Thread regarding USAA layoffs

This is the second employee in less than 2 years to take their life

I have been with USAA
for almost 20 years. What used to be a military driven company is now a gimmick. Those enthused workers who were the heart and soul of USAA have been squeezed to death and driven out. During these econonic challenges front line employees have had shift differential cut in half along with bonuses cut into quarters. All so senior leaders can maintain their massive inclining salaries and full bonuses. There are two cultural buckets at USAA. The salaries and the front line hourlys. Once you are labeled an hourly phone rep you are permanently labeled and it is near impossible to earn your way into the salary life. USAA was once a blessing for San Antonio but is now a curse. My heart goes out to this employee and his family. That person went through the hiring process and was once happy and proud to be a USAA employee. He likely even helped serve a military member along the way. The manager, the director, the AVP, the VP, the SVP to include the CEO should all be ashamed. Tens of millions are donated to charities and celebrity endorsements but zero to the family they hurt.
Change is needed at USAA and it starts with those frontline men and woman who serve those who serve.

Extremely sad... sending prayers to the family... Interested in seeing how things will change at USAA.
This is definitely not work, life, balance as they claim they provide. Working long hours in the office then expected to go home and work is not work, life, balance. People are definitely stressed out about making sure projects are done so they don't get in trouble. Definitely nervous about returning to the office

Very sad. Unfortunately every department has issues. I agree this company expects employees to work 10 to 12 hour days you are lucky if you get a lunch or break. The management can careless about their employees all they care about are numbers. People have a right to get mad about RTO when they approve some ppl because they claim "Mental Issues' which allow them to continue to work remotely when others are forced back into the office. UsAA does NOT treat all employees EQUAL.
MAYBE they need to ask employees how they really feel and not by a pulse survey that is NEVER RESPONDED to.
USAA BETTER look deep into the issues here before it gets worse. How do you now expect employees to return to work and feel safe???? Monday will be interesting

I have been working since I was 12. I’m my 50 years employed, USAA was the first employer that I had to leave. USAA was detrimental to my physical and mental health.
Yes it is that bad.

I am waiting to hear more about what happened here. A CEO with all that salary increase plus bonus squished a "regular employee", as he had been squishing all of us all along with fake PIPs and RTO. He knew this would be the strategy. And he was delivering it. The poor soul yesterday suffered horribly, and that CEO needs to hang his head in shame. I doubt he will. They are, at this very moment, doing damage control, keeping this away from the press so they can narrate their own story.

I wish a strike would work. But too many people right now need a regular income.

Very sad!

https://news.snbc13.com/usaa-death-employee-died-from-su----e-by-shooting-at-usaa-corporate-office-in-san-antonio-tx/?fbclid=IwAR1h75mF25ackZ7BN8KlhsloLE9ces0dYjbFqlepDerHru9AC-Ujx0rik04_aem_ARnPmptzJtIW99mXwBfZs_rOUY6dpGDeO4YMQIf7MJso2bIQDaH2yb63XJ4CBa_u48Q&mibextid=Zxz2cZ#lltu63c6bb9cetkyj1g

I have been with USAA now for 21 years, this is the worst thing to happen in our history. Wayne, in my 21 years having see many CEOs come and go has been the worst leader to. Not employee centric at all. Bonus structure under his leadership is degraded, we are not one team we are all separate departmental teams. Lowest bonus and compensation in my 21 years. With inflation, job uncertainty and No on the job training to assist for the job of the future we are in such a decline. I am always worried now, not enough to keep up with inflation, not enough to pay for my benefits, that I had to give up benefits for the 3rd year in a row cannot afford. So stressed about Will o have a job next day next week or even in a year. Working here over the last three years I no longer have any joy. I stay as it has been my professional home, but no longer feels like a home with a soft landing spot. I feel for this employee that he had to go to these extreme measures to end all that I just described. Unfortunately their are so many at usaa that feel this way each and every day. Me too over the last 3 years. Usaa provides no hope no happiness no peace of mind. Sad day for the company I have worked for for over 20 years.

The news article seemed to talk more about the history of USAA than of the poor person who took their life.

Can you imagine if all the employees across the company just reached the “eff it” stage?

USAA is going to try (clearly they already are) for as much damage control as possible and to keep it very hush hush overall.

USAA was already an iffy company to work for but how they handle this will definitely speak volumes.

I offer nothing but my deepest condolences for that employee’s family and those close with them.

This is the most unethical place to work. They put the workload of 10 people onto 1 because so many quit or get fired. They silence and retaliate against anyone who speaks up.

@hjl+1ojrpugs I assume the person meant “not an employee” because they were terminated prior to the incident so technically a former employee. But if news article said former employee, then it might come across as a security issue of why a former employee was on campus. Just my guess.

I don’t normally comment on here nor wish ill will on others, but those saying get over it or the person was selfish, did you know them personally? Did you know what was going on that this was the last straw to take their life? No. You don’t. It’s always easy to criticize when you haven't experienced it yourself or someone close to you that’s gone through it. I hope that you don’t ever learn the lesson the hard way. Empathy goes a long way, and it costs nothing.

Question for '@mlk+1ojrpugs' - How do you know the person was not a USAA employee?

This is a tragic incident that we can only hope will lead to a company reform. There are generally very few reasons why someone would specifically choose the workplace to end their life. One of those reasons is to attempt to make a statement. USAA has a massive issue with very high turnover rates, and running their employees ragged. If you don’t schedule your PTO a year in advance, you’re probably not going to get it. They just randomly shut down 7 & 30 day requests for indefinite periods.

Plenty of employees on the lower end of the ladder are becoming more and more aware of the issues with the company and are starting to grow restless. Conditions are becoming unfair and overly stressful. Even managers are being stretched far too thin for a company as large as USAA.

Recently the company has been handing out PIPs like Halloween candy. For people not even in the red on their performance numbers. The economy is currently in shambles, and members are leaving USAA consistently in search of better premiums.

On the premium note, that’s another aspect that contributes to the general stress associated with the company. It is so awful having to tell member after member that their premiums are increasing by double or more just because of “rate adjustments” with no real reasoning aside from that. Then to be expected to sell products to someone after telling them their premiums have increased as much as they have?

All of that said, USAA still only offers to push EAP in light of this incident. Clearly EAP isn’t cutting it. There needs to be change. There needs to be reform. The employees need to be heard.

Yes, all of this is very odd. I think USAA could delay a news story, but have everyone in town neatly buttoned up for 24 hours? That is hard to believe. Perhaps the person was an out-of-country contractor, and next of kin have yet to be contacted? Perhaps kin do not want the story out just yet? IDK

Doesn't it seem very odd that no news outlet in San Antonio has the story anywhere but some random news site in Bethlehem, PA has the story? Sniff, sniff another cover up ???

He didn't work for USAA

We need to organize a walkout in protest and solidarity for this poor person who was thrown away. Was their life worth so little to usaa. Might have saved them $100K. SO SENSELESS and greedy.

Former USAA employee here…I left in 2001 when Bob Davis was burning things to the ground; massive layoffs and then terminations. I heard crying in the bathrooms, saw ambulances come every day (I had a cubicle overlooking a loading dock) bc of heart attacks, panic attacks, there were threats of self harm and violence. I left bc I my mental health was worth more than working in that kind of environment. Left them with 200 pending (large loss property).
While there were probably other things going on in this man’s life, the fact he took his life on campus sends a message, I think. I hope there’s complete transparency for you guys. Please demand it and if you don’t get it, take it to the media, if that’s not in violation of your employment agreement. I hope the family sues USAA bc nothing teaches a lesson like money.
Condolences to the family and friends and colleagues who knew this man.

Let's assume that these "news" articles are accurate. That would mean that Wayne lied to our faces when he said that it was “one of our P&C teammates.”

They were one of our former teammates.

Because you fired them.

We shouldn’t speculate on the details out of respect for the deceased and their family. If this was my family member, nothing would pour salt in the wound more than a bunch of anonymous people speculating on my family member’s death.

That’s why we need answers. Was this person actually terminated? Why was this person being terminated? Was it due to bad performance? Was it a “management out of the company” (aka a cost savings measure)? Or was it a layoff?

I partially agree that while things are bad at USAA, they don’t justify this. Nothing specifically that’s happened at USAA calls for or justifies ending one’s life. But there’s something broader going on. Finding a job elsewhere is extremely difficult right now even for extremely qualified and talented people. The company continues to fire people left and right and lay them off in the worst job market in a very long time. Layoffs are not unique to USAA, but for those who do have a job, many feel trapped in this poor morale cesspool that Wayne has created.

Externally, the economy is doing poorly. The job market is terrible. The stock market is terrible. The country is more divided than it ever has been. And to top it off, many people have terrible home lives. So after feeling miserable at work due to the state of the company, they go home and struggle with their families, then they turn on the news and see a terrible economy, a horrible job market, and a general zeitgeist of hostility and contention.

So someone feels miserable in their own head and at home.

Zooming out, they feel miserable in their broader community at work.

Zooming out even farther, they feel miserable due to the state of the country, the economy, and the world.

All of these factors feed into depression and a feeling of hopelessness.

So while we don’t know the specifics of why this person did what they did, in many ways, they represent what many of us are feeling and seeing.

If this doesn’t spark action, nothing will.

If we don’t get some open and transparent communication about this and what’s going to be done to prevent similar actions, this company is lost.

I hope Wayne feels the full weight of this. I hope it keeps him up at night. While he enriches himself and his cronies, those on the bottom or "in the trenches" continue to suffer from the culture he’s created. While Wayne himself may not be responsible for this specific person being let go, the culture he’s created of penny-pinching, leadership through fear, zero transparency, corporate cronyism, and total disregard for the well-being of employees absolutely played a role.

I think we all expected things to reach a breaking point eventually, and this was it. This was the breaking point.

This individual may have been the first to take this unspeakable action, but he isn't the only one who has felt these feelings or thought these thoughts. You know that dozens if not hundreds or more have had similar thoughts as they were kicked to the curb from the company they once loved.

EAP isn’t going to cut it anymore, Wayne. Talking to some psychology student on the phone whose only recommendation is going to be to journal about our feelings won’t help. Not in this situation.

I hope the family is able to find peace in the midst of this. I can’t say the same for Wayne.

It’s time for Wayne to resign.

The article is back up.

This is so very sad. My thoughts are with the family.

I know from personal experience how many people say inappropriate and terrible things at a time like this, in part out of shock and disbelief, in part out of speculating ‘why’ despite not knowing the person well, in part because of rumors that aren’t true, and so many other reasons.

The family bears the brunt.

Sending them love and hoping they encounter only kindness and empathy from anyone they encounter over the coming days.

This has nothing to do with RTO. This individual was not threatening the campus.

You do realize that USAA is now in full "damage control", right?

I know who I do not trust, and it is squarely USAA.

I saw the article and it clearly stated that an investigation was underway and that the person had just been fired. The article was well-written.

It has since been suppressed. I smell a coverup.

Wow, we have some real dirt clods posting on this topic. Makes me wonder if they're among the cold execs that view this tragic incident as a money saver for the company, the always lame "use your bootstraps" to help yourself type of loons.

Link to the article: https://news.snbc13.com/usaa-death-employee-died-from-suicide-by-shooting-at-usaa-corporate-office-in-san-antonio-tx/

The news article is poorly written and looks like it was generated by AI. I would not trust its accuracy.

They tried to fire me, also. One day,I was rolling in clover. The next, they pulled a false PIP.

I left for my mental health.

I am so sorry this person could not just dump them as I did.

Can anyone post a link to the news article? I can't find anything

USAA Death – San Antonio Police are investigating a death incident at the USAA Corporate Office – a banking and insurance cooperative- on Saturday. According to reports, an employee of the USAA Corporate Office located on Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX died from an apparent su----e by shooting themselves in the head Saturday.

Law enforcement agencies were called to the scene for a report of an individual with a g-nshot wound. According to reports, the individual identified as an employee of the San Antonio’s Corporate office was found dead from an apparent g-nshot to the head. Investigations allegedly determined that the adult shot himself following the termination of his employment.

Situation at USAA isn’t bad as other companies. We are used to being babied. Maybe they will reconsider RTO and keep 2-3 days at home for mental health.?? Every company lets people go. There are always other jobs. This was selfish and making people fear going to campus. This person had to be unstable which is sad and unfortunate.

Another contributing factor is the "cult of USAA", affectionately termed "drinking the Kool Aid". I recall the 100 year anniversary meetings where management lauded how great they were. They wanted me to agree that anywhere else but USAA was this terrible place.

I disagreed to their faces, and wondered silently what was their game.

If you have people,however, believing this B.S., then what happens when they are "betrayed" by this manipulation and frightened by the prospect of leaving the USAA "cocoon"? Some of the employees only knew USAA. Some were being led by others' enthusiasm.

But what is the culpability of a company that creates such false delusions, and then the bottom falls out of the "dream"?

Our cold-hearted poster who advises everyone to su-k it up would not have mercy, we know. But companies that mislead have been culpable in courts of law for outright deception.

I’m sorry, and condolences to this individual’s family, but there had to be more going on with this person than a hostile work environment. If this was their biggest issue, then all they had to do was find a new job. This is going to cause bigger issues for whoever found them or heard them after they passed away, and you all complaining about useless cr-p is not going to help anything. RTO is here, get over it. Layoffs are happening, get over it. USAA is not the only one going through this, it’s happening everywhere. Some people actually enjoy the department they work in. Everyone has choices and can move around as they please. Su-k it up, enjoy your bonuses, or leave the company.

@whp+1ojrpugs
Hate to say it but this is now nowmalized for this place.

What role did USAA's hostile work environment play in this person's ultimate decision to end his/her life?

Now is not the time to hide any of USAA's dirty secrets. Now is the time to talk to authorities beyond this forum.

The corporate game is over. It was never a game to those of us harmed, financially, emotionally, and mentally. A decision to use force out tactics harms the individual, the family, and the entire community.

This hurt is real. It impacts all of us.

I want this forum to continue. I want employees voices to be heard.

And I never want something like this to ever happen again.

I've been at USAA quite awhile. We had people pass away before on the SA campus, but this one is a first, First time we ever got an email like this, first time for an actual su----e. While we don't know the details yet, this is very disturbing - you hear of stuff like this in overseas sweatshops. I'm betting some of those details will leak out soon, people won't keep their mouths shut over something like this. RIP, whoever you were. A truly sad day at USAA.

This is no longer our forum to complain, it is now our responsibility to demand accountability and transparency. Every single complaint that has been displayed on The Post (loss of healthcare coverage, beyond demanding metrics for some, layoffs, RTO pleas) and public forums such as this and Fishbowl, is now the most stark reality any of us will ever face. Our colleague made a decision yesterday to send a message. It marks anything more meaningful than 100 years of business or a $1B loss. I cannot and will not stop thinking about this person and the pain they must have felt to make this choice. Our jobs change on Monday. We must do what we can to support their family and never stop including their name in our realest conversations.

Today, we mourn.

Tomorrow, we will demand transparency and accountability.

USAA disgusts me.