Thread regarding Alliance Data Systems Corp. layoffs

No cuts being planned in New Accounts

I used to work at RAD in New Accounts from 2016 to June last year and c'mon ya'll, be honest, all of us knew it was coming, and if you're ex-card services you should have known just how shady Melisa and her crew are if you were paying attention. Now, I knew Ed was never going to have layoffs on his watch, he made a big deal of the fact that they had never done that every time the annual Contact center meeting came through, it was something he was proud of and rightfully so. Melisa never said anything about layoffs and that made me nervous, the fact that (at least at RAD) better sups and managers started getting pushed out on extremely flimsy premises, or resigning before they could be terminated.

I miss ADS, I really do, I liked just about everyone I worked for or with from Dinah on down but I always saw through the smarmy "family" c-ap they were always pushing, but I figured that this was going to happen after the Signet debacle (we lost one of our best escalations Specialists at RAD who wound up at HP, like I did because of a Signet customer going crazy about how we wouldn't give him a 20,000 limit on a roughly 525 and a DRAT of like 40% IIRC), he screamed at the associate for an hour and then screamed at the TL and Supervisor for another two. Then screamed at Signet and got some executive vice president who demanded that the ADS associate be terminated. Which he was. He's Executive Escalations at HP now.

Also it got really obvious they were gonna make cuts when BRO doing nonsense like changing significant processes (at least at New Accounts on V20, V25, A01, F60 and F16 queues, as well as Credit limit increases, Social Security number handling, and Student app processes) without telling anyone and with KC not reflecting the changes as usual, so they could nail you four times in a week with zeros (that would have been 100s just a week before) to have you finaled and two more the next week for the termination.

The only silver lining to any of this for people that may be getting chopped in Rio anyway is that Bank of America's contact center is here if you want to stay in financial services, and if you're into technology or escalations at all Apple has a vendor site here for a contact center, HP's got 1LS and 1.5LS commercial support for the Elite line of computers and the high end Workstation models, 2LS for all of our computers, retail point of sale systems and thin clients, as well as some support for Enterprise printers, HP also has escalations up to the executive level located here too.

Plus down in Albuquerque there's Canon, T-Mobile and Verizon who all have contact centers there. Still s—s regardless.

In the contact centers they let go of the people who didn’t fit in the “good ol boy” box. I can already feel the difference with my manager gone. No one is talking about empathy, relationships and accountability in coaching anymore. Everyone is just scrambling to “fit in” with what has always been. What a waste. We are all scared now, way to go “family” culture.

The writing has been on the wall for months now. I'm sad for those affected and fear for those left. So many of the companies they have have filed bankruptcy

If ADCS and MM are going to talk about this company as a "family" then treat it as such...be transparent and inform your family members of what you're really doing. If you're going to run it like a corporation and reduce staff and expenses at will to keep revenue/expenses ratio inline for Wall Street - then DO THAT! Don't lie to your associates with this "family" BS just to get more "highly engaged" associates to give you more and more and more. Shame on you!

I've been with Alliance Data for over a year and I've questioned MANY decisions. I wouldn't have a card with us. Everything we have is out of date and doesn't work. I've been applying for a new job for two months now

Revolt walk out ! Do a sit in ! Don’t take it from them. They need phone reps they should be safe unless you were. Long time high performing phone rep with way higher pay the rest lower pay will stay and they will be so busy that they will not be able to keep up

What was the severance? Was there any? I did not get let go and am a low level employee here at ADS. Definitely scared that I am next. Trying to prepare my mind for what could possibly be around the corner! If any of those that were let go could offer any insight into this. Thanks.

Somebody commented that HR was in the room when they got fired or wink wink laid off ! There was no HR in my room !

For years Alliance Data has taken an offensive approach against a union coming in by saying how good ADS is without a union. Now might just be the time to unionize!

The layoffs were handled poorly... the company is not loyal to anyone

I previously was a 17 year employee of Alliance that was also treated poorly after giving my heart to the organization. The senior staff has been promoted into their positions from call center positions over the years. I used to think this model was great under their promote from within policy but over the years the individuals have been less and less qualified. At one point a requirement was put in place where managers and above were required to get degrees. Maybe of the directors and above didn’t and this was ignored. I used to refer people to work at Alliance even after I separated. Now, I tell others to run far away. I’m so glad I dumped my stock before MM came onboard. I will be cancelling all loyalty and credit cards that I have that are held by Alliance. They will not earn fees off of me when they treat their people without respect and dignity.

I worked at ADS during the good years when Ivan was the president. I think the company has lost its way and a lot of its share value, It certainly has lost a lot of dedicated team members. I’m praying for everyone that lost their job this week, that God will open new doors.

Having to work for this company has made me become an alcohlic. Me, a person who hates the taste of alcohol and never even took one sip until AFTER I turned 21 because I respect the laws of the United States of America (and yeah, was a goody-two-shoes lol) Now I am drunk and replying to this post because the stress this company has caused (and I am a peak performer) is only compounded by the stress that pretty soon I may or may not have a paycheck.

For those that continue working here. Keep doing so, you will be callwd into a conference room w the "Head" of HR letting you know it's a wrap w/ no explanation...at all. You will be handed a "separation folder" by a sad, scared, pitiful hands shakin dummy higher hr up.

This company is an absolute joke and the leadership should be embarrassed. I hope they sleep well tonight in their McMansions. There was absolutely no reason for these layoffs other than to cut immediate costs. Investors are realizing this and dumping the stock like crazy. Clients will ultimately suffer as morale and production in the office will undoubtedly take a big hit as a result of this. Recent additions such as Sally Beauty and Land’s End are probably second guessing their decisions now. Will they truly receive the attention and quality of work they deserve? Associates will now have to take on extra workload and the quality of work will suffer, as employees ask, am I next?

ADS as one of the best places to work in Columbus has come to an end. Like any other company who originally put employees first, the almighty dollar has taken their place. When will these corporations learn that it’s the people who make the Company. They are the greatest asset. Without them they do not exist!

I moved out of state being promised ADS "isn't like other corporations" and they "put people first" but within a few months of relocating I'm told the department I came for (and was just created a few months prior) was being disbanded and relocated across the country.

This should have been my first warning sign... I stuck around 4 years watching it slowly become even less about people and more about profits above all else.

The more you heard from the top about culture and doing "the right thing", the less you saw it actually happening... Unless the VPs saw a way they could spin it for marketing their "philanthropy" (annual tax break plan-write offs).

The company grew too fast and lost its direction. When they took on s Signet Jewelers (Zales) they threw away their policy and would fire anyone who upseta caller with a high enough credit limit.

So sorry to see so many great people affected by poor choices from the top down at ADS. Stay strong! You are all awesome!

Ive already left Alliance by my own accord but I worked there many years. Heartbreaking to hear some of the names of people who were let go. Several had solid reputations & were longtime employees. I question leadership's decision on this one. In fact, there is one high level leader who I would have liked to see get canned by the Board. She's the one who has dragged a formerly good company down.

Most of the people who were let go were top performers year over year. These folks were loyal and were likely paid well. This was a financial decision.

The way this was handled was a reflection of Alliance Data's poor leadership. Cowardly, calculated and cold. We had a VP deliver the message in less than 2 minutes and then leave the room. An HR rep was there to finish the conversation. Security escorted all 11 of us out of the building. No reason was given. Good luck to everyone still employed. It's not going to get better. More layoffs are scheduled before the end of the year with more to come in Q1 of 2020. We should have seen this coming with everything going on. Talent discussions took place several weeks ago identifying the bottom 15% of all employees. Most of these were the ones that were let go. Some of them were related to span as ADS keeps losing front line associates due to the massive team sizes (30:1) and spans, poor systems and a deficient support structure . No organization will be successful with this model. Investors and the board need to look at ADSs current CEO and executive leadership team the same way TMobile did with their restructuring as a model to be successful. Start from the top down.

I’m hoping CDA can hold on!! Damn it!

I am also afraid of what’s to come. Not good at all.

I got let go today after almost 16 years. The phone meeting was cold and harsh. I found out they let tons of other people go as well. Can’t really say why. When I see who stayed and who left it doesn’t make any sense. I seen this coming a while ago. Good luck to y’all! Your going to need it. I could tell you everything that was going to happen with each new change. Some called me negative but I was always right and that is not me being c—y. It was me knowing how things worked and knowing the trends. This was not much of a shock. When I first started in 2004 it was a great place. As this journey ended I can’t believe how loyal I was to a company that threw me out the way they did. This has most definitely changed my whole out look on having a job. Stay loyal to yourself and not to where you work. And the cuts were not just upper management. I was by far not upper managment.

There is no family at this company with its new leadership and current board members! They are the reason why so many people hate big corporations!

Today was a total failure of leadership and shows that the plan they speak of is only caring about the big corporate investors and not the small investors and employees helping to drive the sales that lead to revenue for the company.
If this is what they mean by, “made for this moment” they have serious problems.
There is no family at this company and it’s new leadership and board members!

I wasnt laid off today but it has put a scare that it is coming and soon .. I was so hopeful i would not have to worry about a job for a long while as i am a top performer year after year . but with the events that happen today with no reason to as the why it happen or how the people where choosen i feel like noone is safe