Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

ATO Devs Out, PMs In

Two days after an unspecified number of ATO developers and business analysts were laid off, an email came out with listings for 80 new PM positions. The writing is on the wall. T wants onshore PMs managing cheap offshore teams, probably to help offset the company's crushing debt. Just wish they would come out and be honest about it instead of all the cloak and dagger. Look in Webphone and you'll see teams of hundreds from Tech Mahindra and the like. Employee call centers were all recently moved to the Philippines. Wasn't it just a few years ago that T proudly proclaimed they were bringing call center jobs back to the US?

When I started with the company, testing was being offshored and developers were the new hot item. T wanted to be a software company and have APIs for all. Now the winds have changed. This shouldn't come as any surprise after years of preferential treatment for PMs. Managers with 3-4 years in the company being fast tracked to level 2 Leads, while the developers and analysts making their projects successful might get a progression to 1b senior after 5-7 years. Then PMs were exempt from layoffs for "business reasons", while developers and business analysts were let go. Now they're hiring on more.

It seems like pertinent advice to switch to PM role or start looking for a company that really values their development staff. Hope the many rumors of more layoffs and reduced severance don't pan out. Good luck to those that try to hang on.

by Anonymous
| 1606 views | | 9 replies (last November 18, 2016) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+K9xbAON
Comment! It's anonymous!

9 replies (most recent on top)

This post could have been mine. But I'm an "analyst". I'll verify that what you are saying is true, the history you describe is so spot on. I did see some scrum managers get hit, so that may mean the scrum masters are getting outsourced as well. Interesting that you mention PM, because I can do a PMs job, but it pays less.

I may not hang on. I am rather disgusted. I am seeing some jobs in the local area that really leverage skills I already have. Maybe the surplus is just the universe's way of protecting me.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @hipc+K9xbAON

ATO is a pools ex

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @1ywj+K9xbAON

Trolls will learn to spell when pigs fly.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @1xbw+K9xbAON

ATO is made of teams that do not add value, I can believe I get pay to do the job I do, " fill spreadsheets all day", there are thousands in the same shoes, welcome to the AT&T's BS. About innovation, when your boss is as dumb as cow, no wonder why we have al, this dumb training

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @xqa+K9xbAON

Yes, I stated this already on this board. Any look at webphone ATO supervisors, there are almost NO employees. No one cares either. USA GDP 1%, India 8%. It's because India has the jobs.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @wah+K9xbAON

ATO = Technology Organization

PM = Project Manager

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @hkc+K9xbAON

ATO (AT&T Technology Operations). PM (Project or Program Management - likely Project)

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @cds+K9xbAON

ATO ? PM? What are these positions?

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @agk+K9xbAON

You are correct but there is one more fact you didn't mention, ATO is in the process of stafingf up with 100+ employees in India for $20/hr. The plan is to replace the domestic employees and contractors with these employees over the next 24 months. There will be a few SMEs left to direct the employees in India but that will be short lived too. Leadership is working hard to keep this information from the domestic employees as they want to control when and who they surplus so the systems are supported through this transition period. I think we all have an updated resume by now and are keeping an eye on the job market. Loyalty is a thing of the past, you have to think of yourself and your family. Leadership sure does!!

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @sgy+K9xbAON

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