Today VZ UK got an update. The impact is expected to be well over 100 people, but consultations will go well into May and maybe summer.. FR is beating around the bush, restructuring reasoning seems to be mixed up. might work against them (the firm, not employees). BE got an update last week, more than 50 people on the block, impacts expected May to June, probably sales and product will be the first to go. DE is still pulling its head out of its ar-e, no real updates, but then again we're talking about the country that still uses faxes and cash. i've got next to no work and sales has disappeared. all I can say is ALL ABOARD HERE COMES THE SEVERANCE EXPRESS!
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@OP Line Managers have already been sent a 5 page “scoring” sheet to decide who goes. 1. How is that subjective & without unconscious bias
- Who validates this.
- My manager only concentrates on what is important to her, so likey will do this as per her usual method. Last minute .com when tired and with very little time allocated.
@38s 22.5 years me. I believe the enhanced package is decided by HR. If previous packages eg 2025? Have been more, I would push back and ask the question. I will be..
@OP I have been passed from pillar to post with my supposed questions in Uk, HR cannot respond,employee council cannot respond. Pushed to my Director who I was permitted a 10 min conversation with and he was unable answer any of my questions in numbers, back up data to support. Selection criteria sharing for this impacted etc etc . It’s a total shambles
Edit: the credo
@38x It's all smoke and mirrors. Gotta "love" it when execs babble about three credo. They don't care one iota about employees
@36c Verizon stopped mentioned "our greatest asset are our people" when Hans stepped in as CEO. Im surprised the Credo is still around.
@381 yes, I'm impacted in the UK and its the usual enhanced package (a month for every full year up to a max of 6 months and I got an extra 3 weeks as I've been here for 20 odd years). Pro-rata leave/bonus/share. Notice is statutory gov likely paid in lieu of working it.
Does anyone know what the packages being offered are? I am hearing mixed reports about the enhanced packages being capped at 6 months but notice periods and bonuses are added to it.
I had my “at risk” letter a week ago & no support what so ever from my line manager who continues to pile extra work on me & has conveniently cancelled my 1-1 meetings ( letter says “reach out to your manager”). no time to prepare for the kick out of the door after 22 years & now wait for the “meaningful” conversation with HR in 2 weeks. It’s a complete stitch up, with the lack of transparency which contradicts that VZ claim “our greatest asset is our people” VZ has outsourced relentlessly to cut costs to people who sadly fall well below any level of required skill sets & nothing in place to get them there. Our Customers, will no longer walk away from VZ - they will run..
Has anyone had their meeting yet in the UK with details of the severance package offered? I've heard it's just statutory and nothing more, is that true?
@2dj there's been a couple in Ireland, well not the OpCo but within VSIL but that was a while back.
Anyone in Ireland affected?
@fb - So the enhanced package is 1 Month for each year of service capped at 6 Months max (6 Years of Service) and is the Notice period capped at 12 weeks (1 week/year service capped at 12 Years max) .. Alternatively it is Statutory which no one wants to go down ..
@fb I was made redundant by Vz and unfortunately it falls under employment law for the country concerned, so it does not matter what the U.S get or other European countries get. They offer two options 1 weeks pay for up to 6 months (for 6 years service) * that leaves open to take legal action or their improved option 1 months pay for 6 months (6 years service) but if you take that option they can withdraw your redundacy.
@ar A lot of people in the UK are being made redundant this week.
@1p5 that's insane, that's far beyond the enhanced package that we have consistently seen in the UK with Verizon.
I chose to believe this is creative accounting in some way and we should expect a month for every year capped at 6 years. Anything more would be a bonus
I know of Reading people who got (or claim to have got) 20 months pay when Riffed in May, '25.
@es I recently joined the Communications Workers Union (CWU) as an associate member. I'll let their lawyers look over the paperwork if I get RIF'd.
@ey they don't "need to" but should want to to avoid law suits and other risks (disgruntled hostile employees on garden leave is a serious risk, reputation is another). There is also a business risk if it drags on that they won't fulfil the big Opex cuts promise they gave to the Street
@f9 nope, last time in the US it was two months pay by default plus two weeks per year served. IIRC it used to be three weeks before Schulman
@f9 that is good information. I hope someone from UK HR takes note
Asking AI, it suggests that even though there is no UK written redundancy settlement policy, because there has been a long-standing prior arrangement that is widely known (as-in, 1 month pay per year service, capped at 6 months, 3 months paid notice, pro-rata'd things like bonus etc), this could be an 'implied contract'. There is a prior case referenced where this was a successful argument.
This £ figure formula has been applied to redundancies at the end of 2025, if my information is good.
@f2 I for one will be downing tools if I am on the list and I will be doing the bare minimum until I leave
@ey they have always paid more than statutory so if they start now I predict they will get “statutory” handovers and behavior from those going
@ey why do they not? US employees have been paid well over the minimum. It’s about fairness and treating employees equally. It’s a quid pro quo situation
@es why do they need to offer anything more than statutory redundancy?
If you are facing being laid off do not sign or agree to anything without legal advice. In the U.K. especially where you do not have a workers council protecting you, consult a lawyer or ACAS. Remember this is about cost and the company is gambling that many people will meekly accept what they are initially offered.
@dk you will have a much more positive future outside of Verizon
@b0 its across all UK locations, so London, Reading and other small satellite offices.
@d1 I'm CP. Ah, good to know as I see that as a positive future for us
Surely a company that just won an Ethical company award could not contemplate treating people in different companies differently in terms of severance. US employees consistently get way above the statutory minimum so why should UK employees get treated like inferior human beings
@cp Divestment is definitely back on the cards.
@be it had better not be worse. I am expecting the U.K. Reps to be fighting that if that is the case and getting legal representation. Can you imagine what will happen with handovers and engagement from U.K. employees if the company was that stupid
@cd there was talk of a joint venture ages ago, this didn't materialise. It's not happening, which is why redundancies are happening instead.
Typically when there's a divestment of any nature you don't make mass redundancies prior to it.
@b4 Not true, they are having cuts in EMEA. My co-worker in EMEA was told that they would be happening.
@b2 is that still in talks?
@ab You need to get ready kid and get a horse outside
Let's hope the UK RIF package will be reviewed - its currently worse than USA folks get, and probably the worst package in all of Vz EMEA, and yet we'll be hit the hardest in Europe.
@b0 OP here - impact will be across the UK , not necessarily a single office.
So just a skeleton crew to slowly disassemble the network until we close shop?