I see some people mention they'd love to be laid off, but I'm certainly not among them. Not when jobs are this hard to come by. I'd rather suffer through a bad workplace than unemployment. But apparently, some feel the opposite. And I'm just wondering, how many of you are there?
18 replies (most recent on top)
I would prefer all the lazy management people to be fired.
i didn't want to get laid off; i got laid off and it's the best thing that happened to me. i'm joining another company where i'm getting a 40% pay raise, and i'm 100% WFH. benefits aren't as good as Verizons but i don't need to worry about butcher Dan and his bullsh-t!
Layoff was the best thing to happen to me after over a decade w verizon. Landed a new job immediately and was able to pay off all lingering debts w my severance
I thought it was the end of the world when I got the call but my new job is so different it doesn’t consume your whole life. It’s just a job, work m-f and no one blows you up on weekends or at night etc. it’s a welcome relief after years of ptsd from my work phone constantly ringing. Everyone will be ok.
Calgon!!! Take me away!!!!
My separation date was 2/20 and I started my next/better gig the following week. 20+ years w/big red so I was devasted, but life moves on. What I heard a lot after being notified was "live exists after Verizon". That was difficult to hear, but it's 100% true. The sun will rise and you'll be better off because that's when you realize how toxic of a place VZ really is. Best of luck.
I know it’s impossible to think about “life after Verizon” when you’re in the thick of it. I was also RIFed in November after 21 years of service. I’m in my mid 40’s so it’s been my whole adult life. I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else; my husband and I would talk about me putting in 35+ years and then retiring as a “lifer” on my own terms. How nieve of us ….. after rejection after rejection, I used a recruiter contact and I landed a new job. I feel so much relief. Telling you life after Verizon is possible. I heard it but didn’t believe it ….. and now I am on the other side and it’s really true.
@OP Being closer to age 70 than 65 I am ready, willing, and able to go. I feel very fortunate to be in this position and have great empathy for those that are currently struggling.
@OP The organization I worked for was sh--e and it remained so despite many, many reorgs. Incompetence coupled with arrogance, rampant favoritism, and systemic age discrimination. I tried to move to a different organization early on in my tenure but my manager blocked it because they needed my skills.
I realize that others in other organizations had a much better experience but I didn’t mind being laid off one bit! However, I do regret joining Verizon in the first place.
i’d be fine either way i think if i were laid off id feel some relief tbh that something better is possible i dont have the will to work for right now while i have a job that keeps me in the daily grind treadmill
I've been here 27 years and never known it so bad, so yeah I'd like to be RIF'd (with the right package). I'm a couple of years from retirement, but would happily take the money and find an easier job (happy to take a salary drop for less stress and responsibility) than stay here any longer working 50-60 hour weeks.
You should not wish for a layoff unless near career end. Getting a job will be tough unless you have hands on technical skills requiring presence. It is likely not better elsewhere. AI will definitely have a huge impact on office work, particularly on jobs that are remote, hence being able to be done anywhere by "anything" or one. Large scale elimination of what were once sought after jobs will be eliminated in the somewhat near future. Ride out this place while you can. You will not get a better job unless you are exceptionally skilled. If you work retail you undoubtedly will never get a better job for the remainder of your life. Hold on tight while you can.
I was laid off from Verizon end date 2/20/26. I loved my job, my team and my manager. I can’t help but see that a lot of us with tenure (and age) got included in this lay off. My group was profitable. I was the only team laid off and only member on my team who received spotlight award not once, but twice! My customers loved me and I genuinely had great relationships with all of them. My benefits and pay were great and I had no intentions on leaving. So, yes, I’m sad and Verizon was a great company to work for with amazing benefits.
Can't put a price tag on your nervous system. The constant threat of layoffs, toxic leaders and middle management is enough to keep anyone stuck in survival mode
Switch careers and walk away with your severance and if you need to access to your 401k. It's not going to get better for tech support, csr svc, reporting and even project management work in the age of AI.
Unless you're climbing poles or doing some kind of major hands on work...AI will reduce the amount of humans doing work that AI can do faster and more efficiently.
I was part of the November RIF. I just got a new job. I was devastated when I was laid off but now, I’m relieved and eager to move forward with more certainty and less heartburn/chronic headache/insomnia than I’ve had in a long time. Being on the other side, I’m just glad the other shoe dropped. If you can afford to be laid off and potentially unemployed for several months, the peace of mind being of the Verizon Wheel is well worth it.
I've worked for many companies in my career. I'd much rather stick it out here at VZ than be in the market for a job right now. The stress of always wondering if you're going to be RIFed is tough, but I'll gladly take being employed over laid off.
@OP if you’re worried about finding employment you’re probably part of the 80% that only do 20% of the work (See Pareto principle), the 20% that do 80% of the work have no fear of being let go. It would come as a relief
Show me the money
If the price is right ✅️ 200K compensation package 📦 I'm down