Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

I love ENPS! I write the best comments, like how great our group is and how much I like working here. Then when the reminders start rolling in “don’t forget to complete the survey”, I speak up and tell my manager exactly what I wrote. There’s no easier way to get a gold star next to your name. No brainer, really. Use it to your advantage!

"L3 and up can see exactly whose survey it is"

L3 here. This is not true..

I filled out these surveys and gave 100% on everything and put sarcastic over the top comments like. Don’t change a thing AT&T is the best company in the world. Probably got flushed but it was fun. It help my manager but let me retain my dignity.

The point of this post was to underscore that leadership knows that the eNPS results from the REMAINING employees , not surplussed , will result in low scores. This is used to their advantage as any increase in the future, in any area that had low scores, will be leveraged in a way to make it seem how much better they are doing.... ignoring that the baseline they are comparing current the then results to were from a time of extremely low employee satisfaction.

My take on the eNPS is that all AVPs and most Directors get a score that they must action plan to improve. Just another distraction from getting the job done.

Seriously, if you want to make an impact, do not complete the survey. Quit trying to make a difference by pointing out the "pain points" or whatever the buzz word is this year. It has not worked in the past, and I really believe it only gives the company fodder to make things worse. For so many years AT&T has complained about the "work force" needing to be right sized, but as it turns out, AT&T is and has been a little top heavy to put it mildly. They do not need or deserve our feedback, let them eat their own.

Hello... if the survey is after the surplus, only the ones left take it... duhhh

The eNPS always words that our responses are “confidential “. There is a huge difference between the definition of “anonymous” and the definition of “confidential”. Two different meanings that must be kept in mind.

Surveys are not anonymous. L3 and up can see exactly whose survey it is.

I was warned by a 15 year employee to always say everything is fine. Yet I foolishly ignored this advice and decided I wanted to be honest about the large volume of the diversity emails going around at the time (2018), when the topic du jour was LBGTQ rights. I suggested that promoting (emphasizing, honoring) one protected group over another was not diverse, but showing favoritism. Those comments found their way to me in no time flat. I stopped filling out surveys after that.

The best revenge is to not do the NPS surveys. They don’t really care about the comments or ratings, but for some reason it really gets them in an uproar when the employees ignore them.

just keep in mind that should you sit out, they will zero in on it and it will get back to your boss. It is supposed to be anonymous, but far from it. My team was critical in the survey last year and the criticism was aimed at above our 4th line, however there was encouragement by other 3rd and 4th lines to inflate our responses, but apparently my 3rd line didn't get the message and we tanked him accidently. Apparently our 5th and 6th lines wanted an explanation as to why my group rated everyone so low........hmmmm......then the results were generally spoken to at our staff meeting......so next go round, rate everything 8 or above, like this is Disney World and its a love fest............

It’s a waste of time. My 19th level cares as much about my opinion as my state politician.

@dti, thanks, we now know who you are, and you will become surplus shortly. Thanks for playing.

I am always 100% honest during the surveys – good, bad, and ugly. However, one can express dissatisfaction without being offensive or confrontational, and whenever I fill out the survey I avoid excessive emotion.

For instance, in the last survey I made it clear just how silly and pointless the no work from home policy was by pointing out that there is no benefit to being in the office or increase in collaboration between workers when my team of 9 has two people in LA, two in Louisiana, three in Missouri, one and Texas, and one in Florida.

It's not difficult. It's just a matter of being objective and not expressing extreme rage.

So many paranoid and not so bright folks still here. Yes, they read them...all the way up.

To the person supposedly contacted by their 6th level... so what? You're still here aren't you? Why are so so afraid?

To me is seems to be an underhanded c-appy way to get a forced positive survey result. Imagine having your arm being twisted or being embarrassingly put on the spot. Who in the right mind would dare give negative feedback when they know it's you, or at least the targeted group you're in, and the dangle of maybe you're next if you say something that doesn't put you into the proper quotient box. Just plain sleazy, much like the leadership, and your managers that you report too. They either think we are too dumb to notice, or don't care about us. To them, we are just a pulse that can fog a mirror and give forced positive feedback, shut up, and sit down, wait to become surplus.

I know the higher ups read these. So be, very, very careful!

I was on a Town Hall with my 6th level at the time. I never emailed, Q'ed, called or spoke to the 6th level. I am sure she has absolutely no idea I exist. But after the call, the 6th level Q'ed me and I feared I was being whacked.

At first had the usual friendly chit chat stuff. Then she said, why is the Employee Moral from the NPS so bad in my location? All the layoffs? Or something else?

I thought I was dead meat and was scared $hitless.

Then it dawned on me. I am the the ONLY person left in this 6th level org in my location! So they can indeed figure it out. They have break downs by level, locations and who knows what else, perhaps org code?

I will never, ever fill out any survey anymore.

I work for a level 4 that reads every comment, implement changes within scope (influence and control) of the organization to address the feedback. This is all well and good and better than most.

The problem is, feedback on losing TV subs, losing mobility market share, budget cuts, layoff, lack competitive pricing and products are viewed as way beyond the scope of the org. And VPs and above won't risk a hair to rock the boat. Yep, the plan is to keep doing surveys and keep ignoring the elephants in the room.

say, Yes to EVERYTHING.

Best thing to do is not reply. They really don't care what you say. If they did, things would not continue to deteriorate year after year. If anything, it tells them what actually isn't so bad, so they can work on ruining that too. Don't fill it out.
Go, work, cash the checks.
Nothing more.

"or that they are not actually anonymous and they have a nice pile of negative comment people to choose from next go round"

Literally all of the comments are generally negative. Keep it professional without threatening anyone and you'll be fine.

Huh? I have been here 20+ years and the eNPS results have steadily eroded. The last one was abysmal. I can only imagine what this one in August (if they actually go through with it) will be like. The most interesting and consistent theme from the last one was how, generally, people thought their immediate supervisor/ manager and even the next level was OK, but had no faith or confidence in the executive leadership. It was consistent feedback across the board. And incredibly, it seems to go unheard, as the poor results ultimately just result in more mandatory training for the minions.

I know you tin foil hat types don't dare fill them out (you have to enter your UID, gasp!). I have mentioned here before I have not once seen over 20 + years a correlation between a scathing or even inappropriate comment and a UID or as an L2 with 15-20 directs, been asked to ID someone .

Those of you that advise to just not do them, as low participation will be more damaging than anything make a decent point. IF you could somehow get everyone on board, which unfortunately, you cannot.

So I choose to let 'er rip. Makes me feel better. I will tear leadership apart in this next eNPS.

or that they are not actually anonymous and they have a nice pile of negative comment people to choose from next go round