I was thinking about this recently, about how many people said they would walk away if RTO was implemented, but I don’t know a single person who actually did. Goes to show why companies get away with the things they do. Most people are strong on words, but never on action.
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They’re not conflated. They are one and the same and that is intentional
“I said I wouldn't move not that I wouldn't RTO. The two are constantly confused on here.”
Not at all. The requirements for many jobs continue to be updated to reflect updated locations. If affected, RTO at the target location is needed to centralize team members.
I said I wouldn't move not that I wouldn't RTO. The two are constantly confused on here.
All da top performers.
Several. Mostly very good people with a lot of experience that we couldn't afford to lose. Some of them are work for the competition, now.
They let the expertise go out the door so they could shadow-layoff people, make leaders feel powerful, and fill a huge real estate footprint in Dallas. Perhaps they should have closed 60% of the Dallas office and taken the savings; then downsized the real estate, and invested in people, platforms, and network instead of ego.
There's a lot of murkiness in the question. My technical answer would be only a handful. However the reality is that I know a ton of people who basically refused to find and transfer to another position when their org was targeted for "transformation" by the roaming "Transformation Teams" because of RTO and took the 6 mo's severance and rule of 75 (when eligible) and found another remote position with a better company. That's what I did. Much, much, better work environment than AT&T. The few that I know stayed are only doing so to get their last 1-3 years for rule of 75.
Anyone not governed by the rule of 75 is stupid to keep hanging around AT&T with the forced RTO 5 days (at least if you're in IT). Most companies are only doing hybrid IF you are close to an office and full remote if you are...well...remote.
Most talented workers are gone. Only the sc… remain.
@gh are you able to read? The ones they want to keep most (younger) are the main ones leaving…
I do, but guess what - the company didn’t care. It is what the company WANTS people to do.
“so the people they want to keep are the ones leaving because of RTO. HAHA”
Actually, no. The expensive, older employees are the primary demographic being targeted for layoffs. The ROI just hasn’t been there.
Yes- I know of 2 people personally
@dj so the people they want to keep are the ones leaving because of RTO. HAHA
@c9 and yet he became a new COO 1 week after his last day?
I was a director and declined the move to Dallas. Found a job within a month with competitive Comp. I’ve never been happier.
“I haven’t regretted it for one minute.”
Are you sure? You are still checking T message boards and posting.
I know of one on my team. The person was a Gen Z, and he couldn't stomach the back-to-work 5 days in the office thing. So, he found another virtual job and gave his notice the same day he quit. No 2-week "oh, hey, heads up". Just a "I can't anymore".
I instead of moving to a hub location, lucky enough to already have another hybrid job lined up. Do I wish I could have stayed until I received severance? Yes, but couldn't lose the other opportunity.
Yes, I retired rather than move to Dallas. As did many of my CSO colleagues. Had I not been able to retire. I would have resigned.
I did, partly. Didn’t need to relocate (yet), but thought RTO 5 days with no designated seat was unreasonable. I was retirement eligible so I left. I could have waited for severance, but my job was making me miserable (the work itself) and I wanted out. I haven’t regretted it for one minute.
I know quite a few that left over RTO.
Who wrote this? C Anthony ?
Most of us are just staying around to spite the C-suite. They want us to quit, so we aren't.
Don't quit. Make them fire you and then make them prove it is not age/race/gender discrimination. Tell them they can pay severance to you or to their lawyers, but they are paying one way or another.
I know several, and myself, we declined the move, used the time arrange new jobs, took our severance and have been happy since. There are a couple of others on my old team that stayed, moved for a while and were told would be moving again in 2026 and were allowed to move back to original location and continue VO pending 2026 move.
I know a couple who got the 5 day mandate and immediately met with a financial advisor and started making calculations. One left last month, another will leave in December just to name a couple. Most were 'okay' with 3 days, but the 5 days was a deal-breaker.
@OP I know two people. I also was a contractor there until a couple of weeks ago, when they made it clear they wanted contractors to also work onsite. I ended my contract.
why would anyone quit when they're going to pay you 100k to leave.
Sanbar was fired.
"Gave 1 day notice and it felt great."
Trash.
Yes, I quit and got another 100% remote job with a company that's not failing. Great to be done with telco. Gave 1 day notice and it felt great.
Yes. Chris Sambar quit and tossed his badge to Stankey as soon as he heard of it.
Yes, which is unfortunately what leadership wanted to happen.
Quite a few actually. Some of them we really couldn’t afford to lose and have been suffering as a result. It has impacted operation in a negative way. I know several more planning to leave after the first of the year.
I know quite a few people. Most because they weren't willing to move, but several have quit who are in hubs.
I have not quit but I have greatly reduced my hours. I am a market based employee now. I am trying to maximize my pay per hour by reducing the number of hours I actually work.
I know several people who chose no to relocate to Dallas from Atlanta and left the company, but I am not sure that is what you are talking about . . . Follow the Work (FTW) vs Return to Office (RTO).
We had one person quit about a month ago. On a Monday, he asked our manager to be given a hybrid work schedule like others in the company. The manager said "No" so my teammate tendered his resignation with 1-weeks notice and turned his computer in the following Friday.
There are so many who quietly quit 5-10 years ago but remain on payroll to this day.
T doesn’t need employees not willing to work a bare minimum of 40 hours/week. Good riddance!
I know of 4, including a director and AVP
Several. People are being forced to move at their own expense with no guarantee they won't get surplused after they incur the costs. Remember, part of RTO is reporting to the "proper location" and not just for those that are already at that location coming in 5x a week.