#remotework

With the new RTO tracking being through IP and not swipes, has anyone heard anything about if changing location from hub to branch would be an option? The excuse used to be that it couldn’t be tracked.

In 2024, when we were hybrid, I used to be genuinely happy going to work. I was energized, motivated, and excited to contribute to the largest telecommunications company in the United States. But after nearly a year and a half of the five-day return-to-office mandate, I feel completely drained.

Every day is a battle — fighting traffic, searching for parking, and then scrambling to find a desk. To make it worse, people schedule meetings during my commute, which makes no sense.

Back in 2024, I felt bright, energetic, and enthusiastic about the work. Now I feel like Squidward, doing the bare minimum just to get through the day. Whenever I am asked to go above and beyond or deal with some ridiculous request, my response is basically that I am commuting or that I will get to it once I can actually find a desk. The whole thing feels like a joke.

To make matters worse, everyone on my immediate team and in my department seems endlessly enthusiastic about chasing more wireless and fiber gross adds. Maybe some of that excitement is real, but a lot of it feels rehearsed. I look around and see people acting energized and engaged, and it is hard not to wonder whether they actually feel that way or are just playing the part. Honestly, the only place I ever see people expressing what this experience really feels like is on this site. In person, people seem scared to say it out loud. It often leaves me feeling like I am the only one being honest about how exhausting and demoralizing all of this has become, especially because I am overshadowed by so many coworkers who seem enthusiastic about their jobs and about taking AT&T to the stars.

Trying to catch the vibe and see through the fluff here. I see a meeting with potential future board member (JG) on the calendar, an earnings call, an all employee meeting, and then a wider team meeting following that.

Personally, I was going to leave the company in short order, but this feels like re-org and layoff damage control on my calendar.

What’s the temperature in the room where you are? I’m remote and have not been plugged into the roomer mill in years. Any concrete info?

Apparently, a family member having a medical emergency that requires someone to be present isn't a valid reason for a remote work exception! I learned my lesson, I'll just call off sick instead of giving a damn about this sc-mmy org.

Will the EPMO go remote?

I've heard anyone who manages people is going remote.

It's updated but still wrong, unless I wasn't on network long enough to be tracked. Workday still has the message that things are in progress though. Does anyone know what's going on?

Oracle initiated layoffs impacting remote workers in the Seattle area. A total of 491 employees in Washington state operations are affected. The company announced these job cuts on April 10, 2026. Affected employees will see their jobs end on June 1. Oracle cited its AI infrastructure and cloud strategy as factors.

Seattle, Washington

https://nationaltoday.com/us/wa/seattle/news/2026/04/10/oracle-layoffs-hit-remote-workers-in-seattle/

Ford management is planning big layoff in Ottawa soon,
Most of ce xxxx work and new platform work are moving to lang island. All remote and disgruntled employee be prepared for another big layoff. Don’t feel disheartened if you are in the list. It’s all about money and cutting cost. Lot of boomers may get impacted soon.

I don't mind going remote again. I just can't tell if that's going to backfire.

Is there a date? Mostly RAN people left, but they got dumped into Ericsson for Texas or remote

Just a rant!!

Earlier, 11 days used to do it but now 61% is 14 days. Makes no sense. My entire team is remote, I was hired remote but forcefully transitioned me to an office. I come here just to attend meetings and work alone with no in office interaction all while bearing additional cost of gas and parking

Almost every team I have interacted with has mentioned they have an exception to RTO. Are there any teams who have been given the deadline to accept RTO? What does that entail, timing, severance, etc?

At this point I would just rather they say in office 5 days, remove all “tracking” and leave us alone! (That will never happen I know). But pre-COVID when all we knew was in office, and flex to be at home as needed or we worked 4 hours office and the rest at home but because they gave us the autonomy, we often gave more than they asked. I want those days back.

Hybrid employees struggle a lot—commuting 30 miles, taking early morning meetings, working late hours. Meanwhile, remote employees don’t face the same challenges—no commuting, no badge scans, fewer constraints. Honestly, remote employees should be considered first if workforce reductions are needed.

A lot of office workers in India and the U.S. have been laid off recently.

But somehow there are still plenty of remote workers sitting in Dublin, Ireland. Why is ESG management holding onto them? What kind of justification is being made for keeping these roles?

From what I can see, most of them don’t bring anything special to the table. I’m not seeing strong skills in areas like reverse engineering or development. Honestly, it feels like teams in India or the U.S. could take over that work and do it better.

So what’s really going on here? Is ESG management going against company policy? Or do these people have connections with upper management? A lot of them seem to be legacy folks from the old Symantec days.

This is basically fourth hand, but I just heard they're trying to sell the office and everyone will be remote full-time.

Does anyone else think with the price of oil being pegged above $100 a barrel for the foreseeable future, ongoing bo----g campaigns of oil infrastructure, and Europe already rationing oil / encouraging as little travel as possible that we might see a softening on the four day RTO?

Wasting gas to drive into the office to call into a remote meeting doesn't make any sense.

This is by far HCSC’s biggest and ugliest April fools day joke ever! They already had the list of employees they were sending home. Just send that sh*tty email to them and leave the rest of us alone in peace. Thanks for caring about your employees!

Or is there more to what's going on? What does this whole remote drive even mean? Will those people be at higher risk of being cut?

I just looked up my information in teams. My business address is now listed as “Bassett”. There is no town near me with this name or that has a UHC building. Does anyone know what this means? I am a remote worker currently. Thanks in advance.

All employees assigned to the West End Center transitioned to remote work.

Last day working in the office was March 31, 2026.

Around 150+ employees impacted.

Did anyone else notice in the Kwapcast how they're already starting to soften the language about RTO?

It was indicated that the reason they didn't go for a 3 day RTO is because they felt like they'd only be able to get people to do 1 and it was suggested that by going for a 5 day RTO, they'll be able to get people to do 3.

Hold the line, ladies and gentlemen. I think Bill D's nonsense will blow over.

I'm hearing last mile delivery should have nothing to worry about because the remote Associates that didn't want to move to Arkansas were let go. Thoughts?

As the Alphabet soup continues to do mini layoffs to avoid UK government thresholds.

Looks like they will pick out people that work remotely, going as far to include peeps working 2 days a week from home.

I hesitate to complain about WFH when other offices don’t have it. But when are we “rotating” the WFH days in BH?

I see so much confusion about WARN notice on this board:

The WARN Act applies to employers with over 100 full-time employees who are planning a mass layoff at a single site of employment.

So if you are (or were) WFH, WARN does not apply to you. (unless you have a hundred coworkers as roommates in your house)

Only got 10 days of notice period. Remote worker from Nevada. I'm seeing others have gotten 60 days. How does it work?

is it safe to assume this status remains for at least next 2 years until Plano campus is built? I really need to get my family out of rental situation and I was curious if anybody is doing the same this year in a non hub location. If not what else are you doing with your current homes?

Oil crisis, WFH should be considered

$200 a barrel if we don’t act fast and use up our reserves which may be needed for war.

Regarding the Humana RTO policy, what is the... Live within 50 mile radius of Talent Hub requirement?

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The Humana Return to Office (RTO) policy, which has evolved significantly through 2025 and into 2026, utilizes a 50-mile radius as the standard threshold for determining whether an associate is required to work in person at a "Talent Hub" or corporate office.

How the 50-Mile Requirement Works

The core of the requirement is based on your primary residence in relation to a designated Humana office or hub.

Proximity Rule

If you live within a 50-mile radius of a Humana Talent Hub or corporate office, you are typically classified as a hybrid or office-based employee. This means you are expected to report to that physical location for a set number of days per week (or month), depending on your specific department's guidance.

Talent Hub Locations

Humana has identified specific cities as Talent Hubs to centralize collaboration.

Key hubs include:  

Atlanta, GA

Louisville, KY (Corporate HQ)  

Washington, D.C.

Additional Hubs: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, and New York City.

Remote Eligibility

Generally, associates living outside the 50-mile radius of these locations are eligible to remain in a fully remote status. However, even remote associates may be required to travel to a hub for quarterly meetings or specific team "co-location" events.  

Impact on Associates

The enforcement of this radius is part of Humana's broader strategy to consolidate its real estate footprint while increasing in-person collaboration.

Commuting Responsibility

If you are within the 50-mile zone, the commute is considered "normal home-to-work travel," meaning travel costs are generally not reimbursed by the company.

Exceptions

Exceptions are typically handled on a case-by-case basis and usually require high-level leadership approval. These are often reserved for specific roles that have been designated as "permanently remote" regardless of location, or for documented medical accommodations.  

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Humana’s "Talent Hub" strategy represents a shift from the traditional "sea of cubicles" to a "destination office" model. As of 2026, the company has significantly consolidated its real estate (notably exiting the iconic Michael Graves-designed Humana Tower in Louisville) to focus on smaller, high-tech, high-amenity spaces.

1. Design & Layout

The "Neighborhood" Approach

Humana has moved away from assigned seating in favor of Activity-Based Working (ABW). The layout of a typical Hub is divided into "Neighborhoods" tailored to specific needs:

Collaborative "We" Spaces

These make up the heart of the Hub. They include "Project Zones" with mobile furniture that teams can reconfigure on the fly, and "Huddle Rooms" equipped with 360-degree cameras and digital whiteboards for seamless hybrid meetings.

Quiet "Me" Spaces

For focused tasks, Hubs feature "Quiet Cars" (inspired by Amtrak). These areas have higher acoustic panels, carrels, and a strict "no-talking" rule to mimic the productivity of a home office.

Residential Aesthetic

The design uses a "hospitality-first" palette—natural wood, soft lighting, and ergonomic furniture that feels more like a living room or a boutique hotel than a sterile clinic.

The "Connected Café"

A central social anchor in each Hub, serving as a semi-public space for informal networking, coffee breaks, and "touchdown" work between meetings.

1. Usability & Technology

The usability of these spaces is governed by what Humana calls a "Phygital" experience—merging physical space with digital tools:

Intelligent Booking

Employees use an app to reserve desks or lockers. Over time, AI learns your preferences (e.g., "Mark prefers a standing desk near a window") and suggests spots when you book.

Smart Building Integration

In 2026, many Hubs utilize AI-powered lighting and HVAC systems that adjust in real-time based on occupancy and natural light levels to improve comfort and reduce energy waste.

Concierge Service

Moving away from traditional security-desk entrances, Hubs now feature a "Community Host" or concierge to help associates navigate the tech, find their teams, or troubleshoot equipment.

1. Employee Occupancy & Utilization

Humana’s occupancy strategy is built on the reality that the office is no longer the "default" location for daily tasks.

Daily Occupancy Rates

As of 2025–2026, daily building utilization typically hovers around 25% to 30% of the total local workforce. The offices are designed for "peak" days (usually Tuesdays through Thursdays) rather than 100% capacity.

Intentional Presence

The goal isn't "headcount" but "interaction." Humana measures success by "Experience-Based Metrics"—tracking how often collaboration zones are used and whether employees feel a sense of belonging, rather than just badge-swipe data.

Louisville Consolidation

The most dramatic shift in occupancy occurred in Louisville, where Humana moved its remaining in-office staff into the Waterside and Clocktower buildings, opting to renovate these spaces for $20 million rather than maintain the oversized and aging 27-story Tower.

Living just outside that 50-mile radius—these Hubs are designed to be the place you go for high-value team events rather than a place you'd expect to sit and answer emails all day.

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While Humana does not publicly disclose a single "total" price tag for the entire Talent Hub initiative, we can estimate the investment based on their 2024–2026 real estate filings and renovation permits.

Humana is currently executing a multi-year "Value Creation" strategy aimed at saving approximately $1 billion in annual administrative costs, part of which involves moving out of high-cost legacy real estate and into modernized, efficient Hubs.

1. Renovation & Build-Out Costs

The average investment to transform a standard office into a "Talent Hub" involves high-end technology integration and "hospitality-style" interior design.

Flagship Renovation (Louisville)

Humana recently filed permits for a $20.1 million renovation of the 10th through 12th floors of the Waterside Building (roughly 150,000 square feet). This averages out to approximately $134 per square foot for the interior fit-out alone.

Satellite Hub Estimates

For smaller Talent Hubs, like the Atlanta hub, typical Class A office "spec-to-hub" conversions in the current market range from $100 to $150 per square foot.

Total Portfolio Spend

Given the consolidation of dozens of offices into approximately 10–12 major Hubs, the total capital expenditure (CapEx) for the physical transformation of these spaces is estimated between $150 million and $250 million nationwide.

1. Technology & "Phygital" Infrastructure

A significant portion of the expenditure is "invisible"—invested in the digital layer that makes the Hubs usable:

Hybrid Meeting Tech

Equipping "Huddle Rooms" with 360-degree cameras (like Logitech Sight or Owl systems) and integrated scheduling panels costs roughly $15,000 to $25,000 per room.

AI & Proprietary Apps

Developing and maintaining the custom desk-booking and "Experience" apps used by employees represents a multi-million dollar ongoing operational expenditure (OpEx).

1. Real Estate Savings (The "Off-Set")

It is important to view these expenditures as part of a cost-reduction play.

The Humana Tower Exit

By exiting its 27-story namesake tower in Louisville, Humana avoided massive maintenance and utility costs. That building is currently being redeveloped by third-party developers into a hotel in a project valued at $600–$700 million—costs that Humana is no longer responsible for.

Occupancy Reduction: Because the Hubs are designed for roughly 30% daily occupancy, Humana has been able to reduce its total square footage by an estimated 40% to 50% since 2023, leading to massive savings on leases and property taxes.

The Bottom Line

Humana is spending hundreds of millions upfront to modernize these spaces, but they expect to recoup that investment within 3–5 years through reduced lease obligations and lower utility/maintenance costs across their smaller, smarter footprint.

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For people selected? Or there's something more nefarious hiding behind it? I really hope they'll eventually explain what it's all about.

This is why we know RTO is about getting rid of employees without paying them severance.

https://medium.com/@danielychang/the-basement-and-the-boardroom-7d7e7dbee7c2

This is on LinkedIn
CICS Systems Programmer - Mainframe - Remote
Truist · Charlotte, NC (Remote)

I heard hidden ridge/Irving will remain open and 400 International/Richardson will close. People can decide to move to hidden ridge or WFH

6-Hour Minimum Requirement for In-Office Time
Effective immediately (although April 1 is a start date)
Reporting will look for 8 hours but minimum is 6 hours
No exceptions (unless people are out of office for sick time, vacation, approved leave, etc.)
You can’t extend the hours throughout the week; it must be a minimum of 3 days/week, 6 hours/day
Absolutely no gaming the system — anyone caught doing this will be terminated immediately
New Info
No announcement will be made
Applies to every employee even if their management hasn’t told them about it
3 full days/week does mean 12 days/month, although 11 still meets the 90%+ requirement
Reports have already been sent to level 4 leaders for where things stand today
Minimum of 6+ hours in office does not mean people only have to work 6 hours/day

Anyone else have people in their office pack stuff up, and told they’re being moved to telecommuter status?

I am in the Richardson office and a large number of people were abruptly told we’re moving to telecommuter. I’m happy, but don’t understand the urgency or the decision process.

No work from home E-mail today?
No reorg coming week?