I started with the company (f/GTE) right after pensions we're no longer offered. Missed it by that much... The VSP makes up somewhat for that...
In retrospect, while much of the work was drudgery, it paid well and Verizon put me through numerous boot camps, training courses and certification paths. There was ample opportunity to move around to different positions. Benefits, vacation days, etc were very good and the company weathered the obamacare premium hikes better than most... Best of all I met some crazyazz people that I'll be friends with for the rest of my life....
While there were many RIFs, they were in retrospect relatively easy to avoid. And now the VSP... A ridiculously generous epilogue to a pretty decent few of decades. I will miss it here, I will miss coworkers and even a manager or two.
Thought I'd just offer up a positive experience in a sea of petty, negative posts. GTE/BellAtlantic/Verizon, you were not nearly as bad as these boards depict. Thank you for the career, the education and the opportunity for a graceful exit.
So have at it malcontents - sling mud, sling ridicule, tell me I'm an id--t, whatever else soothes your petty soul... I'm out. Gonna ride out the last few weeks, then I'm gonna buy a boat and drive that b*tch off into the sunset with a grandkid on my lap and my cubicle mate in the passenger seat...