Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

Move on. Your gone. Lol, lawsuits..... Wtf...........

@3ivu is a manager and a douche too

There is no negotiation with the severance package. You are blessed to be given anything. Why sue? You will lose money to pay an attorney and get nothing more. Why do you want to keep working for a company that cut you loose? Move on! There are many companies in this world that pay as good or better and have great benefits.

Quiturbelleackin! Why are you complaining about losing you job? It is only a JOB, nothing else. You knew when you were hired that in most states it is an "employment at will" agreement. The company cut you off? Poor baby. Move on. You should have prepared your life for a few rainy days. Assuming you are an adult, you should have some financial means and education to not just move on, but move UP. What the hell have you been doing with your life for the last 30, 40 or 50 years? Just living paycheck to paycheck? Sat on your fat a-- when you had time off? Never missed "the game" on TV? You live in American where anything is possible. We have immigrants that come here with nothing in their pockets and don't even know a word of english and in a few years they own businesses. What is your excuse?

EEOC is a joke. Verizon has tens of thousands of EEO complaints filed against them for similar situations every year and most of them are referred to HR. It's a political joke. Verizon spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually for their legal team and every once in a while someone is thrown a bone and awarded a small settlement. Every time I hear that withered old b@s#ard Mc@$$hat use the word "CREDO" I want to throw up. There are former employees who have had the past 10 or more years of their lives tied up in the legal system trying to take on Verizon. GOOD LUCK!

I was let go en masse on 11/4/16. I was told by others that receiving the severance package will happen 6-10 weeks after final day on payroll. You can file with the EEOC any time after your day if you don't want it to interefere with yout severance award. Additionally, be aware any legal action will result in them suing you to return the severance for breaking severance contract.

I have documents, conversations and coachings that prove medical discrimination. I believe everyone affected in my area was chosen due to FMLA or disability claims, also 90% were women. Someone, somewhere thought we were dead weight who must cost VZW too much money. I can't afford to create a class action, but I will be a cheerleader and supportive of one 100%.

Good luck to all who have been heartbroken or disappointed by this loss. Loyalty means nothing to most companies, but it still hurts when it happens.

I waited until the severance pay cleared my bank account and then filed a complaint with the EEOC. It doesn't cost anything and signing the severance agreement does not prevent you from filing a complaint. I have moved on AND I filed with the EEOC.

Legal muscle ? Verizon has lost class action in age discrimination, maternity leave and medical leave. If they had muscle they would not have lost anyone of them. All EEOC route first. A wrong is a wrong "."

Take the severance money and run. Verizon has too much legal muscle and can keep you in court for years. Believe me , HR IS NOT on your side. Yes, you get the money within 30 days AFTER your last day on payroll (wireline anyway)

It happened back in the 80's. Age discrimination , many got together and hired a lawyer. They pursued a class action and they won. It can be done.

I have been watching this board since November of last year when my spouse was laid off. I haven't seen one person come on and say they made any headway with the EEOC. I'm afraid our government is somewhat corrupt, I mean seriously, it's been a year since the old folks were shown out the door en mass last year. Some say the number was 6000, some say more. So my advice is to do as you are told at work (it will be over soon), read the severance agreement, marvel at how scummy it is, and sign it. They took a lesson from Disney and covered their butts. The resume suggestions were pretty good so take whatever career help they are offering. Watch yourself for depression. It's hard on the ego to get laid off, especially if you have cruised through life always dodging the bullet at layoff times. It was sad last year, but so amazing now to have most evenings, nights and weekends to ourselves. It was for the best. In our state you can apply for unemployment after your last day and then there is a dead week before you get funds. In Georgia, I heard, you couldn't apply for unemployment until your severance period was over which was quite a difference. So you will want to look into that.

Your best option is to take the severance and move on. As others have said the system is rigged very much in favor of the large corporations, and VZ have a big team of smart lawyers. Unless you have something egregious that you can prove with really solid evidence then you stand a very slim chance of getting a judgement in your favor. There are many people on these boards who have a pretty solid opinion of exactly what they believe VZ are doing: IMHO, basically getting rid of people 40+, and in IT eliminating people who are not Indian (just walk around the offices in GA and NJ to see that). Proving that kind of behavior to the standards required by a court of law is another matter altogether. Personally I found VZ to be an extremely toxic place and relished the severance and kick in the a-- I needed to move on. That's not to say this will be an easy transition for you, there will be stress, it might be hard to find the right position. But it's going to happen and the sooner you embrace it the better. There are many talented and honorable people at VZ, alas few of them in management roles. The culture created by senior management is not something any normal person needs in their life. And forget anything about 'credo' or think HR or anyone else will help in any way. The Credo is nothing more than a soundbite, and HR at any company is not your friend : they are there only to minimize the chances of the company being sued.

An EEOC can be filed on the state and federal levels. I filed federally. Also, I contacted a lawyer. Once you are severed/laid off, it is fairly difficult The criteria for "winning" a statute is very lofty. There must be an overt level of discrimination. Not just feelings. The chance of filing a claim is better once you're employed. The severance comes with a contract. If you have an active EEOC claim or legal claim, your severance is frozen. An EEOC claim can linger for over a year. Though I had cause, based on the financial Pascale, I was advised to close the case. Good Luck. Though I know my layoff was personal, I left, cancelled my wireless and fios services and moved on. It's toxic and the company is led by a bunch of mediocre idiots.

Now retired from Verizon after less than 5 years service. Verizon was only a fill in to get to the end. Been through this twice in my 47 years working with two corporations that downsized as technology changed. Best advice I can suggest.......Don't make a lawyer rich, Verizon can string you out for years. Collect your severance package and unemployment. Don't let stress effect your health.....that's number ONE! There is life after Verizon and you will be better off......you'll see. Say your prayers and get God on your side and you'll be just fine......I am living proof!

You will be provided the terms of your severance. You will want to read the documents carefully. The existing EEOC system is very rigged with respect to large corporations. 12 years is nothing. There are plenty of people that recently left this company with many more years and tons of accomplishments. The best thing you can do is get legal counsel from someone with EEOC experience. The EEOC may investigate, they may give you a letter saying you can sue, they may not. Even if they don't give you a letter you can still sue Verizon. The question you need to ask yourself is: how the court system will see it? You are going to need a real solid case with proof of your claims. Another strike against you is where you live. Right to hire states protect the employer. Usually you have 45 days to sign after your last day. So, you have time to chat with legal counsel. Otherwise, think about your transferable skills, and start looking for a new opportunity.

Be very, very careful about not signing your severance agreement on time and not taking the severance pay. Don't even think about doing that unless an attorney who is VERY experienced in labor law advises you that he or she thinks you have a strong claim that is more likely than not to succeed. Keep in mind that Verizon is a very sophisticated company with a very sophisticated Legal department. They are not likely to allow Verizon to structure a RIF program in a way that violates law, or to choose employees to be selected for RIFs in a way that violates law.

Sorry you are going through this OP, been there done that. Remember this- most layoffs now are done because of executive/management failures and not bad employees. I've seen companies throw the best talent out the door more often now than ever. Execs/mgmt may not be paying the price now but karma will work in mysterious ways. Please try and move forward slowly but surely , accept the severance and know that millions of people have successfully moved on before you in the same situation. Welcome to the club that more and more people are joining everyday !

The EEOC accepted my case and filed a claim of age discrimination against Verizon. I know of many others over 40 who did the same thing. My case is currently in the mediation division and has been for several months. I Just hope that the EEOC sees a trend and takes action. If not, I lost nothing in the process...

Were you let go from Retail? Just wondering, if so then I am sorry as news spread of your departure and many were saddened not to worry as we are surely next.

What is l&d?

And the person who filed the age discrimination. What happened with it???

Sorry to hear you got let go. I too was laid off last year around this time with last day being 12/31. The sooner you turn in your signed severance package the sooner you will get the money (probably sometime in January of next year.)

I filed a complaint with the EEOC for age discrimination even though i signed and received a package. Verizon can not legally stop you from doing that. Yes, the EEOC is slow but they have tons of complaints to process. I just wanted to put Verizon on their radar for possible wrong doings in the way they lay people off.

Good Luck to you and your family - it's not an easy thing to go through.

UPDATE: Also before anyone says anything about L&D being overhead. I was very successful in sales and management (a manager that many people loved btw) for most of my career. I'd say more but I would fear VZ would easily figure out who I am.