Next Friday ends a 25-year run. There are tons of things to question, but it’s hard to complain when being paid to leave. As things wind down, I’ve been thinking about the VSP…. HR said to do what’s best for your family – but hard to do when no one could predict the outcome by staying. Or HR said to have conversations with managers, while HR had instructed all managers to “say nothing to influence decisions”. Then I see peers with lesser functions staying until March while key employees leave next week. Or the fact that the things bubbled up to leadership were ignored, and yet after we leave the things that caused some of us to leave will be addressed. The peers I’ve spoken with seem excited to leave. Those remaining seem apprehensive to stay but were fearful to leave, especially those over 55. So next week around 3000 of us will exit. Dedicated people who gave their all to make Verizon the best it could be. Some are retiring, some are taking a break before rejoining the work force, and others will transition into new roles. If this was a doughnut shop and demand was dropping, it would make sense to reduce the number of bakers. But the quantity of work we’re leaving behind is still there. Someone will need to complete our work, someone from overseas, or someone who is younger, or with a lower salary or someone who won’t care nearly as much as we did. The obvious fact is that no one at Verizon cared who stayed or left, no one cares if the VSP causes customer erosion, little to no thought was given to exit dates, holes to fill or what happens on the 16th. Work will transition and that will be it. Leadership won’t blink an eye, and downstream employees will have more work to perform. It isn’t pretty but reality.
I hope everyone transitioning lands on their feet happier, healthier and with a renewed sense of purpose.
20 replies (most recent on top)
Leaving after 29 years is bittersweet. I'm off payroll 9/13. I'm going to miss my Verizon family; however, the company is a far cry from what we used to be. This executive leadership team has run morale into the ground and with their plans to outsource everything possible, it's only going to drive more dissatisfaction. Hans will destroy Verizon just as he did his past endeavors. I hope my friends will get through the 4Q RIFs.
Look on bright side those of you whom stayed can be like Luke Wilson in the movie.
https://images.app.example.com/jdGUPUnq73CEAKZx6
The smart ones took the VSP; the not-so-smart ones are staying. Enjoy the sinking ship.
sorry to hear 3000 employees are gone. I will say that most of them are not these give it your all types of people. A good chunk, maybe even OP is as well. They look at departments that are what we call the “fat.” The positions that we pay to travel but realistically do the jobs they could have done by simply being at home. I hope you find your way, Verizon will continue to function without you, your boss will soon forget about you, and the world will continue to spin at the same pace it always has. Not trying to sound negative, but it all needs to happen. I’m a firm believer that Hans should be next on the chopping block, but how could that happen when he’s on the board of blackrock? Answer, it won’t. So until we fix the mess at the top, no matter how many jobs we cut- there won’t be much progress.
I took the VSP after 27 in 2019 and it was the best thing to have happened to me. I took some much needed time to recuperate from the toxic environment I was leaving. I landed a job with a company that I will retire from shortly. Good luck on your next moves.
I feel sorry for the people left behind as they were already treading water with their workload. Trouble tickets not even touched in a week.
Unfortunately a lot of the ones left behind can only blame themselves for not taking it. I told them when I left you better get as many certificates as you can on the company's dime and they didn't get a single one after almost 2 years. The job market is too saturated with talent right now and if you are like these people, they don't stand a chance
I wish all the best for those who are leaving. I wish you and your families health, happiness, and prosperity.
Now get on with the next phase of your lives. Don’t look back and don’t let the door hit you in the a-s on your way out 😀
The company survived after the 2003 exodus, the 2018 exodus and it will survive this one. Much of the work being done by those leaving will simply stop. Face it, not all the work we do is mandatory. If you are leaving, why worry about what's being left behind? Not your problem any longer. Look forward! If you are retiring, enjoy it! If you are re-entering the workforce, take a little down time before you start your job search. Chances are you will end up somewhere way less stressful, even if the pay/benefits are not as good. Sometimes mental health is more important.
I do agree those staying are going to have an adjustment period. Not just because they may have to assume more work, but because the CEO hasn't really defined a plan or vision going forward, nor have his business unit heads. The Frontier acquisition is another thing to throw into the mix. I think it will be a bumpy ride for awhile. Hang on.
They tried to become technology company but failed , they tried to become media outlet but failed , they tried to become cloud company (Terremark ? ) but failed.
With 5G failing to monetize, everything (network, IT, people) is expense just needs to maintained. Leadership needs to build a new story every single time.,
This time it is AI and, as with everything else VZ would use "fake AI adoption" to reduce expense. Any meaningful revenue increase can happen with right adoption of AI technology but make no mistake - VZ would fail again.
@1qbu+1uoLbUl3
Do not worry , Verizon will be fine without you
in the past, what happens if you went to vacation for a month,
or who filled in when you were off ?
Does your boss panic ? do not think so, unless you hold key to the kingdom
My boss urged me to take VSP. With a week left, he is in freak out mode, realizing that I kept things together and moving forward. I’m sure they will figure it out in the long term, but the next month or so will be a dumpster fire and he is worried mistakes and delays will reflect on his reputation. Oh well.
The smart and talented took the VsP. What will be left is a huge brain drain of laziness and inefficiency.
Bye Felicia
The long term dept is 126B. WITH A "B" you can have everyone in india paid with 2 rupee per hr and it will never get paid. The total phone and phone plan revenue is less than 5B per year in total for telecom. This is the end. Dont cry and be satisfied with how far we came. The last good phone was built 20 years ago. We won't have a new one better than that. good night
Agree with earlier comments that telecom is not growing and the market is too saturated. Look at all of big telcos attempts to get in OTA or media and all have failed.. if the top line isnt growing, then the only way to grow the bottom line is to reduce expenses..
Some of the best people I've worked with at Verizon took the VSP and not retirement age... All have either plans or jobs lined up. In my opinion, VSP is a major brain drain that just leaves behind people with no other options.
Don’t worry. They will farm as much as they can to India and let them sc--w it up like most of them do here in the states. Who cares. I have over 25 years and yea. I could have taken it but I’m gonna milk this joint for as much as a can. The job market su-ks today. Good luck.
Don't worry, we'll be just fine. All our VSPs were properly coded by importance / departure so not sure if you're truthful or not. If you have this much doom and gloom I am happy for you to have this chance to leave. Everyone I know staying is excited to be here, happy for those leaving, and hopeful for the future. Good luck and stay healthy! Hope they have this return when I'm ready. For now I'll enjoy my high salary, bonus, and great benefits including a 401k over 1M after just 20 years.
Spending 25 years in 1 company, and this company is Verizon.
Good Luck finding your next job unless you are going to retire
the telecom industry is done. Nobody is buying phones and doing anymore plans. IT costs way too much for this low revenue. Information tech adds nothing to the revenue anymore. Only 50 to 100 people are needed for IT. Anything more than 100 people is crazy for IT.
Wow , another person who thinks no one else can do their job. Guess what, life will go on at VZ without you!