Thread regarding State Farm Insurance layoffs

@5eam SF has been employing external claim handlers for over a decade to fill in the gaps when the workload is very high. I wouldn't be surprised if it is in the company's plans to continue hiring externals over internals because they can negotiate salaries with all of the externals and don't have to worry about retention. I don't believe that externals are subjected to the same standards as internal employees, such as metrics. If I'm wrong about that I'm certain someone will post a correction.

Ok, this will upset some people but I don’t believe the majority of customers are clamoring for human interaction in claims or agency. Yes, when there is a horrible accident, sure when things are so messed up it seems no one knows which end is up. But those are minority scenarios, if things go smoothly, they would prefer speed, convenience and low cost. Amazon literally destroyed retail with that model. Now their treatment of employees is another whole conversation (actually a great article in NY Times today.)

Im suggesting that SF leadership has sort of sunset their claims handling operations as they are now. Some new version is ready to be announced, will have people doing 3-5 jobs in one for the same pay. Theyll have more tech to handle the easy work that made your day tolerable. Youll only be dealing with super angry people and massive messes, all the relaxing and satisfying work will be auto-processed for you.

Sure there will be a small core of handlers out there, but its clear they have lost interest in having people be the core of SF and its culture, specifically in claim handling. They treat their programmers like adults and pay them well for their work, and its the ONLY position that was hiring through the pandemic. Their priorities are clear, and i dont see much in terms as a good neighbor type insurance company based on the human connection being part of any of this.

The culture changed and its no longer about its people but its technology. ...and metrics ofc.

This is what happens when the offshore comes inshore and takes over.

I will take a slightly different view. I think SF will keep claim handling internally. Yes it is expensive, but here is the critical issue it is a major factor on competitive position-both indemnity and expense wise. To place that in a 3rd party hands would be frightening to the executives. As a consequence, they will try to automate the daylights out of everything (every other industry and competitor is doing same thing). They have clearly gone overboard on metrics and sixth sigma-they have lost their way and lost the confidence of the claims organization. With more jobs than employees across the nation, with substantially more competition for future employees I think SF is at an inflection point. As automation increases the remaining jobs will be more complex and require higher skill sets. Will they re-evaluate how to compete and retain quality employees or go the Amazon model and just burn and churn huge numbers of bodies…..

they have already shrunk the phoenix hub, which use to be a total SF campus of 5 buildings is down to 3 buildings with another company renting two of those 5 from us.

I wonder what number they are going for regarding claim handlers at SF. I bet the number they want is scary low. I know theyve had a very successful year letting attrition take care of claims expense issues (aka humans they have to pay)

Its night and day how the company treats its claim handlers, and its very clear to anyone who knows how the company treats its managers (above TM) and its tech workers, this is a company with disdain for its core function and having to pay people to do that work.

I really think the future of SF will be outsourcing claim handling, either to a competitor willing to do it or take the allstate route and sell your soul to offshoring. I just dont see any interest from SF regarding claims other than reducing staff and multiplying the work those who remain must do.

So there are 2 large variables-what are current and future employees willing to do-bi-----g and complaining doesn’t matter, you vote with your feet and related does SF shrink the leased space-they don’t own the building.

You all know darned well they are not going to keep paying millions to keep the buildings open just for people to work in the office 5 days a week. You know the number of days required to be in the buildings will keep going up every few months until everything eventually goes right back to the way it was before. No way would they keep paying millions to keep the buildings open if employees were only coming in 5 days a month. That makes no sense from a financial perspective to even bother having the buildings if that was the REAL plan.

what did sf learn from the 15 month experiment of wfh??? apparently not much as there is a mistaken belief being in the office is essential to work.

and sf leaders wonder by geico and progressive are catching sf

My guess is Yi is a puppet and data grabber and “tech” and employee exploiter like the other areas leads and VPs

Innovation is his game and AI is his goal $$$$

Metrics are authority and ridiculous farce for power and exploitation calling it good business. Like the Staples king. All have their. Hands in many third parties & pockets. “ influencers” gaining off their positions” - it would be interesting to see what outside organizations and NGOs they are all a part of. $$$$$

Former 30 year employee, please recognize this "5 days a month for what it is. This is the "frog in the p-t", scenario. They can't afford to lose any more staff. This is an appeasement to minimize exodus. You find 5 days a month palatable, then the heat is slowly turned up. Soon you are back in the same old, in office mess. If you have any thought if leaving, do it sooner than later. You will be better served.

Five days a month? Man that is unbearable. I would chain those golden handcuffs to a very heavy object and jump in a very deep lake if I had to tolerate that. What a pssy.

Apple also has the most data in the world, most of their jobs are literally in office only due to the threat of breaches. I’m a huge Apple investor. Customer service jobs not tied to a threat of database leak will be full time from home.

Apple for what it is, is taking a head strong approach to get people working from home, problem is security we didn’t think we needed in active development 2 years ago, is now needed.

So yeah don’t compare big tech to big insurance. That’s an awful comparison. Especially when half our tech is dated by a decade that is standard issue.

@1ceo+1bhdxdNB

I believe you. From your comments you seem to have a tremendous amount in common with J. Edgar Hoover. Another frustrated closet queen...

@1vow- LOL, a Wackenhut sloth that fantasizes about another life. How pathetic and sad. The fact you are trying to portray yourself as something you are not to an anonymous audience is hilarious-btw I am the Director of the FBI with a degree from Harvard.

@1cmv+1bhdxdNB

who voted for this? they never asked my demand pool or anything

from the start their attitude was " we are exited to have you back at the office and heard your feedback that you want to work at the office" , except they asked NO ONE if they wanted back at the office and by no one i mean any one that's a normal employee CA/CS non management.

I am sure Managers are the ones that "voted" for this or its probably higher than that... the need to justify theirs jobs by being able to micro manage you in person is really stupid.

its not the end of the world , apple is requiring 3 days a week vs SF 5 days a month but still stupid they pretend we asked for this when we did not, specially since SF has had the best year in decades in 2020 and that was all due to work from home increased productivity.

honestly if you are someone that needs to go to an office because of a need of social interaction you should seek help and not drag the rest of us down with you just because you have to have potlucks and cant stand to be with your family a full day at home.

It amazes me the intellectual level of some of these comments. I guess it's truly a reflection of our society at this time. Rational adults try to have a conversation and cancel culture trolls jump in for two seconds of internet fame by flaming them with attempts at insults and name calling.

I get it now. I truly understand why Tipsord, Yi and their ilk run the company the way they do. They pander to the lowest common denominator. Instead of treating employees like adults, they can't because they are forced to treat EVERYONE the same and apparently a large portion (or at minimum a very vocal minority, ) feel that rational discussion and cogent thought are anathema to them. It is much more fun to call names, attempt to insult people they disagree with and accuse others of doing EXACTLY what they are doing such as whining (for those juveniles who attempted the insults, allow me to explain; It's not an insult if the person you are trying to insult doesn't care what you think).

Oh, btw: @pen+1bhdxdNB While I respect the fact that you were able to retire from State Farm, you can't believe that it is the same company that you retired from (unless of course, it's been very recently). I gave fair warning that my post was going to sound like a rant, however I did bring up very relevant expense issues that NOBODY seems to want to comment on. I'll show up, because my paycheck doesn't bounce and I will perform to the best of my ability, however that doesn't mean there is a legitimate reason I should have to go into an office some completely arbitrary number of days a month. But thanks for your almost adult opinion and advice. As a 20-30 year employee, I wasn't planning on quitting because of 5 days a week in the office.

I may have to change my pseudonym..... "Tipsord and Yi, treating everyone the way they should treat those that need to be fired??" Meh, needs work....

@akw+1bhdxdNB Actually went to law school and completed my BS while there, but nice try... (not really, just being generous for someone who is obviously mentally deficient).

@xgw+1bhdxdNB Lol...... You're cute. Let me guess, either a new first line manager or a democrat? Both have about the same mentality. "Look at me, look at me, look what I can doooooo!!!!" Hmmm, rather similar to a 4 year old actually and mental acuity is virtually identical.

@1cmv+1bhdxdNB

I'm curious. Who voted? I know neither myself or anyone in my section were asked.

People voted on this. The majority of people wanted a mix of getting out of the house and being able to stay home most of the time. For once Yi listened to the employees. Just be glad he didn’t make us full time office slaves.

You need to get back to the office -put in a full days work- be proud of where you work and what you contribute - and stop the non stop whining. Getting a vaccine on behalf of your co workers would be appreciated as well.

@pxa+1bhdxdNB A couple of close friends I do share stuff with, we are all lining up and preparing for interviews at different companies, we all want to wfh. Chances are if someone didn’t offer you a job calling in, you’re just a number.

We all worked in the same dept and got recruited all in the same month by competitors that need our knowledge.

I’m not making this up, they will virtually refer your name if you send them an email with your work email, apply interview and move on.

I thought someone was joking when they told me companies actually do this, they most definitely were not.

The market pay I’m being offered is average, State Farm is like 15-20k under average.

This is a sweatshop not a pro shop.

Don't worry cop! I know many with Bs, Ba, MBA and CPCU that wouldn't even pass the background, physical, academy, and FTO program. I can only say I couldn't do that job because I don't have patience for certain behaviors. Sorry but all I can say is Thank you! You speak well. Very nicely articulated. LOCs and field are next. Buckle up cupcake. Put it in 4WD low and get ready for a tough ride.

@nxv-a cop, really, that is what the security crew at corporate are calling themselves? Get a donut.

@nxv+1bhdxdNB You lost me when you said you were a cop. Congrats on your two year degree.

Just tell the OP he gets an attendance trophy-then all smiles.

Bahahaha! The OP is probably the same person who disrespected tenure when it happened to us and we managed to work with the company up to retirement. Put your big boy big girl boots on and make the call. They played their hands now grow up and show your cards. I did and I don't regret it at all. Either get your a-- to the hub and work or find another job. We did. We all made the decision. It's your turn! The cop said it well. So much for the all about me! Get over it cupcake!

I have been with the company 34 years but the last 3 years in hellish claims! I will be retiring sometime next year. Early retirement wasn't in my original plan but don't think I can last too much longer in prison, WFH has kept my sanity from that micromanaged toxic environment.

@eog+1bhdxdNB

As a former cop and someone who has earned a degree so I didn’t have to continue flipping burgers or working retail your pathetic attempt at being a keyboard warrior is laughable and is merely an indicator of your maturity level.
If you fall into one of the categories listed either work to become more than you are or thank you for your service. Both are choices YOU made (but I know there is no way in he-l your a public servant).

Just like you have the right to come here and post infantile comments, I have the right to be concerned about my safety in returning to work in a cesspool of germs when there is no need to.

So, since you obviously have a reading comprehension issue, comments such as yours are not welcome and frankly reflect poorly on you. But, hey, bet you’re tough when a keyboard jumps out at you!

Tiny tiny tiny violins from every “essential” worker in America from retail and coffee to police and fireman.

Take a moment and be thankful you have a job

@lcs+1bhdxdNB that is true the raise doesn't have much of an impact for sure.

@daa+1bhdxdNB I think there should be an option if people want to come in then go ahead if you want to be fully remote that should also be an option. I don't like the fact of having to come in a couple days for the sake of "relationship building" and sitting at nasty community desks.

My office was closed and I live too far from the hubs but I wish I was going back to the office… even if it was 1 day or 20 days. I’ve felt this way since day 1 of WFH. I understand it works for some but it just doesn’t work for me and my family. Everyday is a struggle. I don’t really want to move to a hub so I feel like my only option is to find another job but that’s okay.

@pxa+1bhdxdNB

Not sure where you live, but our pay raises don't even keep up with the cost of living in most areas.

Crud, we have postings that NEVER get filled in several cities (Honolulu, San Francisco, LA etc) because we don't pay enough to rent a two bedroom apartment, much less buy a house. In many of these places, even if you maxxed your salary out you couldn't afford a decent house in a decent neighborhood...

I agree it's kind of pointless to come in when we have been working well this whole time. If I need something I can I/m a coworker. I don't need to sit in an office and be distracted all day by conversations going on around me. Headphones only work so well.

I'm only going on 5 years in a few months and might be shopping for employers soon. My paycheck affords me nothing as far as a home goes in my city. Our cost of living has been creeping up but got stupid outrageous this past year.