Thread regarding State Farm Insurance layoffs

My stress level is way down as it relates to work and handling claims while we've been working from home, even with all that is going on in the world these days. The amount of work is probably down because of coronavirus and all the stay at home orders though, and it won't last forever. If it does last though, you can trust that some EOM donkeys are just waiting to for their chance to call "waste". Then everything will be adjusted so we're right back to working under great stress and anxiety again. There is a lot to be said for having the staff it takes to handle the claims volume so proactively instead of reactively and under so much pressure all the time though. Having this breathing room between calls and working pending tasks proactively is so much better for the mental health of a claims employee than non-stop back to back calls and huge backlogs of work. You can do some personal reflection on your work and how to do things even better under these conditions too, like actually reading the process emails and SCP updates. These factors are viewed as having no value though because it's hard (but not impossible) to quantify.

Claims Department is proving that WFH gets better results. Every Demand Pool is exceeding phone and task metric goals. Pending are falling. Will SF be able put the genie back in the bottle?

What results are they getting from WFH? Let me guess - Watching and playing with their kids video games. I have time to wash my clothes. I have time to browse the internet more and order my groceries and amazon. Ok - I have 30 minutes to work!!

Oooookay. I have to say that WFM is working very well right now. Great job SF! Some things I've noticed...

1. Very little issues with my VPN connection (VERY impressive SF). Phone, intranet, ECS...seriously almost no difference at home versus working in the office
2. People with other insurers (other major ones even) that are calling claims talk about all their issues they are having with their WFH setup right now because of their VPN connection
3. Come to find out those same people get to WFM more often than not on a REGULAR BASIS (((!!!)))

I hope when this is all said and done, SF will consider trusting experienced, competent, and disciplined claim professionals to WFM as a continued benefit. The office is so crowded and chaotic anyway. Just getting there with traffic, crowded parking, elevators, cafeteria lines/crowds, and numerous other aggravations just adds to daily stresses. Attending 1-2 15 minute huddles a week and an occasional 30 minute team meeting does not amount to some kind of grand collaboration and synergy that could not be accomplished by less in-office time. Seriously!

You people are thinking so small and short term. When this is all done, the very nature of work and employment will change. Will you still be whining about who’s going to pay for the WiFi you use to surf p–n?

Work from home is amazing. We are able to keep working even in a time of crisis. Thank you!

Thus far the work from home crew in our area has produced....well, not much. Sounds like more work for the rest of us and a vacation for them.

The law was that if you are communicated by your leadership or use your personal phone for work proposes and WiFi they were to reimburse you. I’m sure Managers and Directors get that. Everyone should. Unless the law changed.

Sent to work from home and then they turn around and tell you to report back into the office!!!!

Are they going to pay for our wifi?

We should have been working from home all along. Think of all the times someone had to call in because of a sick child or school closing or an apt they needed to be home for and could have worked from home. Instead that work isn't done and the burden falls on the rest of the team.

Claims people are still stuck in the offices. Putting our lives in more danger. As usual SF is behind and caught with their pants down so to speak. We have been told for years that we will never work from home. Bet that decision maker now feels stupid. And if we get shut down by the states guess we will sit at home and be paid without working. Way to plan. Have to laugh at the stupidity.

Hubs and desk sharing. Simply brilliant!

The lack of foresight by senior claim executives is incredible as well as dangerous.

Well... not everyone gets work from home! Claims people always get the shaft, everytime!! We will be in the office keeping that promise!
But they sure take care of their underwriters! Always have and always will! Disgusting!

Think of all those cubicle employees sitting at home behind a laptop while under the influence. Just like the rest up the food chain.

State farm
Despite what they think State Farm is not a “tech giant” even though their leadership team thinks they are. And they externally contract with too many entities. Also, tech giants are not as up and up as everyone thinks or believes. So trying to behave and be like like other companies. Is not cool

Well when u can’t even get they to a help deal to deal with remote access issues. That’s a problem

I think the possibility of lawsuits is driving this. I'd think any good attorney could win a case involving this.

After hearing about all the other major companies having their employees WFH, all the school closings, events cancelled, etc., they probably got shamed into it to save face.

The issue I see is the people that were able to get laptops Friday either dont do their job when they are in the building or are so new they dont know what they are doing. I appreciate the intent but it was a knee jerk reaction and very poorly executed at least in our office. Those of us left behind still can only answer one call or work one task at a time.

After a week of “Work at home” Facebook, Google, and other Silicon Valley tech giants say it’s chaotic and not working. Not much hope for the rest of us if even they can’t pull it off.

We are independent contractors right up to the point where we don’t “comply” with the TC wishes.

Interesting.