How do people work here and not have anxiety? This is a genuine question. How do you deal with all the bullying, backstabbing, and mobbing knowing that HR will be of no use if you report the perpetrators?
31 replies (most recent on top)
Thank God I was RIF’d 3 years ago. So glad I don’t work for that sh-t hole company anymore.
To the OP, it’s Saturday afternoon, I’m thinking of you, I hope somewhere in this threads you found a kernel of support or nugget of survival wisdom.. just remember you do make a difference, their is something that they would miss if you weren’t there!
I was born in 1985 and have never worked for a more unprofessional organization in my adult life than Lumen. The Senior Manager Service Delivery and the Director were both unprofessional. For example, while we were on an internal calls with the team, the Senior Manager Beth would cuss on the line, and if we asked a question that wasn't a simple yes or no, she would freak out and walk away from the call, only to return and say the next question. Marcy, the Director, would say it's simply Beth's personality. Sr Manager was reported numerous times to HR and nothing was done about it. I left in January 2024
I too was stressed. Realizing that I, and I alone, am responsible for my personal success or failure, I departed Lumen in 2023. In spite of knowing I'd miss my colleagues, I no longer wanted to get up each day and go play ball on a losing team.
"In the final merger, we got the worst of both worlds ... horrific L3 leadership team and Centurylink"
But Q was such a great company? Hah! How do think CTL was able to acquire them?
I would guess most of the whiners here are Q techs.
Gen X here, the millennials and Z’s can’t hold a candle compared to the Drama produced by the Boomers when they no longer got free lunches daily, how they utterly refused to learn about computers, refusing to use company E-mail, refusing to go to training to learn about how to install and maintain DSL, not to mention the hissy fits that ensued when the company Put GPS on the trucks,
Lol millenials are like 40 now. This sounds like another case of an overdose on Tucker's red meat buffet
"What generation are you? Millennial? If yes, that’s the problem. Put on your big boy pants and get to work"
You think the Millennials are bad....the Zs are much worse!
I'm also free from this place finally.
I think instead of the mergers making the place better, they almost always made things worse.
In the final merger, we got the worst of both worlds ... horrific L3 leadership team and Centurylink (now rebadged Lumen) as the post merger company.
At a high level, you have a bunch of new people who have no clue what the company is really composed of and with these blinders of ignorance they pursue goals that might make sense for a much younger company with little to no legacy technical debt. Since this company is chock full of legacy systems and technical debt ... doing these new technology efforts are pointless and end up being the Lumen version of the governments building "bridges to nowhere", which is a real thing.
So this is really no different than hiring spaceX engineers and Tesla software developers to maintain a fleet of 1960's automobiles. Yet they continue to do this and pursue some pipe dream of becoming a technology company while ignoring who they are and what the legacy DNA really looks like.
What generation are you? Millennial? If yes, that’s the problem. Put on your big boy pants and get to work m.
I think it is very normal to have a lot of anxiety about working at Lumen. The place is a house of cards from a financial perspective. There is so much debt and then the landline business that was the cash cow is long gone. As if that weren't enough the technology has evolved in ways that really require less people. All that is before you add in the personalities and toxic ways of some people.
I am so relieved that I have left years ago. If the O.P. has a lot of working years left I would suggest looking elsewhere. I suspect it will be a rough road ahead for Lumen. Maybe the place is continued to be sold off in pieces or chapter 11, who knows? Other corporations may be worse or better, but at least look for a company that is doing better financially. Best of luck to you.
2 people in my department were unable to take constructive criticism and reported others to Hr. The people reporting to Hr left because their claims were unfounded.
Hire an attorney
Any earnings call predictions?
many of us long timers stayed on with the hope the ship would be turned with each merger, GC, TW, then CL, and modest increases would follow, sadly it never materialized.... the Titanic hit the iceberg finally
Engaging HR and/or going to the Integrity Line is an absolute waste of time and a joke! Leadership knows nothing about ethics, nor what true customer obsession means. They preach one thing and do the absolute opposite. They RIF people who speak out and stand up for themselves. They would rather do the wrong thing, than the right thing. Lumen is a sinking ship, as many others have stated before.
Not worth it you will end up dead from stress and your wife and kids will be left a financial mess.
All the while in your grave, our HS energy CEO will push DTL and stupid phrases like Win Like He-l while we getting our rear ends wiped by the competition
For the remaining folks do the bare minimum to keep job. Every Monday I go to work expect a 5 day notice
After 14 years of living he-l, I was RIFed 10 years ago this June from CTL. I would prefer to be a panhandler than to work in that toxic mess again.
Very unhealthy environment, got out early 2023, remember Lumen doesnt care about you, they only care about the business, they’ve been doing this since 2018 with Jeff Storey at the helm, now its Jeff 2.0.
I did, and that is why I took a VSPP a few years ago.... good luck to you all. It went away after I left.
I can confirm AT&T was so much worse when I hired on with ctl on 2015 there was a night and day difference. Seems just like I'm back at att again with the harassment. Corporations are greedy sould su-king machines only existing to feed the top execs and stock holders. If the beast isn't fed it will eat you np
There is a great quote from a Dirty Harry Movie-"Magnum force" "Personnel?, That's for A-holes!" (back when HR was called personnel, name change but status not, I feel it's a very appropriate quote for HR at Lumen.
I totally relate I’ve witnessed it many times … they horribly treat people …my friends…some still trying to cope with the after affects ..I left cause I couldn’t stomach it anymore I called HR many times and no one did anything how they can live with themselves is beyond comprehension
It is extraordinarily difficult to exist day-to-day in an environment offering no permanent security with unpredictable change. This reality was a constant during the 36-years of service I gave to this corporation. Worry did not help. Focusing on the storm surrounding me only led to fear, striving, and bitterness. What mattered was the crew in the ship. The relationships and support we shared to navigate that which we have no control over. It is our legacy. It is what people remember - heroic stories of survival and love for one another. I am grateful for that, for every relationship forged. For the things I learned about myself and the gifts I was able to share with others. During this time of pain and loss, think upon these things. Think of the good you have contributed. The lives you have improved with your presence. That will remain long after the work has ended. May God bless you as the legacy you leave continues.
I took the package to save my mental health. I have never been so stressed in my life since KJ came aboard BUT I am feeling 1000 % better the last 2 weeks. Remember who signs HR’s paycheck ………..
It doesn't matter who you work for, which office you work out of, and what country work at.
There are a--holes among them.
HR is NOT your advocate!
Sincerely,
Hr
if this wasn’t me. I was crying every sunday before work and every day before logging in.
Last couple of years I listen to self improvement and motivational speakers every single day.. guys like Less brown, Steve Harvey, TD Jake’s, Eric Thomas,
I remind my self that this is just a stepping stone to a better future..a future that I will have to create for my self.. I’ve been at this for 27 years and the marathon is nearly finished..
will also say that from US west to Qwest to CTL To Lumen for me this place , HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PAYTON PLACE. half filled with incompetent sociopaths and Half filled with awesome people making up the difference.. seek out the awesome folks , they will help to get you through it..
I've never related more to a post on this site. I have lived this for too long. Is it like this at other companies?
very difficult, knowing that you are trying to move mountains with a small shovel to help the customers, with little real effect