This is a delicate question - but I am being serious. In hindsight, did you know you were going to be surplussed? Were there signs you saw (or missed)? Could you see it coming by the fact that your work had reduced or you were in a very remote location or your group was being eliminated? I am wondering if it's something that you can know is coming.
15 replies (most recent on top)
Yes, the minute you had to start reading out on how many women weee promoted. I knew I was on the chopping block. I left before they could cut me.
Take a look at their ads - in the network ads, the buffoon is a white guy every time. Same now with the announcer ads during March Madness. Just look up quotes from the Brit who runs brand advertising and you’ll see how it trickles down...
Our group didn't know until we received a meeting request from someone we didn't know about 2 hours prior to being told we were no longer needed. About the only clue in hindsight was that we were reporting to an AM 1000 miles away, but that had been in effect for a couple of years.
I also made more than my Manager so thankful I hung on as long as I did. RIP 2/12/19
For me the first sign was being moved from reporting to a director to an area manager. Second in June 2018 I starting working on getting my COU phone replaced as it turned out my area manager never approved the request. Third I finished LWD but was having an issue getting them marked as completed either automatically or manually it was like I was being ignored and this was in June/July time frame. August 2018 informed that I was being surplussed.
I never expected it in my group. It hit good performers in January
I saw my surplus coming. I was 62 with 23 years in and my boss was irritated to no end I made more than him. He went beserk at my first annual increase after being transferred to him when he saw I made more than him and ranted and raved : Why do you make more than me? Why are they paying you than more than me? Very unprofessional and the reason was I am smarter than him, a better negotiator and I know wireless and growth technology and he is a landline dink stuck with 1980 ideas and not able to learn anything new. I was offered a one level lower job at the same base by a different AVP after surplus and took it. The old boss must be burning inside knowing I am still employed and making more than him...
I look back and wish I would have left 8 years ago...... It's a half azzed company and Randall is taking it down the tubes with his stupidity and the 3 John's are incompetent id--ts. I was very lucky to get an internal offer because I have a needed skill in short supply due to layoffs
Our group got hit without warning. In the present environment, if you are near the bottom of the seniority list, prepare for the worst. Take courses at the community college(Cisco, etc) Start thinking about a plan if you do get the ax. Good luck
What is and where are the collaboration zones?
I saw it coming after the email hit that said they were looking at people not in collaboration zones.
i saw it from a country mile away.
it doesn't matter. I'm glad i found Dave Ramsey.
I retired a multi-millionaire.
Now i'm dialing and driving for dollars.
Wholesaling real estate is where it's at.
Get your popcorn ready and enjoy the downturn, it's comin'
If you have capital, get ready to pounce.
Be greedy when people are fearful.
There may be some predictability of surplussing, but it can be blind as well. In the past we've had to interview for our own jobs and were asked if we'd take a pay cut. Another time, our management outsourced 215 IT jobs and then unknown to the five Exec. Dirs. that were confidentially handling this, they two were blindsided and outsourced. First time I stayed with T and my ED didn't.
T is undergoing not just the $180 billion in debt issue, but the changing functionality of WarnerMedia. In any case, they want to show the world it will be a success and will even overstep to be sure it is. (just my opinion)
I have been here a long time and have seen many, many people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yes, I could see it coming this time.
typically when postings for said job seem to disappear and people aren't being replaced when someone gets fired or leaves is a pretty big red flag
Nothing happened from that leaked email.. well at least not for IBEW21 workers.... union said it was stopped..in all reality delayed
Thanks to the leaked email, we know about the one that happened to Wire/Prem techs on March 15th and we know about the one that is coming for Construction & Engineering on June 15th, but I’ve never had an advanced notice. Been surplused in slow times and been surplused while working mandatory overtime as well. One constant is that there is always a surplus after a merger, and it usually happens to the company being acquired.