Thread regarding Elevance Health (Anthem) layoffs

WFH and My Recent Layoff

I was recently laid off from my position, and the stated reason was that I had been working from home (WFH), despite having been in that arrangement for several years. I was part of a team responsible for deployments, as well as building and maintaining servers, and I took pride in being very good at what I did. This dedication and performance were the key reasons I was converted from a contractor to a full-time employee (FTE).

However, things changed within the company, and the work environment became toxic. Promotions were increasingly given to individuals based on personal favoritism, with roles advancing from manager to very senior role without transparency or fairness.

It’s also disheartening to see that employees in non-pulse locations, many of whom continue to work remotely, still have their jobs—possibly due to the favoritism of their managers. Some employees are even rewarded with good ratings, pay hikes, bonuses, and the freedom to work from their preferred location at will. Meanwhile, some directors, who occasionally travel from columbus for a single day in a week, frequently complain about others in a negative and unprofessional manner, using offensive language.

I truly hate that my layoff was attributed to working from home. Given the circumstances, I expected to be informed about a required return to the office before a decision was made-especially one that would have such an impactful consequence on my livelihood.

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| 4771 views | | 8 replies (last March 16, 2025) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1jp7h4zg6

8 replies (most recent on top)

I was never told to go back into the office the one day a week. I lived over 50+ miles away so never thought it would even be questioned. Just this past October my manager asked why I wasn’t coming to the office for the past however long. I said I’m exempt and she said it shows in the system I’m supposed to be coming in. Shortly after that I was RIF’d so it’s possible that no one questioned it for so long.

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Post ID: @rm+1jp7h4zg6

"Regarding "There has been some kind of a meeting" you don't need a meeting/collision for this. It's a convergence of interests that's obvious for all players in the game. Collusion isn't necessary, they all act in their own best interests and know that the other players will do the same."

Yeah, its not like Gail B. is a member of The Business Roundtable, a national association of CEOs of major U.S. companies, which meets to set policies and make known their corporate priorities to one another.

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Post ID: @ev+1jp7h4zg6

That is not the reason but still hate it for you.

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Post ID: @az+1jp7h4zg6

Seems like your position was very much in the IT arena. Just tossing this out there: could your job be done from anywhere? Possibly they saw a cost savings in moving the work to a contractor that can offer to supply those same services at a lower rate.
I’m in a position where I need to be face to face with clients and would be hard to outsource, but I still worry I’ll get the call one day. There are no happy campers here anymore.

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Post ID: @av+1jp7h4zg6

Regarding "There has been some kind of a meeting" you don't need a meeting/collision for this. It's a convergence of interests that's obvious for all players in the game. Collusion isn't necessary, they all act in their own best interests and know that the other players will do the same. They know that collectively their coordinated individual actions in their own self interests will magnify the effect of each such action.

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Post ID: @at+1jp7h4zg6

Those outside of the 50 miles from Pulse Points were waived from the Hybrid model. Many were hired that lived hours or no where near an Office. That said Elevance is clearly targeting those providers for reduction. Example, you aren’t eligible for promotions unless you are willing to relocate. The hybrid policy is punitive for sure. HCN staff in the markets have to live near a pulse point but their service area maybe several hours away. How can you effectively visit providers when you live no where near them. I asked for a waiver for my team and was denied. My advice is find other positions with companies that appreciate you. Start now because it may take some time.

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Post ID: @as+1jp7h4zg6

Return to office was implemented in Q4 2023. Many ppl had been WFH for a decade+ but still have to adhere to hybrid requirements, unless an exemption was given (rare). It’s difficult to believe that over a 2 yr span you were never notified, nor ever given a warning by HR or your manager for non-compliance. They track badge swipes and send reports to managers, monthly. Seems like some details are missing from your post.
Regardless, sorry you lost your job 😞

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Post ID: @a9+1jp7h4zg6

WFH has been made such a big deal by upper management because they are beholden to various external vested interests. These vested interests' very lifeblood (revenue) is driven by a commuting public.

Where would the automobile (yes, that includes Mr. Musk's Tesla), oil/gas, corporate real estate, restaurant, billboard, car parts/tire, and public government industries be without commuters to drive their revenues?

There has been some kind of a meeting among the private sector CEOs communicating the strong desire for a resumption of the commuting lifestyle for their workers. One hand washes the other, in corporate America. Also, the various public government entities (cities, townships, etc.) have been breathing down corporations' necks to get their workers to commute to the office, thus driving payroll tax revenues.

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Post ID: @a8+1jp7h4zg6

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