I received a medical waiver to stay remote instead of going in the office(I am near a hub). I see several post about layoffs for remote employees. Should I be concerned?
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there are two kinds of layoffs for remote employees.
- a person who is not near (more than 40 miles from) a go-forward hub location and is remote. these are "location strategy" layoffs.
- A person who is 40 miles or less from a go-forward location and has a medical accommodation. BAU layoffs don't take into account remote/in-office status. You are neither advantaged or disadvantaged.
The MA process was VERY loose coming off of covid/initial RTO. It has now tightened up quite a bit for granting new ones, and all existing ones are being re-reviewed I have seen people lose their remote status after the new review.
- I
You and every other domestic worker should be very concerned.
Innthisbrecent round of layoffs second week of June 2024 I have found that, I cludong myself there have been at least four people that all had FMLA/medical issues of some time that were targeted for layoff. It seems that this is a recurring theme.
Discussing the “compassion “ tone. I didn’t read the OPs post as concerned they were being “targeted”as a medical accommodation so they were more likely to be let go at all. Just rather “if remote am I safer” from layoffs. I don’t think necessarily someone who is on medical wfh is targeted any more than anyone else. We are all open to be cut unfortunately
@2fgo+1olpdpXW
Yes, actually. I only get groceries via grocery pickup. I don't go shopping. I buy everything online. I pick up food from restaurants and eat it at home. So yeah, I do avoid the general public.
Yes, yes, you all have anxiety. Does that keep you away from other groups of people such as at kids’ schools, shopping malls, grocery stores?
@2enu+1olpdpXW
You do know you can apply for a medical accomodation to not have to work in the office because the commute gives you too much stress and anxiety, right?
I mean instead of losing compassion for others (idk why) you could just get the help you need
The word is that over 80% of remote employees do not have a MA. If you're near a hub, you're safer (not safe, but safer). MA offers you some coverage, but don't be fooled - they're displacing little bits of everyone in all the places - and it's not stopping any time soon.
Side note, it takes work to get a MA - and it's a battle to keep them.
Also, anyone who gets approval is getting it from the OC signing off. Do not get distracted. They're trying to get us to fight each-other; don't fall for it.
Compassion went out the window while listening to colleagues discuss key buzz words and specific doctors to enable them in their ruse. Further exhausted compassion reserves every time I am at the gas station and sitting in my hour + of traffic each way…. Who doesn’t have unseen anxiety and depression related to the extra stress?!?!
It would be nice if colleagues would have an ounce of compassion for those w/medical issues and MAs. I used to like my job and now hate it due to discrimination.
Disabilities, including invisible ones, are a painful reality. Be glad if you're lucky enough to not have one.
This thread would make sense if half the people out on MA were actually legit. They hand that sh-t out like candy at WF and once word got out everybody was asking for it where I am. If they target all those out on MA blame the lazy ppl who are just milking it because they just want to skate by and blame productivity issues on their systems and take free days off because hey they are remote and it would be ludicrous for their managers to ask them to come into the office.
“ A medical waiver to work at home is just that. Doesn’t protect you if they cut staff. If there is no job to work it doesn’t matter where you are.”
Agree, but the question is: are they targeting people because they have a medical waiver to WFH, not, does it protect someone.
A medical waiver to work at home is just that. Doesn’t protect you if they cut staff. If there is no job to work it doesn’t matter where you are.
@1hup don't hate the player, hate the game.
RTO is the root of the evil, not the fortunate souls that have thus far evaded it's evil clutches.
Layoffs are justified as eliminating positions, not people, so you're fu---d.
You should only be concerned if you want to stay employed. It’s ridiculous the number of people getting “medical waivers”. I personally know several co-workers who are perfectly capable and able bodied individuals who should be required to follow the same RTO expectations as the rest of us, yet have blatantly made jokes about what they have told doctors and HR etc in order to get their exemption waivers. Every time I hear of impending layoffs, I have my fingers crossed that they start with these people. I understand that there are probably people out there with legitimate medical conditions prohibiting them from being able to work in an office, but it’s just not the case with the people in my department. There are all kinds of accommodations available to help people with disabilities, or adjust to working in the office. Get them gone because it’s terrible for morale for the rest of us who are adhering to RTO, and best of luck finding a similar job that is fully remote!
@1fql+1olpdpXW
“ I'm in HR. Trust me, they don't care. They want you gone. It's discussed all the time. WF sees those w/disabilities as hindrances.”
Based on your experience, do you believe WF wants the people gone who have a WFH accommodation?
Or that they want anyone with any accommodations gone, even if the accommodation is not WFH?
I'm not a liar. I'm a Wells Fargo employee, and my husband is a psychiatrist. Perhaps you should see one.
Guy on our team was laid off in June, he had a MA and was remote. 11-year employee
Just because you got an education waiver to work remote doesn’t mean squat. You can still get axed
@mux+1olpdpXW. Liar
You are more of a target if you have a medical accommodation to work from home.
WF lies day in and day out re: caring about those w/disabilities. Some of those very people actually believe WF cares (holding sessions touting how WF is so wonderful to them).
I'm in HR. Trust me, they don't care. They want you gone. It's discussed all the time. WF sees those w/disabilities as hindrances.
Husband is psychiatrist and said Wells Fargo is well known for letting go those with medical accommodations. It's despicable, but they find a way to work them in to larger layoffs via third-party administrator.
He and his colleagues never talk highly of Wells Fargo. It's warranted.
Just because most employees don't have medical issues and need a medical accommodation, doesn't mean the discrimination doesn't exist.
If they approve the MA for remote work, you won't have to RTO as long as the letter is in effect and you're employed.
MAs don't protect you from being laid off. If WF ONLY targeted those w/MAs, then that would be grounds for lawsuit. However, as we all know, they are displacing so many that it's not appearing as disparate treatment.
With that said, my doctor said WF is known for laying off those w/MAs. I was warned to be careful using my valid MA at WF. The doctor wanted me to be fully aware that it often triggers employees on a "hit list". Added that it's a sad commentary about this employer. Blatant discrimination that can't be proven especially during mass layoffs.
@zrz+1olpdpXW
"Grounds for a class action lawsuit for targeting those with disabilities located within a hub. It would have to be for another valid business reason other than location strategy."
This simply isn't true. You cannot sue when you live in a right to work state and the company followed all right to work rules. Wells Fargo has been laying off tens of thousands of workers for years now and the reasons we've seen in print are:
"Job criticality"
"Job performance"
Some people are specifically being laid off for being outside of the hub location, but we know people in protected classes are being laid off (my department's only le----n was laid off last year) and people on leave (both medical and personal) are laid off while on leave, although there's an added step for the latter.
Bottom line is anybody can be laid off for any reason as long as it isn't discriminatory. When Wells Fargo lays people off and can show it was done because X number of random people with Y job title were laid off, that's legal regardless if somebody had a waiver or was on leave or is a protected race or se-ual orientation group.
I 100% guarantee you the company has covered their bases as far as not having systemic discrimination in the layoffs. Those of us that got laid off all know the cover sheet was their multi-page letter showing they have legal proof they didn't discriminate against you when you were laid off. The company is terrible at many things, but they are now experts at laying workers off legally and in skirting WARN at the same time.
You just waived your right to a long career here.
/joking, hopefully
You could still be laid off, but yeah, keep the eyes peeled for targeting. I mean, if your group has 30 people and the 2 'medically remote people" are the only ones that get termed? You might have a case. If 10 people get canned, probably not.
Grounds for a class action lawsuit for targeting those with disabilities located within a hub. It would have to be for another valid business reason other than location strategy.
Medical accommodation doesn't waive your ability to be laid off. They'll treat you like the rest of us, just a number.
There are thousands like you