Thread regarding CenturyLink layoffs

"I work in an area where we have a 65 and 69 year old BMO Tech, and a 70 and 76 year old CO Tech and they let younger guys than them go while they are still here waiting to die in the job. Is that fair? "

One of those guys probably knows more then 20 of the new hires put together, with little and no actual training anymore you best bet is to be a sponge and take advantage of them while they are still here, especially on the older pre 2000 equipment that is copper based. They say they want to get rid of it but it takes a lot of time to do cut overs and not all places have fiber. If they can do their job once and be right versus a young guy not trained taking all day to do things to figure it out I would say the earned whatever they want.

I work in an area where we have a 65 and 69 year old BMO Tech, and a 70 and 76 year old CO Tech and they let younger guys than them go while they are still here waiting to die in the job. Is that fair?

Yes. Everyone let go in our area over 55 except one guy in BMO thats almost 60 and they can't get rid of him because he has been here forever and understands all our systems and can help the newer guys.

However we have not had any techs laud off they were all offered packages and took them with the exception of the BMO guy. We did have Engineers and support people laid off though and there were young people in those groups, but it appears they target over 50 folks when they can.

While I recognize, CTL has an aging workforce, it does appear the individuals who have been let go over the past year are older. I was let go after 18 years of service. I’m an aging female (which poses its own set of difficulties). For those following this site, I’d like to know if you witnessed the same experience.

I am with the guy who left just short of 60. I saw the writing on the wall as a BMO tech that hasn't has work the past 3 or 4 years. The SRO kept saying, oh don't worry everything will be fine, but i knew sooner or later these new level 3 guys would figure out they were paying a dozen guys to sit and do nothing all day.

I ended up at a Fiber company with great pay, decent benefits and I am once again appreciated as i was many years ago at United Telephone. There is life after CTL. It is nice going to work and not worrying if today is the last day.

I feel sorry for those of you still stuck over there waiting for the axe to fall.

Fear is a Liar. I too left last June just short of my 60th Birthday, and with almost 40 years of service - all of which I'm thankful for. And yes, like others, I started work with another company that was thrilled to hire an experienced technician that shows up ON TIME, and has a work ethic that seems to be nonexistent in younger generations. Opportunities are out there for those who will seize the moment. Thankyou UnitedTelephone/SPRINT/Embarq/CenturyLink for providing the means by which I was able to raise my children and provide for my family, all the while preparing me for the opportunity I was able to embrace upon my "retirement ". Honest days' work for a fair wage. Not entitled to it, just working for a living.

Your more valuable then you think. CenturyLink treated us like sh!t. Abusive politics to make us believe we are a low life with out em. I took the package last June. In my 40s and dying from stress, as a BMO tech. I took my retirement , my 401k, and my experience after 11 years, flipped the bird. Now I'm soaring. Reinvent yourself! Your worth it!

I am 59 and Verizon Supv told me i have no problem hiring someone your age because i know you can do the work. Asked how long i intended to work and i told him 2025 minimun probably 2027 and he said, thats great, you will work for me till i retire and thats all i care. Starting same salary as here and will top at around $38 an hour in five years.

If you are a tech it is no problem at our age. We have had three SROs go to Verizon and they are hiring in the older CTL techs that want out. Just interviewed with AT&T personally and they offered $38.40hr which is $4hr more than i make here as a Field Ops Tech after 30+ years. Same job except no fiber locates (thank god) and they swear no 70-80hr weeks like we do here. And....no more 2am cell tower cuts and 6am fiber cuts. They do it all during the day.

There are opportunities for older techs, don't sweat it. Verizon and AT&T don't give it a second thought. Both places said "ee understand it's not good at CTL right now" and we would love to hire a seasoned tech we don't have to train.