Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

The "Cat" out of the bag is a big one, a literal tiger. The Euro party is over.

@eq Hello, everyone. What can I say about the classic speech that treats all employees like id--ts? They just forget that we created most of the added value. Strategy, what strategy in Europe? It has been non-existent or, at best, illegible for at least five years. The benefit of the doubt can be given to certain leaders who were clearly affected by what they had to do. This was certainly not the case for labor relations, with the smile of one of them, all with the apparent complicity of the HR manager... no comment from these same people who are supposed to motivate us to deliver for our customers... do we still have them and for how long...
But don't worry, everything is under control... trust BAU (Brutal AdjustmentS for Users)

@ed that’s because Sanjiv has no strategy, and hasn’t had one since he took over about 3 years ago. And now it’s probably out of his hands.
The only strategy I know of for sure, is the massive reduction in the size of the international network. Pops closing etc… network 2030 I believe it’s called.
it was already 2 years ago that Joe said in an all hands call, ‘ the only reason we have an international network is to service our US based clients that have an international presence’ also the effective APAC exit… only reason can’t exit EMEA yet, there is 3 or 4 too big EMEA customers…

@dn He's Snr Legal Counsel not HR although HR were present. It was an awful show. Fact that Legal Counsel and HR were present and made the directors read a scripts is telling.

@ed I am afraid they will cut X% and say stop doing certain tasks and activities to our faces but they will expect us all in reality to keep performing them as if nothing happened. That has been the cycle for the past 10 years at least

@e4 yeah, fair enough. I'm just trying not to sweat the small stuff.

I'm more concerned that after all this time they had no real options on the table. Outsourcing the network and simplifying/digesting what we do in security is just aspirational.

I'd hoped for "we're exiting A, B, C countries, not offering x, y, z products, divesting this part of the business, only b-ending US deals in some/all countries etc.

Then consultation would be logical, without a view of what their plans are how can a productive conversation about headcount reduction happen

@dn arguably it also shows a lack of self-awareness. It wasn’t so much the words but how he said them

These guys on the call only had to read a script, it was not a difficult task

@bp who actually said it?

@a2 he read out the script from legal… it was basically the official notification that all jobs in EMEA are on the line

@c4 meaning the Sanjiv thing hence nl was just sales… now comes everybody else in NL and EMEA( that wasn’t hit in December)

@bk NL is a hang over from Sanjiv GTM 2026… lots in EMEA got let go in December.. NL this week was still that…. That’s how long it took the Dutch process…

Today was Dans thing:.. which came after Sanjiv thing…

@aa Boo Daniel Lawson, no credibility

@bn I didn’t say they did but they clearly don’t know how to conduct themselves or “read the room”

It was totally unprofessional

@bm HR don’t make the decisions.

@bh you are right it was utterly crass,insensitive,insulting and shows just how completely lacking in empathy HR are. Will they apologise? I am sure they won’t

Does anyone have any real insight on to the timings of changes?
NL was last week, did anyone get notified today?
After the call I was expecting some kind of formal notification of being put at risk for some teams but so far heard nothing

@bh yes at the end of the call the id--ts thought the call was closed but enough of us were still on to hear it

Didnt see the call. Did somebody really say 'Congratulations, cat out of the bag' ? Bit crass if you ask me.

Post-sales is moving to a partner (likely HCL). Main reason – we can’t abandon existing customers, there’s still significant work there. Not everyone will transfer, some will just leave. Sales and pre-sales roles are effectively eliminated in this model, so expect major changes. Unfortunately no severance for those in post-sales if they transferred to a partner in this setup, thanks Vz.
Security was also mentioned – looks like it’ll follow the US path: DDoS, MSS, SASE folding into networks

Must have been an awful shock for Sanjiv to have to give that news just a month after the kick off call for EMEA

@a2 you do realize everyone on that call was put at risk of redundancy? That was the point of the call

@OP Just yesterday Daniel Lawson wrote in "Ask us anything" slack event:
"Our security strategy right now is bifurcated (US vs ROW) and our work internationally remains BAU."
Well, now we know what "BAU" means:
"Keep up the good work while we are pondering how to get rid of You"

@de been told that process will take weeks, if not months to work out. How am I expected to carry on regardless with the Grim Reaper standing over my shoulder.

@a3 I'm not Op but no, they mentioned looking at divestiture but very clear that was more based on hope as it has been up for sale for years with no success.

It feels like there are no live pokers in the fire and they need to deliver on the savings [read: redundancies] that Dan S craves

Hard to tell what’s worst: the pointless meeting designed to cause anxiety, the expectation to work through it, or Dragos saying 'congratulations the cat is out of the bag' thinking the mics were off.

@OP: so as per SG (incumbent of 3 years and 10 months) there are no imminently EMEA planned divestures??

Call was a total waste of time basically Sanjiv just read out the email which was sent out
The comment at the end of the call was heard by a lot of people and says all we need to know about our leadership