Got voted out and off payroll on October 19th. I work in a 24x7 center which is now understaffed because of the cuts. They have me scheduled to work right up to the last day. This is leaving me little time to look for a new job and other paperwork and stuff I need to complete. I thought the purpose of the 2 months was to focus on finding a new job. Also I know in the past someone with access to the network wasn't allowed back on the job after they got their notice. Just wondering how it works...Thanks
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Our "surplus" was announced last Dec 14 and we had 90 days and then another 30 before the end. There were no jobs in the Dallas/Ft Worth area so we either followed our work to St Louis or took the layoff. My suggestion to anyone with pending layoff, get every bit of information you can from the intranet as well as your sign on to be used after you are off payroll. Because once that happens, there is no turning back. Even HR has a hard time helping those off the payroll...
I, too, am on the Oct. 19th list, and I just wanted to point out that, at least in my case, it's not 50 miles from where you live, it's 50 miles from your current work location. I made sure to clarify/confirm this, as I currently work 30+ miles from home, and there's another major work location an additional 40+ miles in the same direction, and those jobs wouldn't be able to be turned down.
To the OP: I too have been surplussed. My my last day is also Oct. 19. I still do my job every day. Why? Because I am still being paid to do it. You can still be fired for incompetence. If that happens, you will not receive a severance. And you might be out the door a lot sooner. Looking for a new job is tough. I know. I’m having a tough time myself. I spend my evenings job searching. I suggest you do he same. If you have any vacation days left, hang on to them and use them if you get an interview.
If you are in a CWA contracted position, everything is spelled out in your contract book. In 2105, I was surplussed from a call center in Georgia. The CWA came in and informed us of the procedures. They went to the seniority list and told us about all jobs we were eligible for in a 35 mile radius. We had 60 days notice, but were still expected to do the job. A good friend of mine was written up for talking to Verizon about a job while on a company phone on company time. There is no law that allows you to look for work on company time. You can call in sick or take HO/VP days. Good luck
Do the bare minimum and nothing more...
I’m sorry to hear you have been impacted. I recently went thru this process - there is a fantastic world outside of AT&T.
I would recommend using any vacation you have left (note it may be prorated). The time can be used to attend retraining sessions, job transition groups (check out your local church and community centers) and interviews. Unused vacation is taxed at the same level as your bonus so I’d recommend you take it. Make sure you submit your paperwork immediately for unemployment. You may not be paid until your severance is used up, but you can qualify for job transition support or help opening your own business.
The company is determined to reduce headcount by 100,000 employees—how good you are is irrelevant.
Good luck to you!
OP they dumped you, you owe them nothing. Their work comes secondary at this point. Spend your entire shift job searching and doing your paperwork. The people absorbing your workload can ramp up faster and ask you questions so don't put yourself in jeopardy by thinking you must get involved in the day to day. Your family comes first!
Most job surpluses at AT&T don't qauilfy for a WARN notice, however the company policy is to give 60 days notice. There is expectation that you work up to and thru your last day and then in about 45 days after you agree not to sue them for anything related to your employment you will receive your contracted severance pay. Feel lucky you got 60 days most CWA contracts only have 30 day notices.
Please take any spare minute you have to search for a job outside of the company. Once you are the surplus list, your time here is basically up. From my experience even when there are jobs available within your same organization, mangers will hide this information until they get the folks targeted out the door. Doesn't matter if you are a stellar performer or an award winner, strictly leaderships call if you get a new position, HR is of no value, only pushing the button to exit you from the business. Take care of you and your family.
Read up on the WARN act
One point of clarification on the severance pay. Severance is paid in about 45 days AFTER the company receives your Signed General Release and Waiver, not 45 days from your last day on the payroll. You have about 90 days from your last day on the payroll to submit your signed waiver.
Anyone, please correct me for any wrong info. When served up with an involuntary surplus you have your 60 days to make a ‘best effort’ to find another job within the company, and within 50 miles of your home. THIS IS MANDATORY. You need to document those attempts, showing job applications, to what department, who you spoke with and when, plus job salary. Failure to do this to HR’s satisfaction places your Severance in jeopardy.
Furthermore, assuming you don’t find another position within the company and if all else is done to satisfaction, Severance is paid approximately 45 days from termination date and you then have the ability to re-apply to a position within AT&T after 6 months of the termination date.
T’s position is that since they are giving you a two month extension period, with pay, you must earn it by attempting to stay with the company in some capacity.
Those that took the Voluntary were gone in three weeks. Depending on the state, those who are surplussed have a very good chance at State Unemployment Benefits, which may be another 6 months.
“And that’s all I have to say about that!”
@UU33Wq2-tpc There is no "law" stating an employer needs to give you extra time on payroll to look for another job, that is completely and utterly ridiculous. To the OP, it's unfortunate that you're in this situation, but the reality is that you were not at all likely to find another job here at T. Use whatever time you can manage to focus on external job search.
"The purpose of the two months is to allow you to look for another job either at AT&T or another company. It's also law on large layoffs."
I'd love to see that law. When one is on unemployment insurance, then one is being compensated while looking for work. But, not why you're drawing pay. For example, the work may move to a new location, but hasn't yet so the work still has to be done.
The purpose of the two months is to allow you to look for another job either at AT&T or another company. It's also law on large layoffs. I went through the layoff at AT&T in 2015 so I know how it works. Dont take any c-ap from your boss or anyone else about looking for another job. You have a family to support.
Unfortunately it depends on your direct boss. I volunteered for surplus as I already had another job lined up in a different company. Still my supervisor was really cool and gave everyone who was impacted by the surplus(voluntary/involuntary) all the times the needed to look for the job during the waiting period and redistributed the work to people who were not impacted.
Also if you are in a call center you may be unionized, which adds a whole level of complexity to the problem. In those cases your supervisor may have to go by certain “rules” and have less felixbility.