue was resolved. The replacement contractors are worse and just as clueless. Claims, dental and enrollment also lost a huge number of people. We're not only employees of the company, but we're also members living in the community CareFirst serves. The company's public image does not match the uncertainty of employees who remain.

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Post ID: @6vbz+13c5VTs7

i’m sitting back and reading all these comments and the only thing that comes to mind is ENTITLEMENT CULTURE.

Wow! Talk about a bunch of entitled people. Welcome to the real world and modern day society which many of us younger folks don’t have those safety nets that all of you were afforded. We have to earn hours which means every day come in and push and do more and show your value. People can’t just sit around collecting paychecks.

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Post ID: @6ord+13c5VTs7

So it’s OK for no one else to have pensions but all of you can sit here and complain about having them I don’t get that.

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Post ID: @6itr+13c5VTs7

All of you are so clueless about the current labor market. Perhaps long tenure has blinded you to the realities of the 2020 workplace. Even with these benefit adjustments, this company's benefits are very good. As for pensions, welcome to the world of the younger generations.

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Post ID: @5pbu+13c5VTs7

How do we start the petition to relieve CF CEO?

https://www.change.org/start-a-petition?source_location=header

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Post ID: @4xok+13c5VTs7

23 years at CF! How can we organize to fight these changes and injustices - I’m in!

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Post ID: @4yol+13c5VTs7

Perhaps hit ‘em where it hurts... “the blue flu” would really speak volumes during the next Day of Equity. You want to keep taking from your associates well, guess what, we aren’t giving back.

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Post ID: @3sos+13c5VTs7

I'm hearing rumors about discontinuing the pension plans for those who have them. You join a company where you think you will have the best benefits (at one time we had the best health benefits - friends can't believe that their health benefits are much better then mine, especially retirement - pretty sad that our own HR tells you to look elsewhere for d–g benefits because CF is way too expensive for what you get), work hard for 30+ years and here we are. Too late to start a new career elsewhere.

I understand change is necessary. Been adapting and supporting the changes for 30+ years, but what's happening now if beyond my worst nightmare.

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Post ID: @1cki+13c5VTs7

Maybe its time for employees to organize, IJS

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Post ID: @rxz+13c5VTs7

Amen

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Post ID: @noh+13c5VTs7

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