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Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

reuters.com

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Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#21

They aren't laying off people, it was a voluntary separation: > Verizon Communications Inc said on Monday that about 10,400 employees will be leaving the U.S. wireless carrier by mid next year as part of the company’s voluntary separation program. They offered a package earlier in the year https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/25/verizon-offers-separation-pl...

They aren't laying off people, it was a voluntary separation It's just another layer of corporate double-speak. The same way "fired" became "laid off." Until the early 90's, "laid off" applied to factory and seasonal workers, who were expected to be recalled when production ramped up again.

> The same way "fired" became "laid off."

Fired and laid-off are not synonyms. Fired and terminated are synonymous. However, laid off generally means the position is not continuing.

That being said, "voluntary separation" just means they are anticipating a large layoff and are attempting to reduce the overhead of determining who to let go.

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#22
post #10

I read on the Layoff they had about 11.4k applicants, and 90% of them were accepted. Looks like the first wave is out starting Dec 28th. With such a large cut it would be weird to be rejected, I would feel an awkward mix of jealousy and loss to go back to work afterwards.

Wouldn't it be a compliment of sorts to be determined too valuable to be let go?

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#23
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course they are. Many, many companies offer a “voluntary first” incentive to avoid the bad press and services they might otherwise have to provide to laid-off people. Jobs went away. Sugar-coating the exact method of ending the jobs doesn’t change that.

> Of course they are. Why? Because you say so? We should ignore the literal words of the press release in favor of something you think may happen? In fact, the structure of the the offer is one that offer's a far greater incentive to those with a lot of seniority vs those who are newer. If we assume that many of these might be technician jobs under a union contract where more years of service equals higher pay, they…

Are you familiar with the concept of PR?

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#24
post #10

I read on the Layoff they had about 11.4k applicants, and 90% of them were accepted. Looks like the first wave is out starting Dec 28th. With such a large cut it would be weird to be rejected, I would feel an awkward mix of jealousy and loss to go back to work afterwards.

Sounds to me like the rejection is a tacit admission by the company that you're too valuable to lose.

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#25

They aren't laying off people, it was a voluntary separation: > Verizon Communications Inc said on Monday that about 10,400 employees will be leaving the U.S. wireless carrier by mid next year as part of the company’s voluntary separation program. They offered a package earlier in the year https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/25/verizon-offers-separation-pl...

Of course they are. Many, many companies offer a “voluntary first” incentive to avoid the bad press and services they might otherwise have to provide to laid-off people. Jobs went away. Sugar-coating the exact method of ending the jobs doesn’t change that.

I don't really see it as sugarcoating, this is way better than the alternative. They're giving their employees a generous heads up, offering an incentive to anyone who finds other employment, and people who really don't want to leave likely won't have to.

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#26
post #15

They aren't laying off people, it was a voluntary separation: > Verizon Communications Inc said on Monday that about 10,400 employees will be leaving the U.S. wireless carrier by mid next year as part of the company’s voluntary separation program. They offered a package earlier in the year https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/25/verizon-offers-separation-pl...

"voluntary separation" might as well be lay-offs, because if they didn't get enough volunteers they would have laid people off without giving them a package.

Or they increase the incentive until they get enough volunteers. Actual lay-offs can be a last resort.

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#27
post #10

I read on the Layoff they had about 11.4k applicants, and 90% of them were accepted. Looks like the first wave is out starting Dec 28th. With such a large cut it would be weird to be rejected, I would feel an awkward mix of jealousy and loss to go back to work afterwards.

Sounds to me like the rejection is a tacit admission by the company that you're too valuable to lose.

That would be a fantastic way to ask for a raise.

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#28

At least the described severance benefit might be on the correct order of magnitude to be considered reasonable and not totally and odiously evil, “As part of the separation program, the employees will get a salary of up to 60 weeks, bonus and benefits, depending on the length of their service, Verizon said.” This is why I always advise people to negotiate significance severance benefits up front, on the order of 6 m…

If it's "up to" 60 weeks like they offer "up to X" internet speeds, then they're selling the best case but probably delivering half that.

Re: Verizon says to shed 10,400 jobs by mid next year

#29

At least the described severance benefit might be on the correct order of magnitude to be considered reasonable and not totally and odiously evil, “As part of the separation program, the employees will get a salary of up to 60 weeks, bonus and benefits, depending on the length of their service, Verizon said.” This is why I always advise people to negotiate significance severance benefits up front, on the order of 6 m…

If it's "up to" 60 weeks like they offer "up to X" internet speeds, then they're selling the best case but probably delivering half that.

Yes, but many times companies will pull unmitigated dick moves and give you 2 weeks, no benefits. By comparison, even 1/3 the stated number of weeks is decent (especially for junior employees).

Still, it’s a cautionary reninder to negotiate significant severance benefits.

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