Was just informed I have to work the week of Christmas. WTF?? It must be a Christmas miracle, but 5 people on my team have 13+ days remaining that has to be taken before EOY. My initial response was No Freaking Way!! I started checking out of office emails and our team calendar. Total BS. People ARE taking vacation days without recording it during the year. I presented it to my manager. He too was concerned but said his hands are tied. All 5 of these characters had recorded much of their vacation time as caregiver time AFTER saying they were taking vacation. My manager said he could not question it and since I had the fewest days remaining it would be easiest for me to adjust my scheduled time off. Just cancel my plans. Now is not a good time to make waves (threat?). Again I ask, WTF is going on in this company?
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"remote workers who only make guest appearances online while working full time for another company"
This team couldn't survive without us. I accomplish more for the company during my lunch than the rest of my team combined contributes in eight hours. Believe me, no one questions how I chose to spend the rest of my day.
"There’s a completely new team running the show and they were hired in Dallas “bottom of the barrel” with no experience."
Who are you referring to? What "new team"?
You must have missed it when HR leadership told you no one on the team chose to move to Dallas.
There’s a completely new team running the show and they were hired in Dallas “bottom of the barrel” with no experience.
Time reporting employs an honor system in an environment where there is a substantial absence of honor. Abusers sc--w it up for everyone else. Refer to RTO if you need a real world example.
cough. cough cough. I can feel the VID coming on that week.
For now these violations are small potatoes in the bigger scheme, and will probably receive more scrutiny in 2025. The company is probably creating lists that will be used to roust additional headcount next year.
A guy on our team had a side gig pressure washing driveways during Covid. Disappeared 90 mins at a time. After the RTO mandate he started using Caregiver time. Somehow got RW status. Now he disappears like clockwork again. I believe AT&T is aware of this cr-p.
"If you have proof of fraudulent, timekeeping, report it to asset protection"
Yeah, right. They shoot the messenger here.
I believe at least half of my immediate coworkers dummy up their time off. No one seems worried about getting caught.
Its easy for managers who are on the honor system to self record their vacation time to not report it, regardless if they work remotely or in office. I've seen where managers have been caught and helped in auditing. Very simple: the 3rd level requests from CRE your badge scans (or logins from IT), then requests your exception time from Payroll. They then give this to your supervisor to match up vacation time against out of office time (taking into consideration any travel, etc). If the manager believes there are too many inconsistencies, they send the request to AP to formally investigate. I have personally seen two 1st level managers termed for this COBC violation. And most investigations for vacation take place in Q3 and Q4. And not to be missed, the same process is followed for managers who have approved FMLA time. Calling out for FMLA and not recording is the same COBC violation. Hardly worth the extra time off.
Fu-k em who cares.
Small frauds?
"If you have proof of fraudulent, timekeeping, report it to asset protection"
Asset Protection is too busy going after the people stealing lunches from the communal fridges.
I'm using caregiver time that week.
The new RTO tracking will start to get those people who "forget" to put their vacation time in workday.
Another cost savings generated by RTO.
I know a lady who takes at least 10 weeks of vacation every year. I think not putting your vacation time in workday is pretty rampant.
AT&T has little choice but turn a blind eye to the rampant "small" frauds relating to time recording for vacation, caregiver, bereavement, exaggerated disability, paternity, and even remote workers who only make guest appearances online while working full time for another company. These were considered serious offenses in years past. These days, not so much.
HROS issues reports monthly, starting around mid year, of managers who have not taken at least 50% of their vacation. Their supervisors are supposed to 'encourage' them to use their vacation and not hold it to end of year. This is to prevent a manager from trying to take all or most all of their vacation in December, creating an unfair situation with their coworkers.
Management vacation can always be denied due to "Needs of the business". Of course when this happens you usually get an extension to carry over your missed vacation days into the next year, however they must be used by end of March. Recommend reading HROS where this policy is covered.
This is an old trick that has been happening ever since the first year that "management" employees were not allowed to carry over their days. Anyone who doesn't have enough time with the company to schedule Christmas week as vacation just makes certain they don't take their vacation time through the year so they "have to" take it the last 2 or 3 weeks of the year. A "real" manager could stop this but, well, do we have any "real" managers anymore?? It's an old trick being used by everyone who has not yet earned their choice to override those that have earned the choice...
OP needs a lotta help.
Quit crying
“Of course it will be reduced. That was the plan all along. They will reduce the caregiver but WILL NOT give the vacation time back. They just need enough time to pass before the shell game begins.”
Refreshing to see someone that has crystal clear vision about this company. Takes most people a while before it all becomes obvious. I knew exactly what they were doing the day they did it, Which is why I have been maxing it out every year. The whole existance of T is one big shell game. I laugh when people complain that Stink is a bad leader buying DTV high and selling low. The value of DTV never declined. He just laundered it out to the Dallas based investment group for a 5 finger discount. The hundreds of LLCs are getting rich from su-king off that funnel of cash.
“ Caregiver leave is completely abused. Don’t be surprised if that benefit gets reduced at some point.”
Of course it will be reduced. That was the plan all along. They will reduce the caregiver but WILL NOT give the vacation time back. They just need enough time to pass before the shell game begins.
Caregiver leave is completely abused. Don’t be surprised if that benefit gets reduced at some point.
HR will not help you. HR represents the company and will do just what is required to prevent a lawsuit. Bringing a problem to attention will put you on the short list if that is what you want. Find another job or team.
It’s not the bosses fault for not confronting them. They are DEI hires and, or protected status employees. You know damn well what happens when someone is confronted. They right away throw down the race card. Stop pretending.
Just use caregiving time since you boss can’t question it.
Your manager is the reason why there are still way too many people like that here. It's just lazy management, plain and simple. It's unpleasant for them to deal with, so they choose not to. It's unacceptable. Go over their heads- Ethics hotline and Asset Protection; emails to whomever you can find in the HR organization (good luck with that).
Some folks have to work on-calls those weeks. You aren’t alone. I don’t get paid extra for my extra time and I don’t get to sell back my vacation time. Maybe ask your boss about selling back your vacation time since needs of the business dictate that you lose part of your compensation. Another thought, just tell the boss you’re WFH that week and just do what you want to do.
If you have proof of fraudulent, timekeeping, report it to asset protection
You have to play the hand that your dealt. Your teammates surely are.
I wouldn’t have any issue on creating a presentation breaking down the vacation email correspondence and showing the whole team how others are reporting their time off. If this is not a route you would choose how about using some caregiver time for taking care of a loved one during the holiday time…being your boss cannot question it…all legit.
A few of your coworkers must be some of the posters on this board promoting RTO shortcuts and coffee badging. They will probably be gone this time next year.
We had to have all our days in back in September to prevent something like this. I'm sorry you have so many dishonest teammates.
Take your vacation. AT&T cannot prevent you from taking the days you have accrued. It is actually your manager's job to cover the team so he will end up on the short end.
Will they fire you for a different reason or lay you off first? yes they will but the layoff is coming either way so you may as well get yours now.
There is life after T. Enjoy your family - they won't lay you off.
Just refuse. Tell your boss that he should alter his own plans and cover the week of Christmas. They can’t deny you your vacation.
Sorry for your luck. Unfortunately our pi$$ company has driven many of us to do this. They took a weeks vacation away from us and so we are taking it back. It’s all about doing what is right to counter their wrong. I myself have gone back and coded vacation days as caregiver days as we all should. Nothing wrong with this. Please do the same.
The Stink is WTF is going on in this company!
Do yourself a favor and start looking for a new job and regain your sanity!
The Stink is a POS!
Your manager is ineffective and a wu-s. Go to Asset Protection to open a case, or the abuse will just continue. Your manager CAN question it. He doesn't WANT to. Two different things.