#worklifebalance

I used to love working here. Now I hate it, and I can't pinpoint when the shift happened.

Let me list what seems impossible here. Having executives who aren't a complete clown show. Keeping talented employees. Having a work environment that isn't toxic. Recovering from the gross negligence we've seen. I could keep going but you get the point.

Call me lazy if you want, but I'm not the one who reaches for layoffs every time expenses need to come down. There are a hundred ways to save money that don't involve cutting people. They just don't want to do the work to find them. I'm just returning the favor.

Every single person on my team is. Every single one.

I walked away three months ago because I was tired of working sixty-hour weeks. I left my team in a tough spot, but I honestly don’t feel bad about it. I feel great. They created the mess that I kept fixing over and over again, and eventually I got tired of carrying it all on my back. Part of me would still love to see how things are working out for them now that the mule is gone.

Pre-WFH, I've had two managers who obsessed over start times and break lengths. Neither of them actually knew how to lead. They just watched the clock because it was easier than doing their real jobs. It never improved productivity, but it worked for them. Those are the kind of people who want us back in the office. To hide their own failings.

I'm trying to prepare myself the best I can. If you've been laid off, what did you notice in the weeks or months before? Did your manager seem distant? Were you left out of meetings? Did your responsibilities shrink without explanation? I'd love to hear any patterns so the rest of us aren't completely blindsided when that meeting invite shows up.

A Reddit post in r/bell claims that Bell has been firing employees “with cause” for not returning to the office three days a week, allegedly with no severance and no prior warning.

One commenter, who says they were terminated, argues that this is unfair because they were working from their designated office two days a week plus another Bell office on a third day most weeks. They also claim they worked more than the standard 37.5 hours per week and had strong performance reviews.

Their main argument is that, while companies can set return-to-office rules, terminating someone “with cause” should normally require progressive discipline first, such as a verbal warning, written warning, suspension, and then termination, unless the behavior qualifies as severe misconduct. They argue that simply not being in the designated office three days a week, or “coffee badging,” should not automatically count as severe misconduct unless the employee is also failing to work their required hours, which could be considered time theft.

Overall, the discussion is about whether companies are using RTO enforcement as a way to terminate employees without severance, and whether missing office-day requirements should legally or ethically justify a “for cause” dismissal.

Of course it’s not about collaboration. But companies are worse than pre covid with the on office stuff. I know someone at another company that said a senior manager sits by the door to see who is leaving “early”. Like 5 minutes early. Seriously what is going on? All the big companies are doing it. Spending money monitoring stuff that you thought went away in the early 2000s.

Been nixed here.
They are so much into push push push never fast enough do more do more have less time to breathe. It’s awful lately
I had great expectations for this career and each year gets more grueling and demoralizing.
Add the RTO FT and even the layoffs small in number are devastating. I don’t think I can keep up this pace.

I can survive wave after wave of layoffs, RTOs, and offshoring to India as long as they let me rip darts on the front steps again

Has anyone else had a problem with Cigna not scheduling your legally entitled rest breaks? I have had many conversations with my manager about this, and they continue to not give me rest breaks. I have filed a complaint with my state's BOLI 6 months ago, and they have not investigated yet. Am I the only one?

But by now I know the systems, I know the people, and leaving feels like starting over. So I stay. It's stupid but it's honest. I think there are many stuck at IBM with a similar mindset.

Lately almost every conversation turns into someone talking about applying elsewhere, and a lot of them are willing to make less money if it means escaping this place. That says more about what working here has become than any employee survey ever could.

Anyone wonder if they are willing to provide gas assistance for flex staff, and or reduce work in the office to two days a week during this economy to help cost of living at this time?

I know that probably sounds strange, but when layoffs actually surprised people, it meant they happened rarely enough that nobody was constantly expecting them. These days, layoffs feel so normal that there’s barely even shock anymore. We’re always waiting for the next round, so when it finally happens, it just feels like more of the same.

A recent study analyzed worker risks across the United States. Affordable Contractors Insurance conducted the comprehensive report. Mississippi ranked eighth among states with the biggest risks for workers. Factors included high layoff rates, low wages, and limited unemployment benefits. The state also lacks paid sick leave and family leave laws.

Biloxi, Mississippi

https://amp.sunherald.com/news/local/article315646434.html

Are we going to have a schedule bid for Juneteenth like we had for Memorial day.

I used to love coming in on Friday because the office was empty, the manager never showed up, and it was a peaceful productive day. Too many of you are now thinking the same thing and coming in on Friday now and I need you to go away lol. That is all.

PNC implemented a five-day return-to-office mandate this week. This policy requires most employees to work onsite daily. Many employees expressed strong negative reactions on social media. Concerns include long commutes and childcare challenges. PNC states the policy supports collaboration and culture.

Pittsburgh, PA

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/news-2/labor/amid-five-day-return-to-office-mandate-pnc-employees-vent-on-social-media/

All those posts reporting bl oo d baths
All the hysteria
1000 cuts is SOP
The real issue moving forward is RTO less flexibility. How will we be punished if we can’t make it in due to extraneous circumstances?
I heard many ppl complaining this week is there truth to the rumors that they may tweak it? Or is that just wishful thinking?

SAP used to be the greatest company to work for, at least as far as I am concerned.

But now? Not anymore. The current board is su-king all joy and enthusiasm out of work.

But are other companies that different? Oracle... meh. Microsoft... no thanks.

Is there an alternative that a) pays well, b) treats their employees well, and c) is large enough not to disappear in the near to middle future?

I am not aware of any, unfortunately.

I was not laid off but am not happy with layoffs and very sad to see close people leave. I will have a lot of work and be miserable. Can I get a package to leave Fidelity? Could I return later?

I was laid off today and just sat there like “now what?” What are your plans for now to the end of the month?

I’m thinking to just show face at daily meetings, don’t do anything else and ignore 90% of teams and email messages. I mean this was worst case right? They can’t really do anything else?

Ever coming or we hybrid now

do guidelines on responsibilities handled by each gsr even mean anything? ive been gsr 7 for four years and my responsibility, scope, and importance of work dramatically increased but im still gr7 all the same. Exceeded on all reviews with the exception of met on my second year.

is this my direct management holding their cards close to their chest or is Ford not a place that cares about fairly compensating employees for workload

Hearing that there is another round of layoffs happening today?

Anyone know anything?

Long story short: After a long time of searching I finally found the right therapist for me, and was reassured that RTO couldn't interfere with my appointments. Well sure enough, my manager allows me to leave the office for my appointments, but the real issue is having to commute basically 4 times just to continue seeing my therapist. I literally cannot afford it. Thank you Bill.

I want to work from home tomorrow, but I don’t want to miss my mighty badge swipe

To Fidelity only, but are you all aware all the professionals in many huge multibillion dollar companies their employees are as pi---d off as we are for FT RTO?!. They have all stirred the hornets nest! No one is happy, if they successfully did their wfh massively productive employees have proven they can be trusted to wfh and be flexible with coming into an office. It just shows we are completely off their radar for loyalty or respect or for their MASSIVE PROFITS they’ve enjoyed. Maybe just maybe there’ll be infinitesimally small reductions in productivity by naturally being back in a distracting office and I hope they see an overall decline because of RTO. Nothing evil or malicious just a natural decline because being in a busy noisy office lends itself to more distractions. Be careful the powers that be you may be cutting off your nose to spite your face. WFH was a long planned situation and it worked fabulously well and they’re still unhappy with the workforce . Give the professional adults in your office the due respect they deserve. Allow flexibility.

With gas prices rising at an astronomical rate, I've heard rumors that T is considering lowering the in-office average for the summer months to 2 days a week. Obviously this would be amazing for all of the employees who are suffering with increased cost of living across the board. Is there any truth to this?

If your account was temporarily locked out early this week confirming your pending surplus, what is your current plan? What are you going to be doing different now?

I was so scared to leave for a long time. I always thought maybe the problems were me. I've been gone for a year now and I can tell you with confidence it wasn't me. My stress is gone. My weekends are mine again. Leaving was the best decision I've made in a decade.

came into the office today to find my microsoft account has been disabled… said it should be back in 30 minutes…. 4 hours ago

and I kick myself everyday that I didn't have the stones to leave 10 years earlier.

They say the grass isn't always greener. In this case, I have yet to fine someone who didn't find better grass.

I love coming to the office to see everyone (including me) play on their phones.