Anybody else finding it hard to focus on work/projects? It all seems futile. My meetings continue on but I am not in the mindset. My morning routine now starts with checking on this site.
Not looking for troll comments or snide remarks which I’ve seen an increase of. I’m genuinely feeling down and wondering if others feel the same way.
13 replies (most recent on top)
Stankey and others have created a losing culture unfortunately where most employees are looking over their shoulder wondering if they will have a job next quarter or the one after that. Don't think it's like that at Apple or Microsoft or other great companies... They have further demoralized the entire company with their RTO cry.....there is nothing wrong with RTO but Stankey is doing this because its really a veiled HDCT reduction....a way to get tons of people off the payroll.
If you want loyalty, get a dog.
I learned a long time ago that this company has zero loyalty to its employees; With that said I’m loyal to my team and will go above and beyond for them…but that’s it (was even contacted last night by a team member having issues and because she’s a great person, friend, employee I stopped and helped)
I understand the company is in a semi-free fall and the c-suite is flailing but quite honestly this nonsense of collaboration blah blah blah…coming into the office blah blah blah is so disrespectful to the intelligence of the employees
At this point I’m indifferent - I’m not freaking out but I’m certainly not going to go out of my way helping the c-suite when they refuse to help the employees; I’m only a few years away from full pension as well which is another gut check but c’est la vie
Keep your head up - don’t let the c-suite cesspool get to you; Start preparing and searching for possible alternatives to this place and hope for the best (we’ve lost team members over the years and every single one of them is so much happier at their new positions)
It’s a great reminder to all: be a good employee to the effect you’re not lying, stealing, intentionally hurting the company, showing up with a toxic attitude, etc. BUT: I have so many friends who never left this mastodon because they declared “loyalty” to it, which is ludicrous. Be loyal to your family. NOT a company. A company PAYS you; luck is where opportunity meets preparedness. Always interview. Always keep your ear the ground. Don’t ever be afraid to move on. Those of us who work in human capital would MUCH rather have an employee who was a great ambassador move on because they feel they have more to offer and can’t get ahead as opposed to one stays and sulks and has a lazy attitude and barely works. I personally don’t know one person at ATT who’s been there for more than 5 years who isn’t a pi--r. The people who wanted to make a name for themselves always leave before 7 years. Everyone else is a lifer. Move forward. Get your CV in order, solidify your brand and narrative and start looking. NOW. It’s gonna be hard, especially since most of you haven’t interviewed for another job ever, but it can be done. I’d highly recommended reaching out to any colleagues who left around years 5-7 who are already 6 jobs and promotions ahead of you and ask for help. These folks saw the writing on the wall over two decades ago and got out of there.
I work with this approach , I could get laid off any quarter...so I do the bare minimum ,only help colleagues who reciprocate and just do my 9-5, I have zero loyalty or T and I know they have none for me.
The biggest mistake anyone can make working at a large corporation is to think you hard efforts are noticed, even if they are ,it doesn't mean you can get cut loose tomorrow.
OP, you're not alone. During pandemic I helped a small company get connected using our products, proud I could help facilitate a new way of working that they're still using.
It's demoralizing to see us abandoning this, even if ostensibly—we all suspect the real reason is short term cash flow shortfall. It is demoralizing to have our productivity impugned. The most productive meetings were those where everyone was online, on equal footing; we now return to the gaggle at the conference table where the boss or the prattler uses up all the time while the remote participants are second class. That, too, is demoralizing.
I think most of us (L2 and below) are finding it hard to focus. Right now, I wish they would just get on with it and let those of us who are still in the dark know what is going to happen. I know some people will jump on this and say... well, we all know what is happening; it' sn-t complicated; blah blah blah. Well, our team has been told nothing beyond the initial communication that everyone got, except to expect the RTO email. That more detailed communication be by the 16th, might be by the 22nd, might be in July, maybe in August. That's ALL our org has heard. A good portion of my org does not live near any of the hubs or the COEs. So for us, it's a big unknown. It is beyond frustrating. Meanwhile, receiving emails about contingency planning, mid year reviews... I just don't have the stomach for any of it.
Our C suite is completely out of touch and/or incompetent. Every time we go through this “layoff” process, I personally witness a huge bit to production. They have to see it but continue doing this multiple times a year. So bleeping disorganized that they can’t do it once a year and move on. Incredibly incompetent!!!!
It's extremely demoralizing to be treated like just another number after giving so much of my time and energy to this company, regularly going above and beyond, and working late nights / weekends as needed for years. The never ending threats of surplus, layoffs, RTO, commuting during the worst inflation in decades, more traffic on the roads than any point in the past, playing musical chairs in the office, checking boxes, are all things that sap my mental energy before I've even had time to do the actual work that I get paid for. And victim-blaming colleagues that deride those who go above and beyond and strive for excellence, claiming they're foolish for giving 110%, aren't really helping matters much either.
Very hard to focus. Just do the best you can and call it a day. Don’t feel guilt or pressure to work harder than that. This is the corporate culture they created. Despite the BS and virtue signaling they spew otherwise.
Ups & Downs for my colleagues. Some areas are deadly silent. Some soldiering on. Tears, grit, some despair. It's helpful to focus on the work, stick to known facts, stay true to our own character, not let this gaslight rto diminish us personally. When dust settles, some will have shown supportive professional character and the selfish or ill motivated will be laid bare.
Yup, it's a vicious cycle, every layoff goes the same. Rumor, worry, get a notice, relieved you didn't get the notice, half year later, the same thing happens again. It will be a never-ending cycle. This time is different. The economy, the failure by Stinky, and all these sudden changes. Things are not looking good. For the real employees that visit this board, just go to the insider SharePoint and do a search.
Just shut it all down and cash the checks.