If you’re one of the 13,000 employees who were laid off last year, you’re probably aware that the waiting period has ended and you’re now eligible to apply for roles within the company again.
That said, unless you have someone actively advocating for your return and pushing to bring you back in, I would encourage you to look forward rather than backward.
From what I’m seeing, especially on the wireline side of the business, the company’s focus appears to remain on restructuring and efficiency initiatives. They continue hiring leadership and management talent aimed at identifying operational improvements and reducing costs, which often translates into additional workforce reductions.
Experience and institutional knowledge alone may not be enough to secure a return. If you’ve developed new skills that align with where leadership is trying to take the business, your chances may improve. Otherwise, it may be more productive to pursue opportunities outside the organization.
It’s unlikely the company will bring people back into the same roles, at the same compensation levels, to perform work that was previously eliminated. At some point, it makes sense to shift energy toward building the next opportunity rather than waiting for the old one to return.
26 replies (most recent on top)
@nb what was your role at vz and what industry were to able to get into?
I was a leading employee that was riffed after 13 years with the company last Fall.
After 4 months of unemployment, I was able to land a role with a company in a completely different industry.
I’ve been here about 2 months, and the cultural differences are staggering. Every one is genuinely nice, people don’t constantly talk sh-t, almost no complaining, and leadership doesn’t micromanage every last KPI. I don’t dread coming to work the next day (despite a worse commute). The stress levels are almost nonexistent compared to Verizon.
Finding a new job su-ked, but after tasting a non-toxic work culture, you couldn’t pay me to go back.
WTF, you would need to be insane in the (mem)brain to apply to Verizon after you were let go. But I guess it explains how Verizon became what it is now..... a fcuking toxic caricature of its former self
Have HR been downvoting all the negative comments here!! You’d have to be a very strange person to claim that Verizon is a very pleasant place to work right now. Maybe it’ll get better but not anytime soon
@dd I know people are coming from a different direction on this forum however I was one of the RIF'd employees in November. I'm looking to come back and this comment is pretty much my sentiments exactly. It's not something I want to do, however the job market is genuinely one of a kind awful for my profession. It seems to be a lesser evil to hang on until I'm cut again in a year or two than test this current market.
If you have the flexibility and experience to jump ship, do it. I agree with the sentiment entirely. However it doesn't work for everyone right now.
@a3 I would imagine..after I got riffed my EA counterparts told me nothing has really changed for EA work from a AI standpoint that Dan huffed and puffed about... Same status quo of managing calendars and just Alot more pressure and leaders to manage in general. And Alot more stress for the leaders to handle their own sh-t without the EAs they needed to help offload the expensing and inbetweener sh-t.
We were the least in my opinion that needed to go. We ate Alot of sh-t and organized stuff for multiple people. I still had my leader tell me afterwards that I was a god send for managing her day along with 2 other leaders I had... The one thing I don't fu--ing miss is the dealing with the EAs who took for-fu--ing-ever to answer emails to organize multiple leaders into a group. Some of these women were fu--ing horrendous, it's like they decided to keep the laid back ethic of the Covid-years and answer when they felt. I had EAs contact me to find out why an EA wasn't answering for hours or days. I could only shrug my shoulders. Was not happy they riff'd me since I had the decency to answer people lighting fast and respect people's time. But I sure was happy when I knew some specific lazy slobs got riff'd. I could have done their job way better anyway.
Our team had three contractors, and their contracts expire at the end of June 2026. Our Senior Director said that their contracts are not being renewed. All 3 gone!
I was told that they want me back but have not been given the ok to backfilled US based roles.
As if Verizon is hiring outside of the retail stores. What a bunch of losers.
If you could learn a new skill, like line work, they would probably take you back.
If you leave and you realize over time you feel happy and less stressed you’ll understand working at Verizon is like being in a coercive control relationship….leave and you will be happier and healthier
The feeling is mutual
@cs I thought was just managers not ICs
@dj - You had been long time employee, and you did not feel this place was toxic while you were employed
I left not too long ago. I was a long time employee and after a few months of well needed r&r it became apparent that my career at VZ did long term damage. It’s a toxic place that people hang on to because it’s lucrative.
If I was laid off and couldn't find another job in 6 months I would absolutely come back. It may not be a great working environment but it still pays the bills. That said, I would keep looking elsewhere and would leave for a better or more stable opportunity.
@OP If you go back. You are The Gimp from Pulp Fiction.
@ak where have you been? Lol
@OP The feeling is mutual!
I left a few months ago and couldn’t be happier. The money definitely isn’t worth all the stress, disorganization and general lack of direction. There is no way I’d ever go back after escaping
Too many Indians getting cut. Way too many Chiefs not getting cut.
I second this. I wouldn't recommend going back to a company that would be filing for bankruptcy sooner than later.
There were layoffs in wireline?
100% this, look forward not backwards.
I’m in lake mary and a ping pong champion at the office. I am confident in my skills to do anything but work, and look forward to the company bringing me back.
Why would anyone ever want to come back? It’s worse off now than when they were RIF’d.