Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

They just put you on involuntary layoff. "It's not personal, it's just business". Union may have different rules, but for exempt it's employment at will. AT&T fires 3000 to 4000 people every quarter and will do so until 2020, which is old news. However if they go above the 4000, they are going to need more helpful HR people.

Depending on what part of the company you're in, you certainly can be fired for performance, especially if the job performance can be measured numerically.

A supervisor is responsible for the combined numbers of his direct reports, a 2nd level is responsible for all the numbers of his supervisors, and so forth.

So, the ticket to holding a job is good performance. A supervisor doesn't want to get rid of someone who contributes to the supervisor's own good numbers. That would be shooting themselves in the foot. Conversely, if the employee is delivering bad numbers, that will affect the supervisor's results.

Now, maybe they'll take any reason besides performance to get rid of someone who doesn't deliver numbers, but their discretion will be skewed by the worker's performance, and attendance.

Yes exactly right,, they will torment you until you leave. but file harassment, they especially don't want you over 55. Even through they could be older, they just retaliate. Ive seen Karma in my office lately. You cant treat people like that just because you dislike them and they are your hardest workers.

just don't let them bully you.... most of the time they don't fire anyone they just pressure people to quit. don't give in.