This disingenuous "hub centralization" and "return to office" initiative is a poorly disguised layoff effort. Stop lying about having to be in the office to innovate. Companies innovate all the time while having a geographically dispersed workforce. This is just a way to quickly reduce headcount. How is AT&T supposed to be successful when teams will be decimated and we have no plans to handle the work that still needs to get done? Just surplus people and get it over with - we're all adults here. The lying is unacceptable. Also, in thinking about the future, what talent would want to come work here when our senior leaders have zero credibility. AT&T is a dumpster fire and will never get better.
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My colleague yesterday had is video call with the HE after rejecting the move to Austin.
He was walked to the door after the meeting, he didn’t get the chance to go to his desk after the call to get his stuff
I saw the security by the meeting room door waiting for him to finish the call
His manager collected his laptop cellphone and badge
Fu-k you AT&T
"Not a layoff effort. It’s designed to ensure consistent productivity and also centralize departments so many can be potentially sold or outsourced."
Isn't "so many can be potentially sold or outsourced" synonymous of layoff off? No matter how hard some people try to spin it, they only strengthened the OP's view.
Its not specifically a layoff effort, likely more about reducing office footprint and cost around managing non-hub offices etc. But I think its just a convenient "happy accident" that many older employees will likely voluntary refuse to relocate and get severance. Pretty sure executives got some nice reports from HR before they made this RTO decision policy..
Let this be a lesson to younger folks (under 40 ) that remain with T. This place doesn't give a rat's *ss about you your career or your family, don't ever make the mistake of going above or beyond for this place, simply do the bare minimum , collect your pay and live your life.. treat T as a hostile employer.
I found the real reason on Yahoo. Stankey said “If they want to be a part of building a great culture and environment...". Looks like its to help us be great.
They need to be careful with the exceptions for the select few who will get approved for “virtual”. 100% political - no “business need” about it — just “who you know” to not have to move or go back to office.
Discriminatory
The older retirement eligible are most likely to not be willing to move and they know this. Getting rid of a select group basically.
can't call it to innovate if you cancelled all your innovation, idea & research programs. can't call it to collaborate & culture when you ki-l your best collaboration tool Q,
can't call it to improve productivity when the pandemic has made it obvious that wfh is a win-win for both
It is the worst kind of layoff, too, as RTO and forced relocation will cause us to lose disproportionately higher performers, i.e. the people with other employment options. At least layoffs attempt to target the poorest performers.
The morale level in this company is dropping every single day
“What AT&T is gaining from this move?”
They gain a lot
If your team is made of 200 employees many will reject the move and step out, and your team will shrink in number and in expense
Cloud architect team all going to Atlanta, we been working on the same project reports to the same management for the last 4 years
Every thing was fine, all indicators met successfully, we were wfh but officially from San Ramon costing the company nothing on office space and utilities
Why in earth we have to move? Don’t take me wrong, Atlanta is a nice place and good people but the move is very difficult and expensive financially and emotionally
What AT&T is gaining from this move?
Perhaps they are trying to become an acquisition target? We have such a checkered past with failed mergers, we'd be in the clearance section.
RTO was suppose to save T money. Stinki’s plan was to make people quit instead laying them off. So far it is not working and they are scrambling what to do now. Same stupid idea like paying 4B to T-Mobile.
You can always count on the PowerPoint guy to bring up the PowerPoints, and how they are one of the leading factors in the demise of T. LOL.
100%. Get people to quit.
It is a streamling effort for efficient use of space and economies of scale. However, the incompetence of management negates those efforts. The main reason they want you back at the office is so some 4th level can run down to your desk and get you to produce a power point deck or a spreadsheet.
Most of the paper work is counter productive and non value added.
All the Power Points and Excel spreadsheets did nothing for the DTV and TW deals. The only people that made out were the lawyers, investment bankers, the CEO’s of the purchased companies and Stankey and Stephenson.
Instead of Return to Office, it should be Return the Money!!
Not a layoff effort. It’s designed to ensure consistent productivity and also centralize departments so many can be potentially sold or outsourced.