#diversity

I keep seeing these comments blaming being laid off and the sorry state of the company on DEI. That wasn’t the case in my experience. In my case there were good ol’ boy networks that took care of their own. You didn’t need to be white or to be a man to be part of the network but it helped. Some individuals were so good at playing this game that they were part of more than one network. They managed to be part of whatever network was ascendant.

Diversity and inclusion was just pretend where I was. Almost everything was just pretend. It would be comical like a parody if it weren’t for the consequences.

With nearly 100,000 employees in many locations, it’s possible that others had a different experience than mine.

Be honest , how much say did you all have in the recent RIFs? Or did we really get selected by a program based on years worked and salary ? I say the managers had a say because my manager fired 3 black people. What are the odds ??

In Tampa or NY it feels like entire teams are dominated by one group, and Indian managers/directors mainly hire and promote people from their own circle. It creates a closed-door environment where others don’t feel they have a fair chance. It’s frustrating and sometimes feels like the American dream is slipping away because opportunities aren’t even accessible to fellow Americans. This is the greatest exploitation in American history.

It feels like some groups and communities tend to form close circles and mainly support people from their own background, and this sometimes extends into workplace dynamics as well. When this happens, it creates an impression of favoritism and makes the environment feel less neutral or inclusiveness. Even from projects to consultants to promoting some one to a director. The biggest exploitation of our dreams.

80% is Indian. Where is the diversity?

There is still such a problem with diversity hires that didn't get resolved in the first layoff ..what's the plan and what are you looking forward to most

I have not heard anything, just rumors. Does anyone have any info on how the landscape of S&T will change? Will DPA finally be eliminated for good? Dave’s org to be shrunken? D&AI???

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/at-t-commits-to-ending-dei-programs/ar-AA1RCMNw?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=69304c6bd46044fa8a533101e5611cf6&ei=51

In an FCC filing, the U.S. wireless carrier said, “The legal landscape governing diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) policies and programs has changed. We have closely followed the recent Executive Orders, Supreme Court rulings, and guidance issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and have adjusted our employment and business practices to ensure that they comply with all applicable laws and related requirements, including ending DEI-related policies as described below, not just in name but in substance.”

Saw this on threads

NOW: AT&T “committed” to ending DEI in letter to Trump admin

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/att-commits-ending-dei-programs-2025-12-02/

There is so much racism, hate and bigotry here. Can we stop this?

This forum used to be a source of (relevant) rumors, information and mutual support. It was great. Let us go back to this. Do not let trolls and id--ts ruin it.

Today marks the end of ExxonMobil's presence in France, with the change in control for all remaining assets owned by US major to North Atlantic. There will only remain a tiny commercial structure with less than 20 employees. Esso France is dead, long live North Atlantic Energies.
Rejoice! This is the end of all the corporate bullsh-t people had to swallow for years (and keep smiling as if they liked it), the end of decisions made from 30'000 ft with limited knowledge (if any) of the local context, the end of dysfunctional organisations, having to deal with the incompetence and carelessness of “service” centers supposed to support you, the end of underinvestment in industrial sites making them more and more challenging to operate etc. etc. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?
To all those in the EM world facing the same prospect (i.e. being dumped by big mamma): DON’T BE AFRAID. There is a world outside the fence of the prisoners' camp... 😀

Team of 10....
3 black women, 3 white men, 2 white women, 2 black men....
The 2 white women and the 2 black men were affected in the layoff.....Was this really random??
Also, of the 4 that were layed off, 3 of them are on workforce accommodations due to existing disabilities....Coincidence or not??

Curious as to what races were laid off?
Where any corporate Indian people laid off?

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/eeoc-says-northwestern-mutual-wont-hand-over-information-dei-policies-2025-11-20/

We get rid of a DEI hire and put someone equally as worthless in the spot

I know many will dislike this post, but I really do not care. I am glad Verizon is dropping all DEI initiatives and going back to merit-based practices. Good luck to everyone tomorrow. Even if we don't get a call tomorrow, I have no doubt more are on the way.

I just received a list of new hires in my division at State Street and it appears that only 12.5% had Anglican names. Based upon the names, most of the new hires are Indians and Asians.

I am curious to see what will happen with the tighter H-1B policies.

A 26-yr. old black executive?? No other way to describe that aside from DEI hire. She's going to lose her case.

https://www.hcamag.com/us/news/general/ex-ibm-director-alleges-termination-part-of-black-executive-purge/554921

What happens to protected classes during a RIF? Are any special considerations given?

This is something I’ve observed and was curious if others have seen the same. I’ve seen females rise faster within EJ home office than male colleagues. Obviously there are many males still being promoted and serving in leadership positions but is HR pushing gender as a reason to promote when all else is equal? Are others seeing this? Maybe just a small sample size.

I’m sure this will get downvoted and I’ll get ripped for even asking, but I’m genuinely curious.

As a dedicated employee with over two decades of service in Verizon's Global Technology Services (GTS), I've weathered countless layoffs and economic shifts, proving my commitment and resilience. I'm no benchwarmer—I've poured my energy into this company, and it's heartbreaking to watch talented, hardworking colleagues depart year after year. My own time may come soon, but I'm not deterred; I'll land on my feet with a great opportunity. What truly saddens me is the thought of leaving Verizon in its current state, as I'm deeply passionate about our customers and the potential we hold.
Through my experiences, I've observed patterns in leadership that undermine our strength. When leaders aren't rooted in this country—even if they're citizens—they often lack a deep connection to its values and economy. They surround themselves with like-minded individuals who prioritize loyalty over innovation, creating echo chambers of "yes-men" rather than diverse, challenging teams. In GTS, the prevailing strategy seems limited to layoffs and rebadging, with little investment in developing talent here in the U.S. While global recruitment for top skills is essential, it shouldn't come at the expense of local communities. You hire an American employee,he buys car in local dealship who in turn buy Verizon services. True economic growth thrives on a cycle: Hire locally, and those employees become customers who fuel the business.
The principle is simple: Be local and stay local. If we're expanding hiring in India, we must pair it with strategies to grow revenue there—selling services and building markets to create a balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem. Unfortunately, this shortsighted approach is spreading beyond GTS into our Business Organization, where Indian leaders are bringing in H1B visa holders as Directors and Senior Directors from VDSI India. Many of these appointees lack strong technical expertise or effective communication skills, yet they rise due to unquestioning allegiance rather than merit.
I hope this trend reverses. Our CEO has the opportunity to champion a bold vision: Prioritizing American talent, fostering genuine diversity, and investing in people who drive innovation. With or without me, Verizon can emerge stronger. I love my job and this company dearly—let's rally behind leaders who can guide us out of this mess and toward a brighter future.

Yo Mike.... u see the falling stock and low quality output leading to client problems?

So one thing that can help to think about: Does anyone look at or investigate what looks like obvious nepotistic promotion and hiring patterns?

Why are there so many teams 90 to 95 percent or more Indian in India or Indian last name when every US based office has max 5 percent Indian population in a US based company?

Why trying to force people not Indian out of the company with politics all the time? It is interesting optics at the least. How can anyone even feel like a part of a company when you see that going on without the specific last names.

You for sure telling us there's no illegal bias or this is just from merit? I'm not speaking of good employees of certain background. I worked at many tech places, but never seen anything similar.

Especially Technology. AI (All Indian) Company.

I used to feel like I belonged here. Over time, I noticed a shift. As a woman of color who consistently delivers results and drives impact, I have seen differences in how respect and recognition are given. I have watched white peers with lighter performance receive more support and praise, while my contributions were often minimized. I also noticed cultural dynamics where questioning decisions—especially when coming from women of color—was not welcomed.

These experiences do not erase the good people and positive moments, but they do make me reflect on how far we still have to go in equity and inclusion. I hope leadership listens, because talent and value exist across all backgrounds, and organizations thrive when every voice can be seen and respected.

I am based in San Francisco Bay Area. The recent layoffs has removed many non Indian engineers. Have you guys seen the same?

I'm so thankful Hans is gone. That dude was an embarrassment and ran VZ even further into the gutter.

His DEI nonsense was not appreciated. He cried for George Floyd during an internal company webcast and THEN gave $1,000,000 to Al Sharpton's National Action Network! I was freaking livid!

He was the absolute worst and won't be missed

Hard not to notice — it feels like most of the layoffs are hitting women. Or is that just me?

They were the driving force who made such a mess of target.
How is this group helping us generate more revenue?
Do minorities even care?
Why are white women leading this group?

The constant pandering got us in huge trouble.

I wish every day were diwali :)

Anyone else notice the target audience for hiring and who gets to stay??
The Indian (India) Invasion and similar cultures.

Almost nobody, except for possibly two or three people, above store level positions at Belk is African American. Yes, you read that correctly, Belk corporate is nearly 100% white. I’m not seeing any
African Americans, Hispanic, Asian, nothing, where is the diversity?

Contractor for 2+ years, and not looking promising. Job market is tough. This place su-ks and LACKS DIVERSITY, big time. Managers, supervisors, etc don't give a single sh-t.

Any suggestions?

As we continue to see high-performing Canadians increasingly targeted by their American managers for political reasons, a concerning disparity is also emerging in termination practices, with a disproportionate number of minorities being affected.

There is a significant lack of diversity within S&T. A simple visit to the 4th floor of the Plano office makes this clear — over 90% of employees appear to be Indian, with very few White, Black, or Hispanic employees present. On nearly every call at PepsiCo, you will find at least one Indian participant. The representation is not just high — it is overwhelmingly disproportionate.

A close friend of mine, who was laid off by his Indian manager last year, shared that many Indian managers predominantly hire other Indians, leaving candidates of other ethnicities at a disadvantage. In my own experience, I have yet to see an Indian manager leading a team where more than half of the members are non-Indian.

This raises serious concerns. The numbers don’t lie — the pattern is clear and consistent. Such hiring practices undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and create an uneven playing field for others. It also gives the impression of exploiting the H-1B visa system, which further skews fair competition in the workplace.

We had planned some diversity-related activities for our group this coming week, but I was informed that we won’t be moving forward, at least not in any official capacity. If we do proceed, it will not be sponsored, and we’ve been explicitly asked not to post about it on social media, as it could be perceived as potentially harmful.

I had understood that while we were scaling back the public promotion of our diversity initiatives, the activities themselves would continue internally. However, it now appears that funding is being pulled and we’re being discouraged from sharing anything externally.

It’s disappointing, to say the least. It feels like we’re stepping back from something that mattered, perhaps out of caution given the current political climate.

So instead of promoting their people internally who have been here for years, they hire people externally who have no knowledge of our systems and contribute barely anything?? And I think we all know they aren’t being hired based on any type of qualifications. If everyone on the team looks the same, makes you think. And I mean everyone. Starting to believe interviewing and hiring here is totally rigged. What are the qualifications to work here anyway?

https://www.tmonews.com/2025/09/labor-groups-launch-t-mobile-boycott-targeting-10000-customer-cancellations/

The groups are pushing for at least 10,000 T-Mobile customers to cancel their contracts by November 1st. Their main complaints center around T-Mobile’s partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service and the company’s recent decision to end its diversity and inclusion programs.