I am part of the Entertainment Group. Yesterday at about 5pm my VP delivered the news that I would need to relocate to Dallas or risk being in a future layoff. My kids school starts here in just a few weeks and I have two and one is in HS. It's rough and late in summer for this to happen. I hate to pull them out and relocate and our family meeting was full of tears and a little excitement too, However, a single mom has to do what she has to do to provide as does any parent. I know many of your are in the same position. I have nothing against Texas. We can make fun of both states light heatedly if we only focus on tv news and politics, but I'm one that thinks one of the great benefits of working for a big company is to enjoy the richness of the people and new opportunities. It's a big change and I feel numb this morning. I was asked to work at Hqs in downtown Dallas and hope to find a home in Plano or Frisco where the schools are really good. And I do have a couple of friends from Toyota that will be moving to Plano, so outside work I will have a couple of contacts. Truthfully I just needed to vent. I thought I'd be safe in LA, but even many of us are going to be tapped to seed the new organizations. I was lucky to get hired by DTV and watched it grow many years before the merger. However, I think T has a bright future (I know many disagree). While the transition has been rocky, I think we are turning the corner. If I don't look at the bright side, I think I will cry. Good luck to everyone else in the same position in any state. At least the company relo package is good. I am lucky to have a manager position and I am grateful to have a new opportunity. Now I think I will go cry some more.
31 replies (most recent on top)
Why would be an EVP commenting here? Doubtfull... The AT&T joke of the year", after Randall
A lot of states including California will be closed just as Verizon is not doing. Both company's are dumping wire line and any non wireless work. If your ok with moving do it. It may take a few more years to be affected in Texas but depending on the department your in it may be safe for a long long time.
4ukm...then why are u commenting? Giving advice to not take advice -from this site- is still advice.
...of which op shouldn't consider either.
For those who recommend relocation packages, "this company is not what used to be " A lot of things have changed, including US, You must make your determination based on your own research, and avoid this type of sites,
Lady, 20 years ago ....is not now, and what are you waiting for retirement, I'd everything is so great, what a joke!
I understand the stress and all the other "stuff" that goes along with a force relocation. I did this about 20 years ago...I was forced to move to the Chicago area. Luckily the company (Ameritech at the time) paid for the move and was very generous.
It was difficult for me, but what I didn't focus on as much as I should have was the impact on my two children (between the ages of 5 & 10). They struggled for a time, but kids are resilient and they coped and adapted rather quickly. But my recommendation is to pay special attention to them!
Yes, I still miss home, but I also know that if I stayed at that location I would not still be employed today. Obviously the jobs are moving to Texas, and so are future opportunities.
A lot of decisions are made without regard to the impact on family life...but hey, try to look on the bright side! :)
I too have been Told to keep my job I must relocate to Dallas. (soon to be finished being built)I don't want to go but I feel I have too. some mangers at my center are being sent to other call centers. There are just a handful of US call centers that will remain open the rest are overseas and Mexico.
"an unlimited amount of opportunities. If there's any place in the company for those who want to ascend the corporate ladder it's in Texas"? What a joke prepare to bend over, must Lear to kiss a-- to ASCEND that ladder
@1cya being forced to move s---s but forced to move to keep job or forced to move with package to keep job.
@1cwa...Important to note, the relo package is forced. There is a difference, mainly the conditions, i.e., "you could lose your job if you don't take it." Little is also negotiable under being forced to move.
Too bad the company can't create prducts/services with unlimited income potential. All the executive leadership mistakes are paid for in surplus. Unlimited surplus no doubt.
You've been provided a relocation package and you're moving to a city where you will have an unlimited amount of opportunities. If there's any place in the company for those who want to ascend the corporate ladder it's in Texas. I have a feeling we'll see more jobs going back there.
The kool aide is good on Dallas....
These boards are but one of many approaches. We all (or should) make decisions based on various sources/data. Obviously OP needed to be reminded of the advent of people surplused after being forced to relocate. As previously written, all great places even the best can be a personal hell under the wrong circumstances, in the wrong environment and/or with bad perspective.
This board obviously is powerful as I understand HR frequents here often and we've already seen or heard from executive level folks. When you've got the eye of high ranking people that's power. Now if that power could be used for some meaningful good/improvement, we'd be doing well here.
At the end you are on your own, of have to make an informed decision, this board is NoT the right approach, Company. Vs the world, not good at all
Glad that the EVP that decided to post has had such a great time. Just a shame that sort of experience seems to be the exception and not the rule.
Normally, I'd suggest to the OP that he give it a shot and ride the wave, but the problem here is that we're dealing with AT&T, which is a company very much at war with its employees.
I agree with the last poster... partially... The ATT in Dallas on those town halls seem to be a different ATT. By appearances only, the culture there doesn't seem so ill.
What would still disturb me though are the stories of subsequent layoff after "forced relocation", everyone seems to have them. Risk taking is great. Calculated risk taking is much better.
I moved five times in my 21 years between PacBell and later T. I'm an EVP (so yes we read this board). It's been fun and each place offered something new and special. It's not for everyone, but the relocation helps significantly. Each time I could afford a larger property. From the Bay Area I made out like a bandit and we are now in Highland Park (Dallas). Some people will always see the downside. Do it. Take the risk and don't look back. Since you are already in management and being asked to go to Hqs you are in a sweet spot. Don't listen the naysayers. You'll do fine. I was in the Bay Area before relocating to Dallas and we like it so much better from a cost of living perspective, but not so much the hot weather! Either you enjoy working for a big dynamic company, or you don't. You can aspire to great things. Give it a shot.
This isn't about Dallas (or metro area) being the greatest place on earth (or not) this is about the circumstances in which op is being asked to relocate. And att. If you're stressed and under looming doom, Paris France could feel like a hell hole.
Being from the area, I would suggest Allen, McKinney, or Frisco over Plano. My first choice would be Allen, and my cousin's family attend Frisco. Heritage High School there is really nice. Texas is not bad at all, except for the weather. Hot and humid, tornado seasons (March/April and Sept/October), and lots of things to do. Best wishes!
That’s just a short list of statements AT&T HR trained reps better off they are referred to as lies, to answer questions that people make. They may say it but they don’t mean it, is going to be the best move for your and your family,!, right....They either don’t want the answer to the question or they don’t even believe themselves when they say it. I’m sure there’s tons of other things they say that you can categorize as a straight lie but there’s these things I have seen this company doing for long time, many of the people cut last year did not want to relocate to TX,
Your sadness is understandable. But, the Dallas area, and Plano in particular, offers a very high quality of life and many opportunities to you and your children. Don't let bitter people drag you down. Yes--working for AT&T is challenging but it has provided wonderful careers for many people and will continue to do so for those that stay focused and flexible.
Soo sorry, I lived in Dallas, till Jul 31, 2015 - Thinking about a move to Dallas, Texas? Traffic, crime, .... Unfortunately Dallas is basically a sh-- hole.
Texas is a MuricA sh-- hole. Bunch of open carry morons and right wing bigots who vote against their own socio-economic class. Hey lets take our AR-15 to Starbucks! Seriously? Florida laughs at Texas.......
Don't go, it does not guarantee you a position long term..........lay-offs are coming every 6 months for a long time. Their is no growth in wireless and people are cutting the cord. not paying more for cable/satellite. AT&T is officially a peepin round the corner culture to see who gets surplussed next.....
I have to echo the sentiments by others about how relocating is not a guarantee of position. AT&T is notorious for laying people off, regardless of sacrifices the employees may have made.
The question you need to ask is whether you would move to Texas voluntarily and whether you are okay uprooting your entire family on the hope that you'll remain in a job that would force you to move in the first place.
It's a tough choice.
Don't give your power away. It sounds like surplus is only a possibility if you refuse to move. You live in LA for Gods sake, not population 25, USA. TX (Dallas, Houston, Austin etc) and other major MSAs aren't bad places to live be do it on your own terms and inside good energy. Your perception of this being a "forced move" could make you a victim. If you decide to go, your perspective needs to change. And you need a contingency for the what ifs like surplused after relo.
Think about this. Negotiate and leverage as much as possible. (Btw. If HR is reading (and I hear they do frequent these boards- there should be better incentives and protections for people who are told to relo. Possible better severance should account for the above etc.)
Don't move and uproot your family like that. Time to find a new job outside of AT&T. How would you recover if you're laid off after the relo? You will be a stranger in a strange land.
Yes. I have seen it before. I know someone that relocated to an open position, only to be surplussed within 6 months. I myself was surplussed and took a job match within a different title. Even though I myself was not at risk, they surplussed that work group within 6 months. But even worse, they had hired a temporary technician off the street, who gave up a good job to work for T. At surplus time, they just fired him.
Yep, there are stories/posts here of being relocated and the next year surplused. Think about ALL your options, which could be ridding out the forced move and looking internally to stay or change companies. You don't have to be hearded where you don't want to be. Consider relocation package and negotiate if possible - those packages aren't created equally.
The relocation package is not a sign of job stability. You could be surplus two months after you relocate. It's just how it works.
Make sure you think about this.
Hmmm not to be "debbie downer" here, but i've heard others on this board and elsewhere talk about relocating for AT&T to stay in a secure mode and only to get surplussed in the new location.
If it was me, I'd really think twice about it. Just my two cents.