By the end of the week, I don't think I'll have enough energy left to do anything more than give notice. The past few weeks have been horrible for me. Those who don’t understand say it’s hard work. No, I don’t think it’s just hard work, I think it’s squeezing people to the maximum.
Pushing people way over their limits is a favorite management style at Allstate.
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It’s called wage theft and it is a crime. We were told you need to hit your capacity (meaning a full load) AND work supplements on top. They are acknowledging that they want more work performed than is feasible in the given work day.
Our workload in auto claims has easily doubled over the last 6-8 months . Hardly any time for huddles anymore and morale remains at an all time low. We’re used to working through lunch abd easily put in 10-12 hour days to achieve their production goals set for us. I wish we could be hourly employees. We kept being told there’s no one else to give the inspections to . It’s nonstop and unforgiving. Can’t wait to get out like 5 of my coworkers have this year .
They’ve been squeezing all of us more than usual since the layoffs of 2020. They hope more senior folks will leave. Even if you’ve been here 3-5 years you are targeted. They want to start over in India and with AI for the bargain wages that brings. With that in mind, the plan is to burn you out so you will quit. They don’t want to give you a severance when the layoffs happen so if they squeeze you enough you will leave. It’s called the boa constrictor method. Lots of senior employees and managers are sticking it out for severance or early retirement buy outs VTA’s. Voluntary termination agreements. The new folks coming in are just pawns in this game of chess. Allstate has never been a company with a soul. At least not since Tom Wilson came on board. During these last 3 months of 2021 you will see a very high number of departures. Your work load is about to quadruple if you stay.
The secret is to be politely, supportive, collaborative and incompetent. That way they don't ask you to do more because that would just mean more for them to clean up.
And if you are smiling and polite, it is easier for your boss to hide you from more senior management that otherwise might think your manager is weak or lazy for not dealing with your f ups.
Being smart and hard working is a death sentence, unless you are a solution to one of the many diversity issues.