Excellent News - I felt I was let go not only because of age (60s) and that I also was not a member of an ERG or any protected groups - and plan to reach out to the new admin to provide details. Anyone else feel the same?
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The stupidity here. If you are 60 - you would have been a protected class because of your age. But go on.
Under the new head of the EEOC it might be worth a try. Statute of limitations is not from the first event, but the last.
DEI is garbage
We often choose to ignore the reasons DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives were created in the first place. These terms have become buzzwords, often misused to elevate or attack others, while the true purpose behind them is overlooked. DEI efforts—rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, suffrage, and voter rights activism—have been necessary for a long time to address systemic inequities.
Some argue that DEI disenfranchises them by giving qualified individuals the chance to pursue the American dream. Yet there is a growing push to erase historical education because it makes people "uncomfortable." This erasure breeds ignorance about the injustices that have marginalized so many and risks repeating the discriminatory patterns of our past.
Books like Caste by Isabel Wilkerson highlight how deeply our country’s history shapes current inequalities, making it clear how hard it is to achieve a level playing field. People don’t want handouts—they want a fair chance.
While this company may claim to support DEI through employee-led initiatives, the lack of true diversity in leadership tells a different story. The numbers don’t lie, and the evidence is plain to see.
He didn’t just repeal DEI he included a lot more. Here is the entire executive order. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/
DEI is not the problem. The problem is that Elliott Management Corporation is the majority owner of Windstream. The single goal of Elliot Management Corporation is to pay themselves and investors as much as possible. It is much easier to pay investors by decreasing operational expenses, IE - payroll, than it is to grow a company.
Fully expect the massive workforce reductions to continue because Elliot Management, owned by Paul Singer, is going to milk the cow until the cow is sold or dies.
Take a look to see where Paul Singer invests his money. It probably will not give you a warm fuzzy feeling: https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=paul+singer&order=desc&sort=A
only thing that is looked at when cutting people is how much $$$ they make and their total vacation time. How many people who are there less than 2 years are getting cut? There IS your answer. The longer you are at a company, the more of a liability you become.
Excuses. I've seen the cut roles in the past. From my own RIF and others. And this last one.. it was across the board almost Everytime. They are quite purposeful in their randomization as to not create probable cause for a labor suit.
DEI is just a straw man denial symptom. You were cut because they don't value you. Not because they valued someone else based on gender, race or something else.
The money saved was the only category that mattered and it is the great equalizer in these situations.
Time to rip the band aid on thinking you were special in any kind of regard and discriminated against because of it.
DEI mattered here about as much as you did in the end.
This company is notorious for rewarding the sick ,lame & lazy it’s not even funny. Experience and proficiency doesn’t matter.
There are many DEI hires at Windstream that can barely speak English. It is embarassing.
White men crying about DEI!!..smh!!
Hopefully HR inspects any suggested layoff lists with very detailed eyes. How do we know the discrimination is going to stop or that there will not be retaliation against white males by leaders of another race or gender with DEI going away? When numbers or statistics can be so easily manipulated or lied about just to get certain people over others on the next “cut list”?
Agree. The discrimination via DEI initiatives the past four years has been unbelievable. I am still waiting for the launch of the “unprivileged white man” erg group since the other groups still exist. Remember the $2,000 sign on and referral bonuses for certain genders but it was only $250 for referring white males? The HR Department and upper leadership should be ashamed for not sticking up for their employees of all races and genders.
Straight from Windstream: Windstream, a privately held communications and software company, has been named a Top Diversity Employer, Top LGBTQ+ Employer and Top Supplier Diversity Program for 2023 by Black EOE Journal. “We are excited to be recognized for our diversity and inclusion initiatives for the fourth time by Black EOE Journal,” said Mary Michaels, chief human resources officer at Windstream. So expect some scrutiny.
If used for PR purposes and nothing else then perhaps no issues. But I remember the Screen savers (even have a some pictures saved). So perhaps they will not get nailed with any wrong doing. But I do see some discounting on the sale price of Uniti / Windstream transaction dropping at a minimum.
I know people of all races and ages that were laid off so NO it had nothing to do with DEI. DEI is the term ordinary white men use when they don’t get their way in the workplace! Other races are just as qualified as anyone else for employment at Windstream or anywhere else. Take your L like everyone else has. Your layoff is due to a poorly ran company!smh!