Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

Lay-off deferred & High Risk Task for Frontline Employees

I’m thankful the company has deferred layoffs during this crisis and is offering hazard pay for frontline employees. I don’t care who gets the credit (government or company) for these decisions. It will help bridge people to another opportunity when this crisis is behind us. Thumbs up!

I do have a big issue with the company putting all of us outside installers (I & R and Prem/Wire Techs) at major risk for non essential work. We are doing BAU on installs & repairs despite the company line that they are triaging jobs.

We should stop all installs immediately with exception of extreme cases. We are doing a lot of non essential work such as upgrades which involves going from single to bonded pairs & requires going into homes to connect 2nd pair. Repairing/installing pots lines when the customer has a cell phone. New installs when a customer has internet service with a competitor. Company should be triaging all of these scenarios.

This is about revenue and not the safety of our families & customers. We are asking three questions of the customer, saying we are not knowingly contagious and social distancing . This is all based on trust. Neither of us knows if either is truthful or what risky behavior each has had prior to .

We don’t have the appropriate PPE and I understand the country is having the same issue. My issue is they are putting us in the situation of being Typhoid Mary’s. The managers are telling us they are trying to get PPE but BAU until it arrives. We are lacking enough hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, gloves etc.. It’s impossible to go into businesses & homes and not be exposed or expose them. We don’t have head to toe coverage and we don’t have enough disinfectant for clothes, tools, tool bag, hair, arms etc.. only so much water in cooler to try and wash off.

As I stated earlier, we should stop all in person ie.. homes/business installs/repairs. except in extreme cases until this crisis is over. Our families & customers deserve it. I’m up for any other work, maintenance, outside troubles etc.. our competition isn’t putting their families & customers at risk. Their will be infections and probably deaths as a result of these bad decisions. We already have outside technicians infected. I pray our leadership will start using some wisdom in this crisis. Internet & TV isn’t worth someone losing their loved ones who knows, that person could be you or yours.

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| 1720 views | | 17 replies (last March 31, 2020) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+14d79V5S

17 replies (most recent on top)

I’m sure you sanitize everything remove clothing and shower after every essential grocery trip. Guess what techs in the field can’t and are out there 9 hours minimum @ day. They don’t have all the PPE while doing installs and entering homes/businesses.

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Post ID: @2dop+14d79V5S

High risk going grocery shopping. Go get some unpaid leave.

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Post ID: @2rme+14d79V5S

I would like to start with, I’m all for working smart. I’m blessed to be working now when so many have been sent home. Sending techs into houses and businesses is like buying a lottery ticket and wondering which one is going to be the one.

Being safe would limit frontline from going into environments where we are at high risk being exposed to a extremely contagious virus. No amount of hand washing, sanitizing, social distancing will stop us from being infected with this game of Russian roulette.

The experts don’t even know all the ways it spreads. AT&T leadership saying over & over that they are looking out for the safety of employees & customers is laughable. Talk is cheap, why don’t some 3rd levels and up come out and job shadow some installs for a few days if it’s so safe. Easy to send the troops in while you are sitting in your shelter in place environment.

A typical install involves knocking or ringing doorbell, touching door handles, touching wall plates, kneeling or sitting on the floor to reach jack, moving items out of the way, etc... breathing, skin, hair, clothes, tools are all exposed in every install. A customer could have sneezed, coughed touched over a lot of locations and items.

I don’t see anywhere in my job description where I signed up to be forcefully exposed to a rapidly growing contagion. There is no vaccine or clinical treatment yet. OSHA has rules when we are exposed to gases, chemicals, lack of oxygen in manholes etc.. I don’t see installs with very few exceptions being essential work. Keeping up the network and facilities, yes.

And the old, just quit or leave comments are tiresome. The virus should be in control with vaccines and other treatments within a year. In the mean time AT&T should mitigate our exposure. Our families lives are depending on it.

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Post ID: @1frm+14d79V5S

“Safe as possible” would mean stopping all non essential installs.

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Post ID: @1vwt+14d79V5S

Have you read all the updated guidelines that the company is releasing twice a day? Theres a lot of policies the company is implementing to help keep frontline prem techs as safe as possible while working.

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Post ID: @1hax+14d79V5S

For “stop whining” : When you have several family members positive for COVID 19 and you spread that contagion to your home and other places - Then the whinnying will be loud! Stay safe , stay home, and stay out of other homes. What part of National Emergency do you not get ?

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Post ID: @pet+14d79V5S

To make matters worse, on single to bonded pair internet speed upgrades we have sales telling the customers that we don't have to go into their house - we only need to hand them new equipment at the door and they will be all set!

STOP LYING TO OUR CUSTOMERS A$$HOLES!! This should never be acceptable, but especially not now.

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Post ID: @uaj+14d79V5S

Official company response is PPE not required for frontline technicians. No gloves or face masks just hand sanitizer. Can’t wait till tracing is done and it’s discovered how AT&T techs were vectors for the spread.

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Post ID: @zlr+14d79V5S

Where’s the PPE?, no installs until we have it

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Post ID: @vtw+14d79V5S

We were forced 6 days this week but was called off after bonus happened. They still asked for some volunteers but not many did because of having to do installs. No amount of $$ is worth it if you transmit the COVID-19 to your family for non essential work

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Post ID: @xrf+14d79V5S

I agree, no “triage” going on here SE same story at my location. Safety is always #1 until it isn’t, it’s BAU when convenient. Safety means something when it can be used for discipline, $$$ talks.

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Post ID: @jih+14d79V5S

There is an I&R manager in our area that is writing techs up for numbers still in this time of anxiety & crisis. What is going on? Technicians are doing the best they can in this environment and not enough PPE.

MSOC should be a non factor until this is over. MSOC system & numbers have been incorrect since November of 2019 and maybe sooner. In the current crisis the company should treat this the same or worse than any other state or national emergency. Safety should be the #1 priority especially with a pandemic. All non essential work should cease.

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Post ID: @hdu+14d79V5S

Thank you Boss for telling it the way it really is. No reason on earth we should be going into customer homes based on trust or otherwise . Its right in our company creed , No Job Is So Important... !!! I for one appreciate a smart first level that is not afraid to deliver a message of truth and compassion. Profit is not everything !

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Post ID: @xmz+14d79V5S

The outside network is so degraded that install technicians could spend several months doing packages and maintenance on facilities and still not be restored.

I’ve heard of several infected employees, 1 in Atlanta, 1 in Ohio, a few in Michigan. I’m sure there are more but management’s is keeping mum. It’s only from other peers we are finding out. No safety flashes on covid-19 infections but if a personal injury or vehicle accident an email is sent out pronto.

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Post ID: @ukz+14d79V5S

@tlq

Quit trolling!

I don’t think these technicians are “whining” about working. Reread their post, it’s about doing non essential work and not having the appropriate PPE. They stated “I’m up for any other work” and “I’m happy to be working”. Most people have access to the internet or phone via cell phones so it isn’t essential to put others at risk for company revenues. Customers understand we are in a crisis

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Post ID: @smq+14d79V5S

My manager went to several local stores and could only find a few small 2 oz. hand sanitizers and no disinfecting wipes. He said everyone is ordering but it’s all on back order. I’m happy to be working but under the circumstances this is playing Russian roulette with everyone. My daughter has diabetes.

We still are getting bulk loads with a lot of non essential work too. I would be devastated if I became a carrier and infected others or vise verse from a customer.

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Post ID: @wqv+14d79V5S

No job is so important or service so urgent that we can’t take time to perform our work in a safe and environmentally responsible manner!

Is the company following this motto?

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Post ID: @gaw+14d79V5S

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