I wanted to be the first here and start a 2018 AT&T Surplus / Layoff thread here. I know it’s early and that we’ll be speculating quite a bit but wanted to see what folks think how things will play out in 2018. To be more specific, here are some ideas for discussion:
Surplus Locations: What locations will be hit the most with layoffs, geographies / sites
Surplus Size: How many will be laid off by AT&T
Groups Affected
Positions Affected
What are your thoughts?
Ive only been here 6 years and was told that as of Feb I would no longer be needed. Luckily I have found another job closer to home. I just dont understand how a company as respected at this one can act in such a way. They dont care about their employees. 10 people were FMPd in my dept that had 27.
cant wait for the layoffs to start for splicing and Comm techs , at least 20% are ready now for a severance . problem is they will layoff every else first . if they do finally get around to it, that will be the final nail in coffin for AT&T. there will be a lot good Gen X techs left and they will perform all the work, one tech top to bottom , talk about inefficient, God help them. all the old school “ Bell System” techs will be gone and take all the knowledge and experience with them, most have already retired. The older work force may work slower , but they get paid for what they know and how well they work.
I Just began reading these posts. Shareholders should investigate the numbers posted by ATT sales as they are cooked - 100% of the time. So if you think AT&T is debt ridden then just multiply that by 2 and you have the real story. I could not believe practices were not investigated when the Wells Fargo story broke.
AT&T is a for profit business that is deep in debt. Having read many of the posts to this topic it’s evident the company is fundamentally different than it used to be. I’ve made it to almost 22 years of service. In high school it was my plan to work for AT&T and could never get so much as an interview with the company. In 2006 though AT&T bought my employer (BellSouth). It’s best to have a plan, work it, and have backup plans just in case. If you want God to laugh at you share your plains with Him.
I keep my resume current and assured it’s relevant to orgs where I apply for work.
Think it through with a rested and sharp mind to improve understanding and rational thought so the probabity of sound decisions increases exponentially.
I was let go from wireless in October, after 19 1/2 years of service. AT&T currently has the worst executive team in the company’s history.
Layoff notices have gone out to hundreds of contractors and employees with 12/31 their last day. Next round in January for employees and management. Thousands of jobs on the block. $180 billion in debt - trying to cut $20 billion from operating in 2019.
Not sure how many are getting surplused 10 days before xmas in NJ. We get the final number to tomorrow. Truly a terrible thing to do to people before the holidays. Yes AT&T Merry F---ing xmas to you to!!
The pointy haired manager is alive and well at AT&T. While many of the announced cuts are in legacy technology areas many more are just "surplusing Americans" and replacing them with Indians (the Bangalore kind). Last day is this Friday.
Surprisingly it's not just "old white guys" either - it's any Americans. Because they cost too much. Why pay someone 30 years of 3% pay raises and benefits when you can hire "Hindu Harry" for half that, he has a PhD, wants to be here, works like a dog (albeit many perform very poor quality work), plus they're easily replaceable (just let them go and their visa automatically dies).
Makes great business sense, but as others have said morale is in the toilet.
President Trump and the Department of Labor could extract huge penalties from AT&T for unfair hiring practices if they chose to, but obviously they aren't interested. DOJ is too busy trying to get Trump impeached to bother with something as trivial as the displacement of the American work force.
Does anyone know how long it takes to get the severance check?
They did offer a 6 month package at the Labs here in NJ, but they didn't get the numbers they wanted so FMP was implemented with off payroll in October. I was told that these cuts will be ongoing, probably twice per year. Terrible conditions to work under, morale is low. Waiting for the dreaded "Mandatory Conference Call".
So who is a good trial lawyer in. dallas to sue vs taking the mgt surplus package. I’m being forced out asked if I wanted the package vs going up against my horrible boss and Sr Mgt I support and be performanced managed out when I’ve never missed a deadline. Hostile work environment forcing me to retire 10 yrs early
As of August 27th 2018, AT&T is laying off about 9% of it's workforce. I've been there 22 years, and it's just sad because they're letting go of really good people. What they haven't taken into consideration is:
a) those people will now go to work for the competition
b) both customer service & network service will suffer
c) as a result, the customer base will fall off
d) this will cause even more layoffs, and it will just snowball
7rshi Thank you for your response! My intent is to retire completely so no worries on a resume, new position, etc... however I did get threatened that it could impact my severance: but did the research with HR/EEO and received this: Severance is governed by the rules of AT&T’s Severance Pay Plan and Managers are not involved with severance payments...
I find truly sad though AT&T has been a great company to me in my 38 yeasts and proud to have worked for them, my last Manager seriously needs to be looked into...love these threads of communications! Thanks again 7rshi
@7rlfp, the short answer would be No....but here’s the rub. With most companies, unless you’re a contract or union employee, you are considered an ‘at will’ employee. Your employer can fire you at any time, and for any reason....this may not apply in every state, only an attorney versed in Labor Laws would know.
This pretty much applies to anyone losing their job through a position being eliminated, or being demoted.
My advice, before You see that attorney, is to follow through with the training. The downside risk of refusal could follow you to your next job. But, the show of professionalism, as tough to swallow as it is, is a plus you can show on your Resume, perhaps a future employer sees that you did that and might think you displayed a tough mental character....your current employer may even have a change of thought and find a different position you can fit in.
Having said all that, schedule a sit down with a Labor Law Attorney while training your replacement. Ask your questions, satisfy that you are doing everything you can and don’t regret that you hadn’t.
Good Luck
Does anyone know if another SIPP will offered to customer care , IBEW Midwest ?
Does anyone know if another si will offered to customer care , IBEW Midwest ?
I have a question; 38 years with the company, taking option 2, area manger is demanding that I train a replacement from the office with less years and knowledge- per SNL my current position has been eliminated, so why am I expected to train? Do I have to per any document?
Blood bath in network engineering this week as well as some PMs. Others are affected as well. Company is hiding under the 10% rule by sending offers out first. Not good business at all. Outsourcing is alive and well......
We were told 32 out of 97 are going. Not good and a lot of people are really upset
We were told today to get our resume's updated. Cuts by October . announcement next week to those going. 26 out of 112 in the group
Meeting today and the announcement was simple. 15 % by October and another 15 % by March 2019 then again as needed. The company is moving to all wireless service and will dump wireline by 2020 as stated by Donovan in 2015, the first hit. As for the company stating they would hire 7000 workers with the tax cuts, they did....all overseas.
my group supports wireline and we expect to be gone unless Frontier or some other company keeps us.
Class action lawsuit for fraudulent billing that most customers don't validate and major fines by the government may slow all the AI. I have over forty years and see the stress of mistakes and not knowing where to turn to company wide except from officer level yes men with million dollar bonuses
I'm a Principal Project Manager at AT&T, and we just got notified we were part of the impacted groups for targeted reductions for 3Q18. For those of you who are in AT&T, do you remember how John Donovan in 2015 said that the corporate goal was to eliminate 80% of its entire workforce by 2020? AT&T's leadership are some of the most inept, out-of-touch, and ignorant managers I have ever seen in my life. They have zero knowledge of the consequences of these massive layoffs. They are destroying company morale, and they magically think that by 2020, all their virtualization and SDN efforts will work flawlessly... Wrong. I work in the network core with all this new technology, and I'll be the first to tell everyone that it is a MASSIVE cluster f*ck! The internal network is barely functional at all. And with all these cuts, all of a sudden, AT&T's top managers are going to realize that they cut too many skilled people, and their network will be insecure, unsustainable, and will ultimately lead to degraded service, and that will lead to falling stocks. Good job AT&T... I award you with the Most Inept Leadership Award. Congrats... And for anyone who thinks I sound ignorant of how businesses work, I have an MBA from a top business school, and I've done an in-depth analysis of what AT&T is doing right now. And I'll tell you - they are going about it in all the wrong ways. They are not in a position where they need to cut people. They are doing it merely because they think that automation and AI will magically replace all those jobs in the next two years, which is... Quite frankly, insane.
To all my fellow employees: I URGE you to quit and find another job ASAP! That's what I'm doing. Don't let this company manage you by fear of being fired. Be proactive, leave the company in droves. Cripple their network, and show them what it's really like without their amazingly skilled workforce. Also, with all the AI and automation the company is so heavily focusing on, you are all literally working yourselves out of a job. Don't give them the satisfaction! Every day you work for them, is another day they are able to humiliate you. Best of luck, everyone.
What happened to CEO promise to add USA jobs for the large business tax break ? I'm not sure if att is since all I'm seeing is reduction in every organization all over the country and work being shipped overseas? Can dept of justice hold randy to telling the truth?
Sad when someone from AT&T Labs is surplussed, I always thought those were the ones with a lot of talent that were hard to find. Best of luck to you.
Just received noticed of 3Q force reduction. I’m to receive a package next week. I am in AT&T Labs for 20 years and now surplused. If you are in Tech Dev, I am in Tech Arch.
Company is too top heavy. Too many AVP’s and VP’s. Too many bean counters. Need to build out the network and continue to improve. TMobile is blowing by us with quality and speed. The next set of results will back this up. Too much red tape in the company. Let go the hard working folks who are building the network, that will help. This company is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Just received noticed of 3Q force reduction. I’m to receive a package next week.
This is in the TechDev division after the latest re-org.
I was RIF'd 3/31/13...... sil gives me a sick feeling when i realize i was deemed surplus. For recognition every single year I worked for the company, I was given either one or both a Key Contributor Award and/or Star Performance Award, I ws one recognized during customer service week for creating a new transport process (that they are still using today), was recognized for clearing chronic congestion of over 650 sites in less than 10 months that the market RAN team had been dealing with for years, I was ahead of my team for the 2020 training program ensuring I was ready for the new technology we are seeing deployed today.......I am a contracting again, back where I spent the first 18 years of my career, wishing that I and my co-workers had the stability we had hoped to have when we went to work for AMERICAN TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH all those years ago..... once upon a time long ago that is what you had when you went to work for Ma Bell or General Telephone.......I am afraid those days will never return......it is sad.....I heard they are going to lay off another 20,000 this quarter......WOW! Didn't they say they were going to hire 7,000 when the tax break was announced?
Sad, just Sad!
Yes the DirecTV NOW ax is still taking people out here in Hawaii. After torturing workers with the uncertainty from the sham of an investigation. (Tactics that management either condoned or were indifferent to...). They site COBC but there was no process in place to drive this metric. They management wanted you to deliver or face "Coaching" reprisals which meant the managing you out the business!
They have a slick way of getting rid of people. No we can't fire you for numbers per the collective bargaining agreement but we'll micro manage you to death with supposed "Coaching" documentation and dissecting every single customer interaction. (Mgmnt: what happened? You didn't prepare an analysis for entertainment even though the same customers frequent your location and was pitched by several other associates. So much so that the customer gives you a negative WTR (Willingness to Recommend) score which the company tracks and holds you accountable for.
Management is covering all bases in the event lawsuits ensue from the negative fallout (from the press) by firing the very people who were simply following orders.
I had considered myself a high character high integrity kind of an employee for this company until I was called into the manager's office to be unceremoniously dissmised.
On a separate note how did some people escape the ax that did the same thing? Hmmm. You know the answer!
In conclusion for those of you reading this that have been negatively impacted by these events know that when one door closes another door opens.
Harness that bitterness and frustration into positivity! You'll come out on the other side all the better for it!
As they say Karma...
All new employees are non employees in Eastern Europe or the Philippines or India and only are CEO can lie to the White House and keep smiling
Sales support representatives have 2-3 weeks to decide on severance package or rsc positions
After firing my 13 total of co workers from DTV Now , now us SSRS will be next in Line! So sad 😞
How will cricket ise be affected?
Your last check is processed 45 days from when you sign release on next pay period ending. If not signed and returned, you have opt for arbitration and forgone company severance. Check with HR if your release was received. If not, ask for extension and send in today. Only HR has the information you need. Check the pile of paper and emails you received when you were surplus notified. Also, if the check was sent (last check comes by mail), look in your junk mail. My postman puts mail inside news papers and magazines.
My last day was 4/26 and I still have not received my severance check.
B
June 15, 2018
Re: Internet Entertainment and Field Services
Today it was announce Involuntary/Voluntary surplus in Internet Entertainment and Field Service. In CWA Local 9333, the affected area is Merced. Collectively with Fresno location the number of Premise technicians the company are looking for is 10 technicians to volunteer. This is also including Direct TV. The canvass sheets will be going out today and due back the June 22 and end of payroll date is July 6. Please note if there is no volunteers there will be no FORCE. Also if you are looking for Layoff allowance please refer to page 184 in your green contract. Remember the weeks increased from 5 weeks to 6 weeks for employees that have 96 months or more of service. Below are the list of garages that were offered the VOLUNTARY offer.
3595 E Wawona Ave, Fresno
4734 E Carmen Ave, Fresno
5520 E Hedges Ave, Fresno
3375 Peach Ave, Clovis
11091 10 1/2 Ave, Hanford
7345 W Goshen Ave, Visalia
1860 Wardrobe Ave, Merced
Any questions please contact me.
Thank you,
Get rid of old people so young people can take care of company!!!!!!!!
So there will be layoffs in the near future...probably September - October...as the Voluntary offer being given currently is no better than a layoff offer.
Current Voluntary Offer - No assistance on Insurance until age 65, Severance offer is still 50% of annual and off payroll in 45 days. Nothing added to Pension so you only get what is currently in place.
With this offer they will not get the reductions in workforce needed to compensate expenses for Time Warner merger.