I had regrets shortly after I came here from another company. That was 3 years ago and at the beginning I thought the problem was in me and that I needed some time to get used to a new environment. When I decided to get out of here, the pandemic happened, so I thought that it was not the best moment to go and that I should wait a little bit longer because I didn't think the pandemic would last as long.
Has this company ever been any better? What were the best years for you here? Are there any chances of that ever happening again?
18 replies (most recent on top)
They started losing their way when they tried to be like Facebook and started acquiring 90s internet companies, but when Verizon bought out Vodaphone in 2013 and started trying to merge wireless and wireline things really took a turn for the worse.
I think the heyday was before PCS when there were 2 carriers in each market. Pricing was different and the carriers were making HUGE profits... it was an easier business to manage back then. When PCS started up they were pricing plans below their cost just to poach subs from the A & B carriers.
When it was New York Tel. Even Nynex was a great company. Once the got involved with Bell Atlantic the s— level increased dramatically. By the time it became Verizon the only thought on everyone’s mind was how close they were to getting out.
Verizon isn’t even a shadow of what NYT or Nynex was. Not even a shadow. It’s a shame hires will never know what a great company it once was
@2nww+1a22tYdf if you are laid off, you still get your RSUs.
Funny how they laid a bunch of people off, just days prior to having to pay out the RSU! Jerks
Zero chance things get better
Before the breakup in 1984.
New york telephone was the best era ever hands down.
Bell Atlantic was a great place to work prior to the GTE and MCI mergers. After that they froze management pensions and eliminated cost free medical for management retirees. Once things settled down from that, it was just ok until Vodaphone was bought out and they tried to merge landline and wireless. That power struggle at the upper levels lasted years and really wore the employees out. As you can see even today, we are not one company - hence two layoff boards.
For me, it’s right now.... 10+ years working from home, watched my kids grow, and not really giving a c-ap what the company, VP, or Director’s say . They can talk all the social justice issues they want, I’m not listening and I just keep stacking this bread. I do just enough to not get fired. I get my worth outside of my job.
GTE was the best in my eyes. ALL employees were appreciated, respected, and rewarded for good and efficient work. The union worked with the company toward common goals. During negotiations, strikes were the exception... Not the rule. Union employees understood that the company wasn't a limitless source of handouts. Management and union were two parts of a team. We worked together to build the company.
When BA stepped in, that all went out the window.
1995-2010.
From BAMS (Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems) to BANM (Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile) to BAM (Bell Atlantic Mobile) to VZW (Verizon Wireless). 15 wonderful years of growth, appreciation & recognition.
Once the first layoff in Wireless history occurred in 2011, it was all downhill from there
Performing well for appreciation & recognition was far more satisfying that performing well to avoid getting laid off.
Worst of the worst was the first yearly RIF of 2014 I hated every November after that. Finally was 2018 when your job was threatened to be offshored, outsourced or rebadged to infosys , forcing you to accept the VSP or lose 20 yrs of service from a rebadging or future RIF
Anything prior to October 2015
Pre 2006. From 2006 forward we had 2 RIFs a year in wireline IT and in some years 3 RIFs.
The best years were when it was GTE
Verizon Wireless used to be a great place to work (1990’s - 2010) . Although we worked hard, we felt valued and contributions were acknowledged and recognized. After the Vodaphone buyout everything changed. It was everyone out for themselves. Extremely talented and competent employees were treated terribly. Most left with the VSP. It’s hard to imagine things turning around any time soon. Best to move on if your not happy and have your 3 years in for vesting. Good Luck.
1996 to 2010 or so. From the BAM 9X merger, the ‘96 Telco act to the completion of the Alltel merger I felt we were a pretty well oiled machine. The leadership decided to start buying assets that made no sense (Yahoo, AOL) and trying to become something weren’t built to be.
The golden years where when they offered VAR's. Thank god I was around for that so I can retire early and leave this flaming dumpster fire behind.
Used to be a lot better. It's gone now. Too late to turn around. Just trying to slow the rate of the death spiral at this point. Skinny Jeans, social activism, and disinformation around how well we are doing became more important than actually outperforming the competition.