Monday's IT layoffs have caused a cascading crescendo of fear across all of Aflac and the entire Columbus IT community. It doesn't take much to deduce this is just the beginning. It's only a matter of time before most areas are assessed for cost savings by way of outsourcing. The years of "employees are our most valued resource" are over, the lines have been crossed and the stockholder dividends have taken precedence. Make your peace and prepare accordingly, managed services are the new norm industry wide.
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Did Paul Amos tell you that's the reason he left or is that conjecture?
The company will be sold?!? That's quite the material inside info you have, who's your source?
Thereby is a reason Paul Amos left. The company will be sold. They are already looking at cutting Aflac Group from the table, as their incompetence and lack of profits forced Aflac to dump money down a drain. We get it, this is business. But they are completely going about this the wrong way. Even the interns commented that they would not want to be in a "local" company that exclaims themselves to be ethical yet is the abusive spouse behind closed doors. My manager, who was signed into the NDA, told me that this is simply the beginning. He states that Aflac is working on outsourcing all of IT, Customer Services, and parts of Human Resources!! Better Together? Slogans that mean nothing, including the only applicable to some, Aflac Way. The higher up you go, the less Aflac Way there is.
My thoughts exactly. This is just starting.
Columbus was once a great place for IT employees. I remember the many educational programs providing opportunities, and companies hiring the people that took advantage of quick start programs. I'm sure we all remember years of competition between local companies trying to hold onto their talent. Lately, all we seem to hear about is the need for younger talent in IT. We have multiple intern programs to attract said talent. It seems like 'out with the old and in with the new' is alive and well. Sadly, no one is safe, regardless of age. The options in Columbus are dismal and shrinking due to business savvy Chiefs. These Chiefs truly do not understand the long term impacts to Aflac as they walk people with years of critical business knowledge out the door. Aflac systems and processes are highly specialized with exceptions for every exception. Of course everyone is replaceable; but their knowledge and experience are not. If/when Aflac suffers a severe issue, whether the issue stems from IT or the Business side, the Chiefs need to consider if it was caused by repeatedly walking out experience and bringing in replacement players who have no knowledge or loyalty to the company. I truly hope a catastrophic event never occurs because I have many friends still with the company, and because for years I drank the Kool-Aid.