AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT VERIZON (09/15/24)

Am I Next? Mass layoffs and outsourcing at Verizon.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 — 4,800 EMPLOYEES TARGETED

The company announced a voluntary separation program for some US-based management positions in June 2024, with over half of the employees exiting in September 2024 and the rest by the end of March 2025.

According to an SEC filing, “In June 2024, Verizon announced a voluntary separation program for select U.S.-based management employees. Approximately 4,800 eligible employees will separate from Verizon under this program by the end of March 2025, with over half of these employees exiting in September of 2024.

MAY 28, 2023 — THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ARE AT RISK

In a mass phone call to customer service employees, the company has notified them of upcoming “restructuring” and “streamlining” measures that are all but certain to result in significant layoffs.

Those involved in the call were told they’d be able to accept a severance offer (two weeks per year of tenure) or, in select cases, apply for roles to “transition to the next stage of your career journey.”

Those roles targeted include customer experience, loyalty, and technology positions.

It is believed that the company plans to offshore its customer service operations and employ sophisticated AI-driven chatbots.

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 — CONTINUING BAD NEWS

Verizon has confirmed that it executed another round of layoffs and employee buyouts that impacted the Verizon Business Group, which includes the company’s channel team, and the Verizon Global Technology Solutions Group.

A company spokesperson noted, “The industry-wide shift in consumer trends and expectations is driving the need for us to do things differently. This is an ongoing process as we continue looking at ways to enhance our customer’s experience while helping to make the business more efficient. We must adjust staffing levels in some parts of our business. These decisions are never made lightly and we will work with employees who are impacted by these changes throughout their transition.”

The company refuses to disclose the number of layoffs.

OCTOBER 5, 2018 — Original post…

New York, New York-based Verizon Communications has just offered 25% of its workforce, approximately 44,000 employees the opportunity to take a voluntary severance package in order to save $10 billion in costs by 2021. Verizon's severance package mostly targets senior employees, some with 20 years or more with the company, making it difficult for those in their 50s and 60s to obtain new employment.

This is in addition to transferring 2,500 IT workers to Infosys of the India’s largest outsourcing contractors.

The long-term Verizon employees to be outsourced appear to be royally screwed as they are not eligible for severance payments and won’t receive their 2018 bonus if they are offered a job at Infosys and don’t accept it. According to published reports, “the severance offer excludes employees who are being 'rebadged' to Infosys and offered a 1-year retainer at the Indian company, most likely to train their replacements.” Negotiating at the point of a proverbial gun. The Infosys outsourcing contract is said to be worth $700 million.

According to new CEO Hans Vestberg, the reduction-in-force will give Verizon “an opportunity to find more efficiencies in the size and scope of our V Team and help expedite the building of an innovative operating model for our future.”

Making major employee decisions before a major holiday season appears to be short-sighted. Look for further layoffs and an exodus of top talent. And increasing stress on the remaining employees who will be forced to do more with less.

Are you wondering Am I Next?

NO LOVE AT LEXMARK

Am I Next? Lexmark lays of 1,000 workers.

Lexington, Kentucky-based Lexmark International, a global imaging solutions provider, having just finished announcing an extensive line of new printers last month, has announced another restructuring effort that will result in the layoff of 1,000 employees. In corporate-speak, “the restructuring is needed to align its workforce with its strategy to ensure the company's future success.”

This after 700 layoffs in 2017. The company started life as a spin-off of IBM’s printer business and was most recently acquired by a consortium of investors led by Apex Technology and PAG Asia in 2016. It was Lexmark that pioneered the sale of cheap ink at exorbitant prices as its revenue generation model.  

Are you wondering Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT MATTEL (02/27/23)

Am I Next? Mattel to Layoff 2,200 employees.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 — LAYOFFS AT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

The company is laying off employees, including 93 employees at the company’s El Segundo, California headquarters to meet the challenges of "challenges in the macroeconomic environment."

According to an SEC filing, “Mattel's Optimizing for Growth program is a multi-year cost savings program that integrates and expands upon the previously announced Capital Light program. In February 2023, the Program was expanded to include additional initiatives, including actions to further streamline Mattel's organizational structure."

“This has resulted in a restructuring of certain roles and functions across our global organization as well as a workforce reduction.”

JULY 25, 2018 — Original post…

El Segundo, California-based Mattel has announced that it will be laying off 2,200 workers, mostly its non-manufacturing workforce in a massive restructuring in response to lagging sales and increasing losses. In announcing the Second Quarter results, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz noted, “Mattel is a company with great potential. We see a lot of opportunities, but there has been a big discrepancy between our financial performance over the last few years and where the company should be.” Joseph Euteneuer, CFO of Mattel added: "We are pleased to report that our two-year $650 million Structural Simplification program is on track.

There is no doubt that Mattel has been severely impacted by the use of electronic devices at earlier ages and the loss of one of the nation’s top toy retailers, Toys R Us which was Mattel’s second-largest customer.  “We are in a turnaround and as expected, had a challenging second quarter driven primarily by the Toys "R" Us liquidation.” Mattel also noted that they will be selling manufacturing facilities in Mexico in response to changing capacity requirements. For those wanting to read the full story, Mattel’s News Release can be found here.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?