For wave 1 people - if you don't move you're off payroll before November 2. If you find another job before then, even on November 1, you can leave but you won't get severance.
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Got my letter today and it not have an off payroll date, only a date by which I have to accept or decline the offer. Then it says in the weeks or months ahead I will get a 14 day notice of surplus.
""That is generally how it works. Your off payroll date is part of the severance agreement. "
Well, not really. I mean the letters come out tomorrow. If you say you're not going to move to Dallas, you've sealed your fate and you absolutely are laid off .... but you have to stay for... 11 weeks?"
I agree, that part is a very grey area. I am talking about once you have your date and have signed something, you must work until your date. 99 percent of people have sealed their fate by refusing to move, but dollars to donuts there are a couple who will be saved by upper managers proving they are critical. Probably a lot of scrambling around still at certain levels.
This is how the surplus process went recently in a different department for an exempt management employee at the highest tier in the years of service table. Last day of employment was two weeks after surplus notification.
Note: Years of service is one of the ways benefits are determined. My recollection is 13 plus years is the highest tier. Lower tiers may have different benefit amounts.
- Call from manager to advise you’re surplussed and given what the last day on payroll is.
- Email letter From HR (signed by your manager) with date employment will end. Email includes some resource links and next steps.
- Email directly from manager with documents to be signed and returned. Along with deck that has info to assist with next steps.
- HR sets up a group Q&A call for all people that are in the same category. Example, there were three different calls for the employees I know. A) M75 eligible, but not yet Medicare eligible, B) Medicare eligible, or C) not retirement eligible.
The call is to review benefits available and allow for Q&A It’s confusing and goes fast. Deck is not available, but call is recorded and you can take screenshots.
- Placement service is available to help with resume, coaching etc for 90 days. Paid by AT&T for 90 days. Call may be set up the same day as Q&A. Read thru the entire HR invite carefully.
- You can set up a 15 minute call (ends right at 15 minutes) with benefits center to review health and welfare benefits only. While the call ends right at 15 minutes, additional calls can be scheduled.
- If Modified rule of 75 eligible, it is a separate event that just happens to coincide with being surplussed. Award and reward eligible. Need to set up the celebration with manager before leaving. Expires in 180 days after last day on payroll.
- Two weeks after last day on payroll,
a package will be sent with info. Will need to set up auto pay to cover insurance contributions etc. if part of current surplus agreement, company paid health insurance continues for up to 6 months. Your portion is the same as it has been until year end. Must go thru annual enrollment for next year. So insurance and contribution may change based on the 2024 offerings. After 6 months, you can continue at AT&T’s cost. After that 6 months, you can continue at COBRA. Vision and dental are NOT included. Must be COBRA or retirement options if eligible and want to continue coverage. Again the 6 months is for exempt management employees at the highest years of service tier. Lower tiers may get less time.
- All equipment, COU etc must be returned by last day on payroll. If remote, must be sent out last day on payroll via UPS (the timing is covered in the documents signed). Keep UPS receipts. It’s possible different shipping companies in different areas.
- If signing General release and waiver, and if severance eligible,
It’s paid within 45 days of document execution. The gross amount of severance is indicated in the critical documents on the surplus portal. No more 401k, pensions, HSA, wellness contributions made after paycheck of last day on payroll.
- Last paycheck includes PTO, which is prorated. Even tho a manager can use all that years PTO starting on Jan 1, it is actually accrued monthly. There is a chart. For example, if you normally have 28 days and last day on payroll is this month, then earned PTOs = 19. Any taken will be deducted and the rest paid out. If you’ve taken the 19 already, then there is no payout. They said if you take more than the prorated amount, you don’t get charged back. But that will need to be confirmed with manager.
- Do not take any retirement distribution from 401k or pension if you want to get rehired (as employee,
Contractor etc) as it will impact eligibility/availability of rehire date within a certain time frame. If rehired as an employee, will no longer get company contributions to pension, but May be eligible for enhanced 401K.
Finally, there are several letter versions. So not everyone will receive the same one. The two weeks goes fast and there is a lot to do. The documentation advises the surplus agreement can be modified at any time, and coverage is based on the applicable surplus agreement as of the date of surplus.
Good luck to all those impacted
"That is generally how it works. Your off payroll date is part of the severance agreement. "
Well, not really. I mean the letters come out tomorrow. If you say you're not going to move to Dallas, you've sealed your fate and you absolutely are laid off .... but you have to stay for... 11 weeks?
if u watched her town hall yesterday you saw the reality of Alicia as a person = 90 minutes or transparent gaslighting. “We’re not doing this, it’s YOUR choice”. And free tip 4 u AD—- ur stylist don’t like u either honey. Make the rest of us look Bad. AD CARE ABOUT AD. PERIOD.
JFC, people.
News flash - if you quit your job, you won’t get a severance payment. What a genius you are OP, thank you.
That is generally how it works. Your off payroll date is part of the severance agreement.
They can't make you not get a job once you are off payroll, 6 months or otherwise. (unless you have a weird contract)
In her townhall she put up a slide saying first wave off payroll October 10
I guess that's like telling the third class passengers that they have to go down with the ship.
so we don't have to stay unemployed for 6 months or whatever? we can find a new job as long as it's after Nov. 2?