Serious question: What advice would you give to a very capable employee who isn’t one of the anointed ones (not in a leadership development program and not part of a good old boy network and who spends their time getting work done and has no patience for schmoozing) but who decides they want to tough it out at Verizon. Is it a hopeless situation?
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Let me tell you something, hard work means NOTHING at this company anymore. My AD is already becoming a HUGE micromanager even to the point of doing things on purpose and trying to blame me for it. Start looking for a new job, it's the best thing you can do unless you're happy doing the job of 10 people since they fired everyone and will continue to do so and will be over your shoulder for everything. get on the wagon of find something new!
@gn You're training your replacement. Up to you to decide if you want to hang on a few months longer.
Imagine if everyone just refused to fo so.
OP, assuming you are individual contributor.
- Best thing you can do is to upskill yourself in an AI tool like Claude code and build as much automation as possible for your daily work. This will get you upskilled no matter whether you decide to stay with VZ or go find a different job.
- don’t pay any attention to people who would say that you are building your replacement. Either you build it or someone else is going to build it.
- once you have done that teach/challenge your peers to do the same. We can use such overhaul in every part of our company.
I had completed a leadership development program and was a Director for an ERG, but it made no difference. I see my job is now posted in Lone Tree for the Public Sector. What a joke this place is. I was available to work in the Verizon office one mile from my house (the location where I was hired in 2022). Being based in Lone Tree makes no sense for the Public Sector. Disgraceful.
@a9 your description of Lake Mary is spot on. Entire depts where leaders partake in and enable the behavior you described. They drive out people who care about doing what is right for Verizon instead of pretending to be on vacation at work all the time.
OP I was in your shoes once, and it led to a stagnant career. when I was selected for a RIF, it surprised co-workers, but not me because my team was exactly as a9 described. follow b1’s advice. prep for your next career even if you decide to stay because Verizon may not decide to retain you.
Based on my personal experience, I think it’s a hopeless situation. I even was in a leadership development program and it doesn’t seem to matter. After the VSP, they just moved me to where it suited them best (in an individual contributor role) and clearly didn’t care how I felt about it. I originally wanted to tough it out like you, but at this point I’m just done.
@OP a) you can accept the fact that you will never be appreciated, never move up, and always be taken advantage of; you can cash the checks and view your job as a means to an end, rather than a path to fulfillment, or b) you can leave. Neither choice is wrong. Which will make you happier?
@OP if you dont schmooze at all your career is over.... you wont advance anymore
What we lack in width, we exceed in depth. Our strength isn’t in size, but in the depth of commitment, knowledge, and experience.
The Pike Effect
A pike fish can stop hunting after hitting a clear barrier too many times. Even when the barrier is removed, it may still refuse to chase prey and can starve with food all around it. That is the Pike Effect, and it shows up in leadership more than we want to admit.
We have all seen capable employees stop speaking up after being ignored, criticized, or reprimanded. Later, leadership asks for feedback, but the room is silent. The wall may be gone, but the habit it created remains
Open communication is how you prevent that silence from taking root. Leaders have to make it safe to share ideas, ask questions, and raise concerns without fear of embarrassment or punishment. When people see that input leads to action, even a small action, they start trusting the space again.
@OP paramount, ensure you have found another job, before making any decisions or taking any actions!
Being hired is very difficult within the current US scenario.
Get out first chance you get.
Lake Mary has a blueprint for this. Show up late if at all. Leave early to “beat traffic.” Use every single pto day and “flex” time daily. Make endless excuses about appointments or just disappear for recreation midday if you want. Be so bad at your job that people stop asking you for work. Send a random late night email when drunk and include some exec that’s d-mb enough to believe you’re going above and beyond. And collect your overpaid salary bonus and benefits for doing literally next to nothing. This is a true to life scenario and the behavior survived through rifs. Anyone can do it in Verizon where nonstop reorgs and chaos easily allow scammers to grift.