#benefits

In my department, the participation rate is given more importance then the actual results. I'm sick of being harassed to take the survey. When the results are poor, the additional work to bring them up is incumbent on employees, not management. Our employee benefits continue to decline YOY. The only way to protest is to NOT take the survey.

Hi, does Nike provide any resume or other outplacement support?

I was displaced, filed an ER grievance, and was then ultimately terminated after my Notice Period ended in a clear case of retaliation. While I'm pursuing legal action, trying to ascertain if the bank can now cut off my severance, benefits, damage my employment record etc. I'll know soon enough and will address accordingly, just curious if anyone has a definitive answer.

I’m being displaced in October. And then I’ll have severance for most of next year. Can I enroll in a flexible spending account for 2026?

Big cuts coming for HR and benefits folks. Will be a sad next few weeks for them.

Employee Discount Program 877-377-9010

Found this number and talked to a very nice lady. They handle all discount information for all services.

1. Discount will start automatically November 1st for all qualified wireless retiree plans.
2. Qualified plans are the newer ones. Called in a few months ago complaining about my bill. Found out I was on a old grandfathered plan. Switched to a newer comparable plan and actually saved money.
3. If you are retired you might call in and find out what plan you are currently on and find out which newer comparable plan is available so that you can get the additional discount.

The company appears to be in a state of decline, with leadership frequently chasing the latest industry trends. Every few months, there’s a shift in direction and new sets of goals, often driven more by buzzwords than by long term strategy. It can be frustrating and sometimes even amusing to watch leadership make decisions based on vendor pitches, despite lacking hands-on experience themselves.

Strategic direction often changes based on which vendor a VP has a relationship with. Microsoft is currently the favored trend, but just a few months ago, it was all about "prompting." These cycles repeat, creating instability.

Benefits are decent, but be cautious getting sick can be expensive. PTO is generous, and pay can be competitive depending on your role and negotiation. However, layoffs happen regularly, roughly every six months, with many roles increasingly offshored to Allstate India, which probably accounts for over 50% of the IT staff.

The company is heavily focused on “cloud” and “AI” at the moment. Overall, I’d rate it an average workplace, it’s a place where you do your job, keep your head down, and hope to stay employed. Tenure doesn’t offer much protection. If your views don’t align with the ever changing corporate vision, you may find yourself out.

If you’re hired, my advice is: agree with leadership, reinforce their ideas, and avoid pushing back, your opinion won’t carry much weight. On the positive side, there are solid opportunities to improve your skills through a strong internal training ecosystem.

Are there any benefits if you come on as a rehire ?

Part of layoff for September 22,2025. What's the last day my medical? Do I get continuous medical, dental,vision for extra one month? Plus till today I received 2 pay slips. Anything else I am missing?

Got some documentation saying the discount will go from 30% to 50%. Took forever to find someone who even knew what I was talking about. Lady said that according to what she could find, and if she understood it correctly, the discount would take a couple of billing cycles to flow through. Assuming we might see it on the billing on the December bill if true.

If they are done with layoffs, benefits are next in line.

Seeing the note that we no longer get to expense our internet and the mobile phone stipend is lowered to $50 a month [for both in all].

What else will be lowered or cut?

As WF employees, we should all receive substantial discounts on home and auto loans.

I heard that this is being cut in terms of the discounted rate. Is going to be 5% with some other shenanigans… also heard that PTO can’t be carried over going into 2026… anyone heard the same?

People will be getting a benefit survey, they will ask whether you want this or that. They are testing the waters to see how they can cut benefits and say “we listened to the survey and this is what you wanted.”

It wont shock me that they get rid of the pension all together

Say goodbye to that benefit!
New generation ruined it for everyone.

Looks like the cost for medical insurance is going up for 2026.

For lower pay Mattel employees, we can't afford to get medical treatment with a $3000 dollar deductible. Let all the fat cats pay! You know the ones with a high school diploma, making 80k or more! Which is almost everyone in some departments. Unusable insurance. Can't have surgery done!

With existing medical condition, I am trying to figure out the cost of COBRA. I currently have United PPO + Dental + Vision insurance. Any pointers on how much will be my contribution going forward ? I took no break & started applying left,right & center. No interview calls from any potential employers.

Regards

I know its not a layoff post but I'm genuinely curious anyone here work in the Charlotte area for a corporate function? Looking at risk roles and understand the 5 day office thing but also hear no seats and new hub is coming in 2026. Is Charlotte actually a hub? Not trying to onboard and then get told to move to ATL or Dallas. What's the day to day experience working at T? Can anyone explain a Principal title in terms of where in the org that sits? How's bonus, benefits, time off etc.?

Over the past two years, soaring inflation has eroded household budgets while Bank of America held salary increases well below cost of living gains, leaving real wages stagnant as unemployment ticks up to its highest level in over two years; at the same time, health insurance costs are climbing, premiums are set to rise around 6 percent next year and average deductibles are increasing further squeezing workers’ finances.

What comprehensive measures can individuals take? Do you suggest any tactics to deal with this?

The entire Home Solutions area was robbed. We were moved to the “one home “ division and under their benefits. We lost 8 PTO days, Juneteenth holiday, and Black Friday holiday. We also lost VTO day making that 11 paid time off days today we lost. Our 401k will move to Centerwell with a match of only 3% so we lost 4.5% match. We lost half of our secure save so $260 a year lost. Our personify is now a lottery with a chance to win money so we basically lost that $500 . We have a 50% decrease of our life insurance. We have increased premiums for higher deductible plans. We did not agree to move out of the Traditional Humana benefits. We were forced and told they would give us a lump sum and an increase of hourly wages. That lump sum and minimal wage increase do not add up to all the losses. We want our traditional benefits back!!!

Did Humana just send an email acti by like positive changes were made and they basically hacked many of our benefits? This company has become a joke.

Since it seems to be that time already. which plan carrier do you guys have and or are you switching or keeping your current.

Dental Premiums are also going up so I'm interested to see what that will be. I have the PPO since I'd rather pull my own teeth than step foot in a dental dental again

While waiting decided to dig a bit. Discovered pharmacy is considered critical. Humana is giving pharmacists and pharmacy techs base salary increases and lump sum payments to "offset the difference between the 2025 and 2026 total rewards benefits package". This does not bode well for the non-critical part of business. Not sure why they don't just shutter those non-critical areas and be done with it.

Is this another cost-cutting move by the bean counters at corporate?

Can’t wait to see what cost-cutting moves they make with the health insurance open-enrollment next month.

Are these going away at the first of the year?

Huge wage increases in Vernova and other sectors. Union did them justice! The 12% raise during the pandemic 2 year contract extension is over. Now the real money is flowing into the hands of the American worker. Split pay scale wages went way up.

I had saved this off and thought I'd post it for anyone looking for info about the 401(k) match. The second bullet point has the details for those 60 and up.

Change to Eligibility for Company Matching Contribution Effective January 1, 2023, to be eligible to receive a Company Matching Contribution you must contribute to the Plan and meet one of the following criteria:

• You are an active employee on the last day of the applicable Plan year (an active employee for this purpose is defined as an employee who is currently employed or on approved leave of absence, excluding long-term disability), or

• You terminate employment during the applicable Plan year and, as of your employment termination date, you have attained the age of 60 with the sum of your age and vesting service (in both instances, full and partial years) at least equal to 65, or

• Your employment is terminated without cause on or after October 1 of the applicable Plan year and you are entitled to receive severance benefits pursuant to The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plan ("SUB plan") or under such other severance agreement or policy governing the termination of employment from BNY Mellon, or

• You are approved for long-term disability benefits during the applicable Plan year under a program maintained by the Company, or

• You die during the applicable Plan year and are an active employee at the time of death.

Of course benefits are increasing and I'm really disappointed they are getting rid of coverage for GLP1's. That medication is saving people who have been trying to lose weight for years. Oddly enough viagra will still be covered.

Why? So many great jobs that have none of this BS. I got laid off a year ago. It was the best thing that could happen to me. Landed a job six weeks later with better pay, benefits and truly unlimited PTO. You’re better than this. Go!

Thoroughly enjoyed most of my 28 years. Walked in one day and couldn't see doing it anymore. Notified my manager and left for the last time 3 weeks later. Took SS at 62 and received the initial monthly checks from both of my pension funds. It took a month to fully sink In. I should have left a year earlier. People asked, why now? I didn't have an answer at that time. A month later I had an answer. My team lost 4 people in 3 years. What was left were the people who should have been surplussed. Yeah, probably me too. I think I would have been relieved. Sooner would have been better for me, that I am sure of. Yesterday another retiree asked if I missed the camaraderie. It was a joke. No, I will never miss the deadbeats. Never miss watching someone draw a paycheck they did not earn. Never miss those hired solely due to race, gender, or pronouns. Never miss the employee discount program that costs at least double that of AT&T competitors. Never again pretend to care about the work in a company that does not care about their employees or even their customers. After 3 months I finally wake up every morning feeling free. I never gave a thought to the costs of working at AT&T before I retired. After years of being obligated to do things that made no sense, you suddenly find yourself with the ability to reject such nonsense. I didn't know it at the time I submitted my notice, but what I want most was peace of mind.

After a few years at Oracle, I was let go, not because of performance but because of this AI nonsense. Still, I’m not surprised when I took this job, I knew this company didn’t care much about their employees, but I was happy to have a paycheck and lucky to pay my bills. I'm just very disappointed…

Below are a few takeaways:

My coworkers were amazing. Everyone was great to connect with.
Significant amount of training..
Compensation was below average, but it paid the bill.
Great healthcare.
Work from home.

The negative:
My management was mediocre. Some teams had great managers, but mine was a total disappointment. All he cared was to look better for his director.
No raise, work harder. No one get a raise.
The amount of work to meet your metric was nonsensical. Always under the g-n!
I worked over the weekend to do a great job, and that is the thank you!!
You learn a lot in the first year, but you get stuck in a role you will never move up!! Your skill get stagnant.
The manager only selects a few for a raise.
Manager control the amount of work you get and purposely try to sabotage you it seems. No transparency.

Bottom line
I'm sad I'm gone, but it's better I deal with this now, than waste another five years of my life in this company which I would have done.

I see many posts asking if the layoff will be over.
Be realistic with yourself. Oracle will lay off more people next year to fund its investment in AI. It's a high-debt company, and they need to trim peoples. All you can do is have a safe backup plan and upskill. Don't work hard for this company!

Oracle is all about cutting cost now, and to increase its stock value. Their new Ai platform is already a total mess. They don't care about their customers or improving their tool set.

Maybe I'm wrong with all of this but that my interpretation.

Wish everyone the best!!! Don't stay too long there!!!!

I’’ll start:

Yearly pay raises close to or exceeding inflation
Accepting salary based on 35hr/wk, flash forward, management expectation of 40-50, no adjustment
Pressure to ignore benefits paid by lower salary like RFC for “azz in chair” time

It appears that another major reorganization may be announced this week. I’ve heard it could affect benefits—possibly pensions in particular. That said, the source isn’t especially reliable, so it’s difficult to know for sure.

I am writing this as a longtime Cisco employee. I am an individual contributor and have been for almost 20 years. I like Cisco, I like most of my managers and colleagues (not all, of course but that is true anywhere)

Am I worried about getting LR'd? A little but since I put this plan into place several years ago I am not worried about finances. Not one bit.

You can't change the wind but you can change the set of your sails. The most important of which are your financial decisions. Strive for financial independence now. It is not too late. jump to end for TL/DR version:

1. shift to maximum frugality.
   This is not the "latte factor" where your $4 coffee will change your life but rather an entire philosophical shift. Embrace frugality as a desirable and enjoyable lifestyle (it is). Focus on both the small rocks (the daily expenses like coffee, doordash and money su-kers). not to sound s-xist but money su-kers are typically gender aligned. Women spend a lot on nail care, beauty and the like. Men spend a lot on autos, gadgetry and beer. obviously stereotypical but you get the point.
   Eliminate, DIY or change the frequency.

2. Big Rocks.
   Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Insurance & Education are typically the most expensive components. Start here. Be relentless. remember that New car smell is the most expensive fragrance in the world and no one really cares about what kind of car you drive anyway (except for you) get a reliable, safe used vehicle. strive to pay cash for a car as it will force you to save & research. Same concept applies with the other big rocks. The amount you spend on where you sleep at night and keep your stuff should be minimal. This is true whether you rent or own, strive to own a decent home in a good neighborhood.

3. Max out your 401K, open a Roth and build a freedom fund.
   What to do with all the money you save? Buy a boat? (no!)
   First, build a cash cushion of at least 6 months of expenses, the good news is that the more you relentlessly drive down your expenditures, the lower this amount needs to be. Put this in a Money Market (many are yielding 4+ %
   Then, Max out your tex deferred retirment account. the target date funds are a great one-fund set it and forget it option. you could balance that with a 100% stock fund (US Equity Index) say 50/50 so you are tilted toward more growth, especially if you are young. There are 1,000 asset allocation strategies you will be bombarded with, this is a good middle of the road, reasonable, strategy. It is way more important to get started and be consistent (autpilot) than to get all the knobs perfectly right. Most people do way more damage that way, especially you smart ones. (Doctors are notoriously bad investors because they think they are smarter than everyone else)
   also start a Roth IRA and fund it as well (Roth is post-tax but has significant advantages)

4. The best things in life are free.
   National Parks, Conversations with Friends, gardening, reading a used book (the paper kind) long walks with the person you love most. Do the rocking chair test; imagine you are 80, sitting on the porch in your rocking chair and ask yourself what you would have done differently back then. I guarantee the make/model of car will not enter your mind even once.

TL/DR
Reduce expenses relentlessly, start with the big rocks.
embrace a mindset of "frugal is wonderful" because it leads to financial independence.
MAx out retirement funds (401k/IRA/Roth IRA) with a simple set and forget it Asset Allocation
100% Target Date Fund (based on your retirement year) or 50% Target Date Fund + 50% US Equity Index if you are more risk averse.
Build a 6 month war chest full of cash

With the brutal layoff's , I am also one of those unlucky one with close to 30 years of hard work & dedication. Anyway, hope someone can shed light o my questions below. I am based out of CA

With COBRA , Could I choose only dental & eye insurance ? I maybe wrong, medical insurance from Obama Care plans could be cheaper that COBRA. I don't see an option to just pick Eye & Dental plans.

Second question ... looks like COBRA plans could be added within 6 months of layoff's ? If I pick COBRA plans say after 4 months, does it start from that day & continues for 18 months OR no ?

Third question ..Assuming I take COBRA plan for this year, do I get an option to pick a different medical plan during Open Enrollment ?

Fourth Question .. Arag & life insurance plans are history now ? I am sure that's true

Lastly, what's everyone doing for medical plans in Lieu of COBRA offer ?

Curious if anyone has heard how our benefits could be changing - I.e holidays, PTO, health benefits, etc.

I'm considering the severance package but am wondering if anyone knows what subsidized Cobra means? I assume our bi-monthly payment towards health insurance would dramatically increase? Especially when a family is on your account?