Flex workers have flexibility but are supposed to go into the office at least twice a week.
14 replies (most recent on top)
"Supply them with home office equipment", hahaha."
Echoing this. They actually said in a Town Hall that they were not going to let people buy things they wanted for their home office. In fact, there was a email newsletter comment about how corporate was directing on-site building security to watch for office supplies, printers, chairs, etc. rolling out the office doors.
"Supply them with home office equipment", hahaha. There are some tech companies that are funding $500 for their employees to set up their home work environment. This "tech" company, not so much. You have been directed to work with your supervisor, which is basically is a no. And... shop at perks website for discounts, that means you are paying.
There is no consistency who they designate flex, home and office. Most people think marking someone as office is just a means for them not to supply them with home office equipment. They can always shut down a building even if there are office workers assigned to it and then later designate them as home. Or get rid of them all together later
"AT&T doesn’t own it’s real estate...maybe a couple buildings at max. "
Did you forget about the thousands of CO and technical spaces, as well as many work centers?
I’m not sure if leadership understand flex vs virtual. My leadership said they put our group into the flex category so we could go in to the office if we want or stay home if we want. Isn’t that the same as virtual?
@rjb AT&T doesn’t own it’s real estate...maybe a couple buildings at max. It’s all about being able to get out of leases. Lease owners are going to be less willing to allow companies out of existing leases given the current business environment
I'm aware of multiple office spaces from Boston to DC that entered new leases just before COVID, now those spaces are empty and most workers being moved to flex or complete virtual status.
AT&T sure knows how to wheel and deal
@iuy:
"There’s not gonna be much opportunity to downsize real estate in the near future...very little demand for it. "
What are you talking about? Buying high and selling low is AT&T's specialty.
My building is on the sublease market, the space was never full even before the pandemic. All the collaboration hype was all for nothing. Flex status is basically meaninglessness, just another easy management “metrics”. Work with your supervisor, I personally will never step into an office again.
They got rid of the 47 story AT&T Midtown Building in Atlanta just in time before China Virus hit.
Real estate downsizing depends a lot on existing lease agreements. Most likely in older markets (like North East) they will let some leases lapse and or sell properties and consolidate operations. Real estate may expand in the South and West , where costs a lower and labor markets are more favorable..
It's part of the return to work plan post Covid-19.
There’s not gonna be much opportunity to downsize real estate in the near future...very little demand for it. The company has seen that work can be done from home and still executed on. This is no doubt saving money by not having people use electricity all day in offices and definitely in the long term will be able to get rid of a few buildings.