Thread regarding Wells Fargo & Co. layoffs

Long Hybrid Commute vs Severance?

Has anyone heard of people getting offered a severance if they have to commute for over 40 miles, but it's not an every-day commute?

I was hired as a full-time telecommuter 15 years ago. During this whole RTO mess I've been getting told by my manager to just keep working remote as always, and that it's "business as usual".

Now I'm being told to that the senior management is "cracking down" on remote people, and that I'll need to drive to an office about 4 hours away once or twice a week for certain meetings. Nobody else on my team works there, so I'll still be calling in to the same meetings as always, just calling from a different location literally across the state. It's ridiculous, but it sounds like management is taking a hard line about it.

I've always done a good job, and I've never been the kind of person who needs to be "cracked down on". But it has now got me thinking about how things seem to be moving in the wrong direction here, and that maybe WF just isn't as good a fit for me as it used to be.

I'm close enough to retirement where I could make it work, and it kind of hurts to say this but if I was offered a severance package I'd probably take it. But I don't know if I'll be "offered" a package, or if I have to request it, or how all that works with this new "hybrid" commute.

It's not the kind of question I can ask my manager about, thats for sure. And maybe I'm wrong about all this and that I'm the problem, and maybe I don't know how good I have it here. I just don't know anymore.

I did read the new Severance Plan pdf and all the stuff about Substantial Position Changes, but it doesn't say anything about a long commute that's "Long, but not everday".

Just wish I knew, one way or the other.

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| 2261 views | | 11 replies (last April 9, 2022) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1g8hlaPS

11 replies (most recent on top)

I know of people from my organization that are commuting upwards to 2 hours one way. And they don't mind (yet). So, just because it was said that anything >40 miles isn't holding up.

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Post ID: @2wqd+1g8hlaPS

Know a few people who have mentioned to their manager that they are close to retirement (within the next year) and it was the manager who brought up possible severance package as being part of layoffs this summer. Might be an idea for those in this situation, if a manager has to cut staff they may opt for those that need a little more time to make the retirement hump

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Post ID: @1qrx+1g8hlaPS

@bwi+1g8hlaPS

No, he’s not mad. It’s hasn’t always been like this. It used to be pretty great place to work.

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Post ID: @1mzd+1g8hlaPS

15 years at Wells...you must be mad.

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Post ID: @bwi+1g8hlaPS

Don’t RTO. See if they actually follow through and fire you. If they do, lawyer up and threaten a lawsuit. At the very least they will provide severance.

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Post ID: @uqe+1g8hlaPS

It varies state to state but you would almost surly qualify for unemployment if the change the status of your employment. Might want to keep working from home until they fire you though.

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Post ID: @qbo+1g8hlaPS

Lawyer up. Always lawyer up. Sounds like you’re old enough that you are in a protected class. Threaten an age discrimination lawsuit. This POS company will settle.

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Post ID: @lne+1g8hlaPS

If you feel being singled out, perhaps by age, you might want to research the IBM class-action lawsuit.

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Post ID: @mcp+1g8hlaPS

you won't be "offered" but you can ask for it and be granted it due to the over 40 miles.

The one thing you need to check/make sure of - when you look at the RTO section of TW does your official location still show as field rep or does it show the new location? If the latter, then it doesn't matter how many days you're having to go in, they've assigned you to that office and you're eligible to request severence.

If you're still full time remote (listed as a field rep) it gets trickier, because with remote status you are still required to "travel as necessary" to conduct business. You could make the case that it's unnecessary travel (since there isn't anyone else at the location) and you are being singled out unfairly, but that will be trickier.

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Post ID: @sth+1g8hlaPS

I don't know the answer, but good luck OP. It's obvious that they want you to quit. That kind of commute to call in for "certain meetings" is total and complete nonsense. Whomever is suggesting it should be fired, but of course they are just doing the execs bidding of forcing people to resign. I can't wait until this temporary executive team is gone.

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Post ID: @xjc+1g8hlaPS

Yes you can get a layoff package. Since your resultant commute is over 40 miles I got one when they moved offices but that was in 2012. That’s awful 4 hours? My team is in another state and I just went back this week. Hour plus commute on train each way. 4 hours is ridiculous and no need, will they put you up in a hotel. I would not go in if I were you or demand an overnight stay and reimbursement for gas.

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Post ID: @zkx+1g8hlaPS

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