#advice

I am in the final round of interviews with Anthem and feel good about getting the job. However I’m in final round interviews with a smaller company that I think will have lower pay. For those of you who work there, is Anthem a good choice?

my manager are delusionally promoting and spending a project which has no value or use. millions have been spent and there is no use case or demand for it. when i try challenging, they start commenting on my capability and character. when anything fails, which it is bound to in many steps, they say its your fault. can someone please advise how to deal with such a psycho in EM speak? i do want to keep my job, but it ki-ls me inside to hage such a stupid egotistic manager. and fee others around them who just keep promoting an obviously failing, money down the drain project.

i heard they take 50%??????? can we defer this for 2026 as i'll have low income that year

I’m trying to quit but can’t find anything and have kids to feed. I’ve been applying daily but the anxiety and depression from work daily is ki-ling my drive. I literally got divorced year 3 working here because it was affecting our romance and I turned quite mean to my spouse just being accountable. I’ve lost everything to this job. Please share tips on how to apply if anyone got lucky enough to leave. I cry in the bathroom weekly. This is no way to live, survival mode.

There's a lot of anxiety and speculation going on now, and I just wanted to post a friendly reminder to take care of yourself. You're not alone in being anxious, losing sleep, and struggling to function at work. (I am too!) But so far, all we have are rumors, and nothing is confirmed yet. Time will tell.

Also, getting laid off is better than getting fired or quitting, because getting laid off usually comes with severance pay and potentially qualifies you for unemployment if you can't find another job before the severance runs out. All things considered, I would prefer that over enduring through RTO and other nonsense meant to encourage us to quit. So the best thing you can do for yourself is to try to focus on work and not give them any reason to fire you while we wait this out. (Easier said than done, I know...) Meanwhile, dust off the old resume and make some connections. Collect any personal effects from the office before Tuesday. Take care of your mental health.

I am deciding whether or not to proceed with the company, I've heard great things but have had great job security the last 5 years, even though pay was really low .. I'm looking to build a career, obviously with more pay but I see that the company goes through layoffs or working arrangements can be a hassle.. if I were to compare to another company that possibly starts with an H.. what would you advise?

I have an upcoming interview with Humana but also have an offer at the moment, I feel as though Humana would offer more money & the potential team I would be joining may be different than what everyone is saying here.... helppp

Anyone have knowledge on how long it’s taking for our severance to be paid out once we have signed the legal documents? I’m trying to figure out how to pay out my bills. I heard 3 months???

There is a lot of talk about NRE and retirement eligibility. My questions are if you leave before you have 15 years and after 15 years. I believe at or after 15 years you get the medical and either the lump sum or annuity. If you don't get to 15 years no lump sum no medical coverage and annuity at 65. I am at a decision point in my career and don't want to miss a chance to leave. I as ked HR and they were no help. I don't think many of us young ones will make it to 55. When I say 15 years I also mean 55 years of age. I think I can make 15 years but not to 55 years old. Any advice is helpful.

Was part of the Sept 22 impact with effective date Oct 3. Health insurance is extended through the end of the impact month, however FSA cutoff is the last day worked. I scrambled to more a dental procedure from November to mid-Oct only to find out ot won't be eligible for FSA dental coverage since it was not prior to Oct 3. The paperwork provided is confusing at best and no one walks you through it. I am out $1200 of unused FSA because I thought I had til Oct 31. Don't make my mistake.

Here is my story and predicament. If anyone has gone through what I am going through please post. I don't need the sarcastic remarks about how exxon wants me out because I know that. I am 54 and on DPC plan with 13 years service. I was told that if they don't see enough improvement I could be piped or terminated. I am doing what they want but the manager keeps nit picking my efforts and focusing on extraneous goals. I was told they would write up my progress and the manager would decide. One of my old friends went through this a few years ago and was told the same things. In the end he was passed and made it to 57 and retired. I don't know if they are bluffing or really going to try to get rid of me before I can retire. I asked all of my old exxon retirees if any employee was terminated during NRE years and they all said no. Exxon could fire me and I can still retire with several million in the bank now so I am not that worried. i still want to get my lump sum and medical though. Any helpful advice from those being squeezed.

If you are full of ideas and energy, this might not be the place for you. The system here slows everything down with endless layers of approval. Unless you have friends in high spots, your voice will never reach the right people. You are better off taking that drive somewhere that lets you actually build something. Exxon is not it.

I can’t wait to be one of the “chosen ones” in the upcoming cuts. But I’m truly sorry for my younger colleagues, especially those carrying heavier burdens than most and now facing the possibility of losing their jobs. It’s brutal out there right now, and for the sake of the many good and decent people I’ve met here over the years, I really hope things improve soon. When they do, never tie your entire career or self-worth to one company. Your true value is yours alone, not defined by corporate expectations.

I know this post will hurt some feelings but be practical. Think about your future and your dependents future and start looking out first a job before you and your team gets layed off.

Got an offer from them not sure if i should take it

I wanted to create a thread so we can help each other with some advice on finding new roles. I’m in tech, and obviously the job market is worst it’s ever been. I stay up on certifications, education, and all that. Doesn’t seem to help a lot. Even did nano degrees here. Been trying to do LinkedIn and network, been applying to jobs for about 2 years now and only had a handful of interviews, got passed up for internal candidates on the final rounds. Anyone having luck getting interviews coming from ATT and if so, what methods are you using (mainly networking, job boards, etc…). Any particular companies you find folks getting jobs at coming out of here?

Let’s help each other find something else.

I have left due to being significantly underpaid. My manager was a true mentor and I liked working there. If you want to join you want to make sure you negotiate a good salary ahead of time as you'll have much harder time getting anything in addition to whatever they give when you start at USI. Overall, I'd say the company is 3.8 on a scale 1 to 5 where 5 is the best.

After years of fighting it, I have finally figured out how to play the game.

It’s actually easy once you know how it works:

1.) Strip yourself of your identity and any sense of self
2.) eGet it through your head: You do not exist to contribute. You exist to serve.
3.) Plaster a smile on your face. “Yes, I’m on board. But, no, I don’t have anything to add.” Always neutral. You’re neither excited or angry.
4.)Leave work. Go about your day.

I’m telling you. This works. It won’t get you a promotion, but it lowers your expectations so you’re not disappointed when (not if) it doesn’t come through.

Congratulations! You are finally free.

Try it for a week and comment back here. Your circumstances did not change but do you feel happier?

How long did it take for the toxicity to leave your system? When did the happiness start again in your life? I'm going though the 5 stages, but can already tell I am much more calm and don't need the bottle anymore. I'm thinking it just gets better from here. Money? Yep need that, and it is inducing some stress into my life, but it feels much different than the environment at work while I was there.
At least on the money side, I can take personal action to fix it. The office environment? Nope. Just had to endure.....

Anyone has a side line of work, a business???

How do you manage to do it?

Is it even possible given the amount of work we have?

Any advice?

Laid off on Mon after 6 mo in tech sales... Dell overhired, new leader cut over half the team... now 40% of the group that started with me is gone.

I outsold the 3 peers from my start cohort who were kept.... This now feels targeted. Feels like the mgr did not like me.

she told me she lovd working with me and said I was good at my job. That stings. I suspect she had some say in who stayed. I know resentment hurts me more than them but it is hard to switch off.

Questions for people on this blog:

Have you been through this??

What helped you move past the anger???

How long did it take before the sting faded??

I was impacted and reading everyone’s threads has been both reassuring and sad. Thank you to everyone for sharing openly and honestly— when work culture suffers from toxic leadership and snuffs our ability to have actual community and honest conversation about the company we work(ed) for, we came here— I’m glad for that. I also am not using “toxic leadership” to score a hit— it’s a real construct with indicators and impact. Reading about it might help you put more objective (sorry for this term) language to what you’re experiencing.

If you’re still at Gartner, I do not envy you. I would prefer to still be working there rather than be unemployed, but I also can’t imagine what it was like/is like to be making calls and selling people on a place you can no longer trust. That would be hard.

My advice to those currently recruiting would be to not trust internal communications about Gartner performance. Remember that it benefits them to make you believe we are doing well. This makes us more effective sellers. I was an effective seller, and I am left feeling guilty for selling people on a lie- I put them in a position to experience what I have just gone through.

Trust what you are seeing with stock prices and quiet layoffs, and make a plan for if things change quickly. I had no plan, and I am paying for it now- the best I can do now is to suggest it to others.

If you’re a well-intentioned leader and you’re reading this, please know that I (and others) understand that you passed down the information you were given, which was the misleading “Gartner is doing great” speak that was all but smashed over our heads in the Q2 town hall. The best you can do is to not repeat this kind of speech to your teams: it leads to us being unprepared. We also get enough of it already through the carefully crafted corporate comms that reassure us we are a great company at all times. You don’t have to add your voice if you know there’s risk ahead for your people.

I will never get to speak to those who intentionally misled people who make 5% of their salary. Those most senior leaders manufactured security through talk tracks and inside Gartner emails that assured us of growth and opportunity, while designing layoffs in private. They do not know you and do not care about you. They will end your healthcare at midnight and give you four weeks of severance, all while telling you “when we do the right thing, great results will follow.”

Be very cautious, whether you’re still there or not. Have a plan. I am still most grateful for the people who did work ethically and without acting like Gartner gave a damn beyond the bottom line.

Considering on joining the company. May I get the 2025 good and bad info on working at the company please? Any words of wisdom will help me decide if this is a good fit for me.
Thank you all!

I know some are and some are not, just want to see if people can share some experiences. No names please.

I see so many people just walking away, and it makes me so angry. You’re doing them a favor! Make them lay you off! Make them pay you! Don’t do exactly what they want with everything they’ve been doing and the toxic atmosphere they’ve created. Why? Why would you do something like that?

Anyone ever make a startup company? I'm looking for advice,
Leases and drilling are really crazy expensive to carry on my savings alone, how did you find investors?
What do you wish you knew before you started?

I once had a claim manager tell me my house will be my retirement. I laughed at him and politely walked away. I retired early and got 50 to 60% of the pension. That was well over 10 years ago. Make your own plans. Listen to your heart and never let them control your future. You are in charge of yourself and know claims will take your health. Don't let them do it!

Know that should they offer you a lesser role (lower level of responsibility, Supervisor to IC, etc) in Edmonton than you have today that could be deemed a demotion and also subject to constructive dismissal, and severance.

Do not accept a demotion. Consult a lawyer before your accept a job.

I’m disappointed by severance estimate. Here’s how to get a high-level estimate using any AI tool, readymade script to use-
• Permanent employee at Imperial Oil, based at Quarry Park Office.
• Annual salary: $[X]
• Current role: [Your Role] in [Function/Department]
• Continuous service: [X years]
• Defined benefit plan: [1.5% / 2%], RRSP/401k match: [X%]
• Location: [City / Office]
• Performance Rank : [X/4]

Context to consider:
• Mass layoffs, office closures, relocation of remaining employees
• Local unemployment rate, industry outlook, company financial health
• Comprehensive benefits package

How to estimate severance:

1.  Factor in years of service, age, position, rank, and contract terms
2.  Add bonus, retirement contributions, benefits continuation
3.  Adjust for industry and location context

All consider additional factors, past legal cases examples.
Estimate my severance pay.

Does TIAA favor internal transfers versus external applicants? Looking to do a lateral move, I don't see any openings for the position I want, but figured I'd want to network with the manager to let them know I'm interested. Has anyone transferred internally that can provide any recommendation/tips on what they did? Worried that if I apply and don't get the role, then my boss would know that I'm looking to transition out of my current role.

1. Your boss is not your friend
2. Who you know beats what you know (building a network and nurturing it consistently is critical to success
3. You are REPLACEABLE at Work NOT home (In 20 years the only people who will REMEMBER you worked late are your kids, family and loved ones
   4.Loyalty rarely two-way street,in hard times will won't be returned
   5.Time is scare than Money. We can re-earn money but never Time
4. Comfort ki-ls Progress (You grow when you take Risks, Not when you play Safe. Please finish items 7,8,9,10 and so forth...by adding harsh career truths :)

Sorry I didn't post this before more layoffs. While your manager is giving you the news, disconnect immediately from the internet. They can't scramble your laptop if they can't get to it. I was laid off on September 3rd. I've had access to my files all this time. I just got my box, so I'll go on the internet now and let them scramble it.

that's what this company is taught us: never work hard for them, never go the extra mile, absolutely do not try hard. only do the bare minimum because they're going to lay you off no matter what

35+ years in the industry, across several banks. I’ve seen it all. What’s happening now feels like the complete dismantling of banking as a business, a service, and an institution. Working in this industry has never been worse: more stressful, less rewarding, and utterly demoralizing. I doubt it’s any better at other banks. I’m close to retirement, so I no longer care much. But for younger folks, here’s my advice: don’t expect a career, don’t invest yourself too deeply, and don’t think hard work and skills will pay off. If you still have time, change lanes.

It's crazy how many scammers are on Indeed and Linked-in.

Is there a safer way to apply for jobs? The only way I can think of is to go directly to employer websites or via word of mouth from folks in your network.

What are others finding out there in terms of using job search sites such as Indeed and Linked-In?

Do not let anyone gaslight you into thinking constant layoffs are normal. This is not normal.

They will use you and dispose of you with a layoff notice approximately five days after a contract you were hired to support ends or funding inexpertly gets cut. You are given less time now to find another internal job at Booz Allen before you are issued a layoff notice. There are hundreds of employees in this position at any given time, and their desperation shows, and mostly likely their mental health is affected too. After receiving a layoff notice, you can forget about Networking, to help you find a new position inside the company while the days count down before you are laid off. The reason for this is that IT shuts down your computer so you can no longer network using emails to reach out to managers you do not know or access the internal networks at Booz Allen to help you find another internal job at Booz Allen before your last day.

Buyer beware when accepting a job offer at Booz Allen.