I am in ATO Mobility (non bargained), and I am increasingly getting fed up with everthing I am seeing around me - any sense of stability is quickly disappearing. Given that I am 5 years from retirement, what would you suggest one to do? Should I try to make it, or do I jump ship now (not even sure if someone would hire me at this age).
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It is getting bad. My boss, and probably my director, too, had aid they not only cut tot he bone with the multiple surpluses since 2012 introduced the WorkForce2020 scheme, but that AT&T also admitted two years ago the cut too deep. But then a large investor complained and guess what? Another surplus.
AT&T has only one solution to all of its problems. No, not talking about a solution to all of their problems, but any problem they have there is only one solution: Surplus. I'm in mobility infrastructure and with the latest reorganization a surplus was called within four days of it and 10% were shown the door in 14 days. Mobility budget was also skewered.
Say hello to 5g, not 5G, because 5G is what someone else is deploying, not AT&T. We pretend to be deploying it, but only pretend. The only means for AT&T to meet its DirecTV debt payments is by surplussing. And since mobility switched from a 90-day surplus model to a 30-day, I hear of another one coming up very quickly.
In fact, these past five years has trained people to fear when our managers call a team meeting. Nothing positive has ever been talked about. Just useless information that does none of us any good, or to tell us of an impending surplus. Imagine what that does for your mental health.
Get a cane and start dragging your leg. Fall down on T property and file workers comp.
The ONLY reason for you to just start looking and perhaps leave is because of fear. You're afraid of that day they call you in and let you go, and you don't want to feel like you're not in charge of your own life. Yes, that's going to happen and it s—s. BUT, like people are saying above, it might not even happen so great, or, take the severance, even if it's 2 weeks only. BELIEVE me, you need the time between jobs to cut loose of this place and find yourself again. Even if it's a month or four months, etc.
I’m in the same situation. ATO and 5 to go. Just hang in there. I never thought I’d make 20yrs but I did it. It’s a daily gut-punch but chin up and all that.
If I were you, I'd cash out my 401K, IRAs, and take the lump sum pension payout. Then hit Vegas and live it up for three months.
Stay the course.
Fly low. Play stupid.
Never deal with the boss or any other directive given except by email. "I'm going to need to reference that, could you send it to me? TY so much for the guidance."
Then save it.
Smile, wave and do just enough to stay off the radar.
If you're in the middle of the latest metric, you'll still be in the middle when they turn the glass over.
Be polite...especially to customers.
Leave work at work, politics, religion, etc at home.
Interact as little as possible with co workers-while still being polite.
Save $$$...pay off as many bills as you can.
And try to run them out of $$$.
I was in the exact same situation, but they just rebadged me. "Retirement" doesn't really get you anything, except maybe a discount on services that you can find cheaper elsewhere even with the discount. Hang on for as long as you can - it's ugly out here right now, and for people our age, it's even uglier.
Good luck, because they're coming for you.
You have value! Write up that resume and get it circulating. You'll find something more interesting and enjoyable elsewhere.
Do what ever you want. Don’t think you’ll get an extra nickel. Maybe a kick out the door.
OP here - 11 responses - all of them good. Need to think this one through well - Thank you all for responding…
Save every penny now but be forewarned the severance is not that good if you accept mtp within two years of pension and a lot of people say mtp is not that great either
Take care of your health first Don’t let t run you down
Wait it out....a bad job is better than no job if you are too young to retire. I’m on the landline side and it is horrible over here too. Amazing how this used to be such a great place to work and now it’s just bad.
Head down, a– up and hope for the best.
Start looking in earnest. Teams in ATO are being dissected, fast
What do you get if you wait 5 years? Be sure it’s worth it. Some get access only insurance (You pay 100% which is very expensive) and a cash balance. You need to really spend time to look at all of your options.
Wait for a severance package...you’ve earned it at this point! That should hold you over until you find something else. Who knows, you might remain with T for longer than you’d ever imagine!
Don't leave without a job in hand. Don't know your age or education but the older you get, the harder it gets. I know from experience. I don't think the management pension for mobility is very good and I know Verizon does not offer pension to managers anymore.
Stick it out, but assume you will get forced out. Take some free Udemy classes on relevant topics, and let the cards fall. You’ll be fine. AT&T was once a great company, but those days are gone. Be prepared to pivot when your number is pulled.
Make yourself valuable where you are but if that fails ... someone with more experience than I once told me when looking for a job their experience was it was better to be surplussed (or fired) than to quit unless you have the next job lined up already. And if you can get some skills / certification ... do it. Don't count on a college degree alone.
Leave you won’t regret it you don’t get that much from retiring you definitely won’t use their services because you can get better deals and when they give you your pension buyout you can make it go earn more money than what you would get if it stayed in att pension. Nothing good staying with att they are a cesspool and will never change.
I know some coworkers that are 3-4 years away from retirement that keep looking for jobs because they feel like their next when they surplus again and again. I wouldn’t leave until they kick me out and give you the severance package at this point.