Anyone hear what's going on with the RTO for remote people?
38 replies (most recent on top)
Whoever is actually defending Medtronic with this decision needs to get their priorities checked. This is 100% a reduction in force effort. Ex Com doesn’t have the brains to make smart and profitable choices so they look for the easy route out, and that’s to shed headcount. I for one will not be returning to the office on November 2nd, I’ll tell you that much. There is plenty of opportunity outside of Medtronic. This used to be a well run company but Geoff is just not that guy.
@ez You still start at 0730 because you have to get dressed, pack food, and drive to the office. What a waste.
When I was wfh I started my day around 7:30. Now it’s 9 and I still end my day at the same time. Commuting is very time consuming.
Only a fool would work 50 hrs a week.
@ed You are speaking without knowledge. the office in Hyderabad is huge, multi-level with rows of tables where employees work. True, they have a schedule that allows remote work for a small portion of each month but know this: there is office space being paid for.
@ec something is very broken inside of you that you feel the need to come on here and bash coworkers like this. I’m sorry that you were or are unloved for a time in your life that broke you and causes you to lash out with hate. Seek therapy and you still may find friends and a companion with time.
@e5 yes this is true. I was working 50 hours a week when I was remote and since being called back last fall I’m a flat 40. RTO takes a lot of time and energy away from what were all work hours. I’m not going to put extra time in at night to make up for time wasted in the car, wandering around the building looking for meeting space, talking to coworkers who stopped by uninvited to chat for 30 minutes, etc
@ed “Your jobs.” You say this like you will never be targeted for elimination. We are all disposable.
It's fine. Your jobs can be done more cheaply from other states, or from Hyderabad, Colombia, Costa Rica, or Cebu anyway. Those people will gladly do your jobs for cheaper, and no office space to pay.
@cs It's because the MN employees are major deadweights and b(_)ms. They need these stagnating, uninnovative, poor work-ethics lifers waiting for their retirement to quit, or start using all the office space.
@e5 "This is a cheap reduction effort" Quite honestly maybe you people are really no longer needed as MDT involves in a global company. Most off shore folks are WFH as MDT saves on office space and pays them nickels on the US dollars. Food for thought.
@e4 You forgot to mention that remote employees typically work more hours - both because they tend to log in earlier/stay late or “check things” during odd hours and because Remote employees eat at their desk, don’t use time to chat when walking to the restroom, kitchen, or other. Nobody stops by the desk to chat.
Remote workers get on calls well before and after standard work time.
Nobody has ever explained how on-site presence builds collaboration. Everyone collaborated just fine during C*vid. This is a cheap reduction effort.
@e2 lol. there are tons of reasons WFH is better.
- 90% of my team and the people I regularly meet with are out of state and/or country. so, I'm driving to Fridley to have calls with people across US, Europe and South America.
- OHQ does not have ample space for the number of employees or the ability to accommodate the mix of back to back 1:1 Teams and hybrid Teams calls.
- people are constantly late for meetings due to needing to move among calls, rooms, offices.
- people with headphones on loudly talk during meetings while you are elbow to elbow in open plan offices.
- also, laughably, the WiFi is demonstrably worse at OHQ than the fiber I have at home.
@cz some who were hired originally as remote status (some apparently long-time and others relatively recently) had NOT yet been called back into office. Now that status is being rescinded. (i am one of them)
My guess is the MN sites are at 50% RTO, while other sites are at 80-100% RTO. So strange the mothership (so to speak) complains the most about RTO. Funny none posts a valid reason why WFH is better than onsite, except I can sit home to take teams meetings. Clastic definition of dead wood or snow flakes. IDK
@dw Guessing Kool Aid stock is doing better? LOL
@dr
What is it due then? People just wanted to pollute the sky for fun?
@dr guy denying climate change somehow works at a company driven by science. No wonder our stock is flat.
@dg The exact name of the document on Inside Medtronic is “Leader Messaging Guide -Messaging and FAQs regarding in-office requirements for MN-based remote employees”. I think a few of you might be looking at an older document from last year’s RTO for hybrid employees, which stated at that time, remote employees were excluded from RTO. Individual emails came out around noon today to impacted employees stating we must RTO on Nov 2. Hope that clears up some of the confusion.
@dj “climate change” LOL
@dd welcome to the club. I drive in four days a week to sit on virtual meetings. While I’m commuting for literally no reason, the air is thick with smoke caused by climate change. We live in a society run by insecure men with big egos.
@dg I’ve had authorized remote status for 10 years and I just received my email stating I have been identified to work onsite at least 4 days/week beginning Nov 2. Now there is new very narrow criteria to be remote, so old statuses are over.
@d2 but the memo states designated remote employees are excluded.
@dd Yes, you’ve got it!
@d1 this one is interesting considering I live near a hub, but it’s not the business I support. So I just drive 20 miles to do teams calls. lol
@cb Tend to agree. This also throws a wrinkle in the rumors about a VERP offer coming in August. MDT will not want to pay out any more than absolutely required.
Heads up that you are not required to sign a document saying you are leaving voluntarily if you choose not to comply. If you sign it, you forefit some benefits, like option to claim unemployment. It is 100% optional. Get good outside guidance before you sign anything.
@d1 and beyond the 25 miles. MDT can certainly just require all employees to return by changing employment status. Many states are at-will employment so company can just change the arrangement.
@cz this is for currently designated remote employees, not flex employees. Includes employees who were hired as remote
@cs yes the document says that but also says: “We will continue to review work styles based on evolving business needs and consistency near Medtronic sites, which may result in changes”
Writing is on the wall for anyone within 25 miles of a large site or hub regardless of remote status
@cs
no plan now means they can change plan anytime.
@cs Thanks for this. I am confused - employees who live outside Twin Cities and those designated as remote are not required to return to office. So, who are the employees that have to return in November? How was this new group not already included in the prior RTO?
Thanks for heads up about the FAQ. It says there's no plans to expand this program further than the MN campus, so all remote workers further than 25 miles from MN offices should be feeling pretty good rn
Wow another tactic to get people to quit instead of giving severance. Disgusting
Check workday or workstyle insights ... its tell you if your remote or onsite 4/5 days a week. Insights even tell you which site your supposed to be going to. Simple Logic kids.
@ar the wording in the guidelines was being within a 25-Mile radius of Rice Creek, OHQ, or Mounds View using straight-line distance, not driving distance so it is unclear if they meant from your site or any of the 3 sites. I am over 25 driving miles but under for straight-line distance to my site, and I am on the list to return. There are straight-line calculators between 2 addresses online to check your miles.
@an by straight line? How do they do that and do they do straight line from any of the sites or the site you would be assigned to only?
@OP MN-based remote workers within 25 mile radius of MV, OHQ, or Rice Creek using straight-line distance will be called back in-office a minimum of 4 days/week on Nov 2. Managers have been notified and an employee communication will come out soon. Source: my manager and I also did a search and found a leadership guide on the RTO on My Medtronic today and it gives all the info with Q&A also. This is MN-based only and no other states are involved at this time.