#employeerelations

Ever since the Pandemic, this place has been horrible. I am finding it financially impossible to do my job. 100% travel here and they moved my home office to a city 20 miles away. Thats 40 miles per day I’m not getting paid. With gas prices $5 per gallon, it’s becoming impossible to do. I get an 2% raise per year if I’m lucky where in the past 3.8% was the norm. All they talk about is “cutting costs” yet BM lives in NY and commutes to Charlotte. I’ve been through 6 management changes in the past 4 years alone. It’s been micro-aggression after micro-aggression. HR is essentially outsourced in most decisions and they work in call centers in India to give you incorrect information. They are leaning full-in on AI and there is no room for advancement except to be a Merrill salesperson that is 100% commission. There are no jobs. I’m so sad at what has become of this place.

A student protest occurred at UC Berkeley's Haviland Hall. They demanded reversal of layoffs, fair pay, and reduced fieldwork. This action followed a tuition strike over practicum consultant cuts. This semester, six students were dismissed due to support issues. UC Berkeley Social Welfare stated it is improving education quality.

Berkeley, CA

https://www.dailycal.org/news/campus/master-of-social-welfare-students-protest-student-faculty-layoffs/article_fcb39d69-ee6c-48c4-9f2e-d07005efd01d.html

I have been here close to 5 years but I feel like my team is on the chopping block and being automated. Some People are getting moved to other teams and red badges let go.
I think eventually blue badges will be let go a couple at a time. Does anyone know if severance is provided for small cuts like one or two people or is severance only for the big LR's that get anounced for a large percent??

Morale at USB is the lowest it’s ever been. Don’t believe the way they will try and spin the engagement survey. The only reason there is not a massive flight of talent is the economy. There is no support for the CEO or her managing committee. They are the worst in the industry and have shown that they despise the employees. They take millions for themselves and give no raises to thousands of employees.

Corporate real estate and the awful head of HR have ruined RTO. They forced people who were never hired as in office into the cheapest office spaces that are loud and dirty with people who sit on Teams meetings all day. The locations they chose to keep do not work for most but they said people having a 90 minute commute each way is acceptable for RTO. Read other posts for how awful it is here for people. They do not care about employees or their well being.

The best we can all do is demand new leadership in any forum we can, do not bank with USB, do not take the survey. Refuse to do more than the bare minimum. The only positive you will hear about leadership will come from GK’s damage control minions and the boomer boot lickers.

Why do people act like working at Truist is their life’s purpose? It’s not. It’s a job. Check the box. Collect the paycheck. That’s the endgame. Your “team” is just a bunch of strangers you’d never know or interact with if survival didn’t force it.

Meanwhile, in places like France, people actually get it: grinding at work is not something to brag about. Hard work is overrated. So stop worshipping Truist like it's holy!

I received an automated email recently that said, in part:

"License Management
Because M365 licenses are limited and high demand,the company expects all licensed employees are expected to demonstrate consistent usage by engaging with licensed M365 Copilot on an average of at least 3 days a week.

Usage is monitored, and unused licenses may be reassigned. Learn more: M365 Copilot usage expectations and license reallocation. Thank you for helping ensure M365 licenses are used effectively and deliver value across the organization."

I suspect this automated email was triggered because I am below the 3-day usage threshhold. Does anyone know how much attention managers are paying to this metric and if it really matters/if I should be trying to get this number up.

I'm not reflexively anti-AI, I've just found it personally not very useful for doing the things I'm tasked with. I get zero value from asking copilot to reword emails (which is how mycoworkers mainly seem to use it). At most I use it here and there to get a reminder on how to structure an excel formula, or to summarize a document. Which is not a 3-days a week thing.

I personally dont care if they yank my m365 copilot subscription but I also dont want to unnecessarily end up on management's radar as not an Ai adopter. I can fake it and start using copilot for bullsh-t but wondering how much it actually matters

I would just like to give the middle finger to where it’s deserved. Fu-k you GK + her following a-s kissers. I will not be joining any town halls or taking the survey.

I hope all the talent leaves them. I hope all these large companies lose their customer base. I hope employee-led start ups or smaller private companies take over where shareholders and the stock market are not the only things that matter.

After getting HR approval to post a req for a backfill I have, was recently told NO hiring can happen until at least May if not FY27. So, I had to close the req and stop interviews. Also, awards budget was the smallest Ive seen in my many years managing. Something substantial is on the way folks, so hang on.

To my dear, hardworking US Associates,

I am reaching out today with a heart full of "purpose" and a strategy full of "synergy." As your Managing Partner, I’ve been reflecting on our commitment to being a "human-centered" firm. And what is more human than wanting to keep more money for ourselves?

That is why David Chubak and I are absolutely thrilled to announce the opening of our newest Home Office location in India!

The "Proficiency-ish" Pivot
Now, I know what you’re thinking: "Penny, how can someone across the ocean do my job?" Well, the data is in! We’ve determined that our new international colleagues can perform your daily tasks with a solid 70% proficiency.

Sure, that leaves a 30% gap of "technical errors" and "client confusion," but when you look at the much reduced cost of labor, that 30% is just a rounding error in our quest for efficiency. We aren't just cutting corners; we’re "reimagining the circle."

Out With the Old, In With the Bold
To facilitate this exciting transition, we will be implementing a slow, methodical replacement of US headcount with Indian headcount. Think of it as a baton pass—except instead of passing a baton, we’re passing your desks and responsibilities to a time zone that’s thirteen hours ahead.

Why We’re Doing This (The Honest Part)
At Edward Jones, we often talk about the "Rule of 70." Usually, it’s about retirement, but today, it’s about the 70% increase David and I are eyeing for our own Executive Compensation.

By offloading your roles to a lower-cost market, we are finally able to unlock levels of personal wealth previously unseen in the history of the firm. It takes real leadership to look thousands of dedicated employees in the eye and say, "Your sacrifice is the fuel for my next vacation home."

Looking Ahead
As you badge in for your next Return to Office shift, please do so with a smile, knowing that every spreadsheet you finish helps David and me get one step closer to our "Golden Parachutes."

We are so grateful for everything you’ve done to build this firm. Now, if you could just spend the next few months documenting your processes in extreme detail for your replacements, that would be just "super."

With deep (financial) gratitude,

Penny Pennington
Managing Partner & Chief Compensation Optimizer

Can I nominate someone else? A few names popped into my head when I read about this.

Looks like report cards for the role play are rolling out... would be interesting to see what the aftermath would look like.

Meanwhile, management keeps sinking deeper... repeating the same rhetoric, the same threats towards employees and further ignoring customers and their feedback.

The newly hired "managers" keep managing using the same script, only to continue failing at the end because we all know, when you practice the same method the outcome remains the same. They ignore and gaslight employee concerns with an iron fist and keep repeating the same slogan which on the surface may sound the same but has the same meaning "such it up"

For those of us who have been here long, we pause and remember the folks who were the back bone of this organization, the ones who helped us become who we are, the real talent that are now gone... moved on or let go.

Do you all remember Brian Madden's post on LinkedIn a few years back when VMware sold to Broadcom? That moment when you get a glimpse of what is to come? and you realize its not good. How many of your team mates are confident in the team's direction or the overall performance and outcome of the company? It appears that everyone is just floating, hanging to see what comes next. This is what happens when there is no direction. This is what happens when you take confidence out of someone's believe in their career. You take their sense of purpose out of their routine, this is by nature and design, reinforced by society and programming.

Things wont change for the better any time soon and in my opinion any time at all... even after Omnissa is sold off. From here, there is only sinking further into the abyss. The question is, what will you do about it. Sure, many of us have been here long and we have invested plenty and now are being short changed because management is incompetent but the reality is, how much stress can you endure?

Almost every team I have interacted with has mentioned they have an exception to RTO. Are there any teams who have been given the deadline to accept RTO? What does that entail, timing, severance, etc?

Why does this fool continue to push his lies? Lets flood miss Mornings with Maria who interviewed him and let her know what crumpet man is really doing with firing forced bah employees and falsifying performance ratings to terminate or not pay merit to bah again

In office just waiting for the hammer to come down. Not great vibes today. I know alot of people missed the mark from door badges to just not coming in. Morale is extra low today.

I know of at least 2 people in our office, but there are probably more.

Go into your online profiles if you work there and update your preferred names, policy is policy.

Looking through posts on here and by mine and my coworkers’ numbers, it seems the new dashboards are wildly inaccurate. I’ve seen my days count where I’ve had multiple half days in office due to appointments, my coworker who works in office 4x a week well beyond 6 hours everyday and they’re below 60% compliance, coworkers saying the dashboard has said they used PTO/ sick days when they hadn’t. The data is obviously not accurate across all employees for many reasons.

“Over 60% of time in office” is not clear and can be interpreted multiple ways. Is it 24 out of 40 hours? In that case then could you just choose to go in everyday for an avg of 4.8 hours to get the 24 or does it have to be 3 days for 8 hours? Like others mentioned too, what about if someone is working more than 40 hours. How would that factor into the final calc? Right now they claim they’re not using time to track in the FAQ but I bet they’re gonna pull some bs I’m a few months saying “in office days only count if you spent X amount of continuous hours connected to company IP”.

Is it the amount of days that gets over 60%, so for April there are 22 working days if no PTO/ sick then 22 x .6 is 13.2 so you need to come in 14 days to meet “over 60”? It also mentions “rolling average of three months” so if there are, hypothetically, 60 working days through April - June then you have to go 36 days in that window but then can you front load and just go 36 days in a row and then WFH the rest 24 days?

This is ridiculous for employees to have to meet a moving target that the company clearly can and will just change at any moment. The backtracking claiming “it was well known that it’s 3+ days a week” is d-mb. Everybody knew 11 days got you your 100% and the old dashboard reflected that. Most people are going to go the 11 and not a day more. Even for my coworker who goes 4 days a week is showing as non compliant when their metrics should be above 60% for every month.

Sentinel Transportation LLC is a national fuel truck logistics company. It also provides transportation services. The company has warned state employment officials. It will eliminate 126 employees in California. These are permanent layoffs across 25 work locations.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2026/04/08/sentinel-cuts-california-jobs.html

My coworker was called into a meeting. They were informed of a low pega score. Despite meeting productivity and being a good employee, they felt accused of not working. They quit the next day. How does pega show someone not working when they are meeting production goals?

How was your raise? Did you get a full share of the bonus? College kids coming in and making more than tenured workers who have earned their stripes. A useless Tell Dell coming Monday. Franklin is the leading revenue generating plant in the company and they are using you up and spitting you out. Make some real noise and unionize.

Anyone notice that the new standard is “over” 60% of days in office vs hybrid 3 days a week = 60% exactly?
You will get 60.1% from me and nothing more. Also, thanks for the raise that doesn’t even cover commuting expense Gunjan!

Does anyone know if your current manager will be notified if you apply to an internal position or if that only happens if you make it to the final round?

This would be a great thing if we don’t know that 200+ people have to lose their jobs so the bank can afford it.
Really ads insult to injury. Tell an entire department being outsourced overseas then weeks later brag about this partnership.

Few JPM employees said that managers are asking employees if they want an exit package. Wondering if this is selective or company wide?

I wish they would land on a criteria and stick to for more than a year or two. Must be trying to get rid of some NRE folks. More headcount reductions to come...

I just got my total rewards statement plastered with the swollen face of our “HR Chief” bragging about our “total rewards program”. PLEASE!! Pathetic base pay (not tested against market norms since 2019?), finance using merit increases to fund their expense gaps, PATHETIC medical coverage and a “wellness” program that contacted of a few off the shelf apps that do nothing.

Oh - and surprise, we haven’t had a head of total rewards for 2 years, probably because nobody in their right mind would go to work with SM.

Even amidst all the dysfunction among the ELT, I truly can’t believe that SM is still in her role given the complete lack of delivery on basics like this.

Even with her complete disconnection from the reality of her employees, one has to think Penny MUST be cringing whenever SM opens her mouth. I know everyone else is…

While ballistic missiles rained down on our homes, the Intel Israel team woke up and went to the fabs. We coded from bo-b shelters with our kids crying near our homework station. We kept the PTL roadmap alive because we know it is the lifeline of this company right now. We delivered.

And LBT? Total radio silence.

When Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is asked about Israel, he speaks with humanity. He acknowledges his people on the ground. He acts like a leader.

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/technology-science/artc-100-with-israel-nvidia-s-ceo-expands-tech-investment-amid-war

It is easy to demand flawless execution and celebrate roadmap milestones on earnings calls. It is another thing entirely to stand by the engineers and fab workers who are actually securing your future under the threat of war.

Not one word during the entire month. Zero. Now that the Iran war is over, i can honestly say this is an absolute disgrace.

Do the people who come here to a-s kiss Optum even get compensated for all of the puckering or do they just do it for free?

The worst corporate manipulation tactic I’ve seen is this…

Mgmt pushes u to your breaking point,
then shame you for breaking…

High performers are the easiest targets.

You absorb more,you try harder, you start blaming yourself.

When someone disrespects u, provokes u,or keeps pushing your limits, pay attention.

You adjust.You work harder.You overthink.

Until one day, you snap, and suddenly you’re “emotional” or “overreacting.”

But the breaking point isn’t the problem.
The situation was never sustainable.

So don’t internalize it.

It didn’t start with you.

Run! Yall need to find another job quickly. No one is safe. When your support services like facilities are being cut, you know there is a problem. RUN!!!!

I've been working two separate roles at Nike, simultaneously. They let go one whole department last month for one of my positions. And they just offered me half the pay I was getting for my other position. I plan to make next week my last week.

Some teams, not everyone is being limited to only 25 days of PTO and SICK combined which is not very nice. Other teams still retain the unlimited PTO policy. The Employee handbook does not talk about this at all and it says it's a "Flexible" policy with no time accrued.

It is very unfair that some Directors are forcing their managers to tell direct contributors that they cannot take more than 25 days off a year.

I have been moved around between a few teams in the last 2 years and in all of them we were capped. My current team is also capped at 25 days.

Anyone else?

Are they trying to get back to pre pandemic numbers in personnel?

I worked doing UM review going on 5 years, but no contract no job. I decided to stay with company on a different team, WORSE mistake EVER! They allow managers to speak to their subordinates any way they want, I asked for additional training and was cussed out on teams, so not as if it was my personal phone, not once, but a total of four different times, spoke with HR at the company level, NOTHING was done, in fact I was made to feel like I was wrong for attempting to advocate for myself fell on deaf ears do I left and I’m happily employed by a different MCO with a pay raise, supportive environment, and just better in every way! Upsets me that I had five years seniority and to start over, but I’m much happier just disgusted that a reputable company like Anthem wants to preach an environment of inclusion and support for all, but when it came time to back up that philosophy they fell very, very short.

I know layoffs happen, but Oracle has created a culture of fear and uncertainty that can't be ignored. Why put in extra effort when raises are like unicorns? Why work hard when promo's are nonexistent and dry most of the time? Why give 110% when there is a layoff target on your back no matter what your value to the company?

It's nauseating to live this way

I am a 20+ year vet and years ago I would happily recommend Oracle as a place to work...not so much now. I tell anyone who will listen to go somewhere else unless you are desperate. And if you do join, stay no longer than 3 years. There just isn't an upside.

Oracle is late to almost every technical advance and plays catch-up which is how we get where we are.

It's toxic and depressing to know you are coming into the cross hairs every 3-6 months.

What the he-l is the purpose of a golf ambassador? How much did this sponsorship cost and how many employees didn’t get raises or had their VC cut short because of this?

Has any else heard those skip-managers saying that they pretended that they aren't aware of names before the RIF event. How can someone in HR completely segmented from the department in a large company make decisions about the individuals in their reporting structure without consulting that skip-manager for a list. They already have been made the list individuals that they can let go and still function in the months before these RIF events. In today's world, no decision is made on the roll of a dice or in a vacuum.

Why cannot managers or directors own up the their decisions and state you're too expensive to move forward and we have to let you go instead of making up this silly story about "they didn't make this list"???? Letting experienced employees go that have attempted to build a career with the company for loyalty ( or good team ) reasons instead of job hoping to build your salary requirements is a sad culture to be in for sure!

They still have a well paying job, getting a raise and RSUs moving forward for trimming the fat so own it.

Am I the only one that thinks this way?

1.) Hire exec. team of highly compensated "friends" to virtue signal
2.) Create us vs 'them' environment
3.) Have numerous employee indoctrination meetings (receive medals)
4.) Spin-off non core businesses
5.) Quarterly lay-offs of 'them'
6.) Complain that Bryan isn't Chairmen of the Board

Rinse and repeat.