Workplace Loyalty is Dead

[ChloeTzang]

And AT&T's CEO Just Made It Official.....

It's an interesting read, and a fascinating insight into how AT&T CEO John Stankey sees his employees. Basically, slaves who need to work their asses of for nothing but a paycheck.' The old quid pro quo where you worked for the company and went above and beyond when needed, and in return the company was loyal to you has been put to bed for all to see. It's not every day that a CEO's 2,500-word response to an employee engagement survey goes viral but this one did. AT&D did an engagement survey and Stankey apparently didn't like the results and lashed out at his frustrated employees. The article itself is good, the memo by Stankey is revealing....he's basically making it very plain that all the longheld norms around workplace loyalty are gone.....

Stankey says his workers deserve a transparent career path, a functional office, and the proper tools to do their jobs - but a funcional office and the tools are all givens that aren't even worth a mention. As for a transparent career patth, I've been working 12 years and I've never seen that. Every promotion or change I've got in 12 years has been because I applied for another job and changed employers. LOL.

Personally, I don't see anything new here. It just articulates it and makes it plain that as an employee, you gotta say fuck the company, what's in it for me, and do whatever you need to do to secure the job skills, training, experience and whatever else you need to go find that next job and move sideways for more money, or upwards, or out and into something new, depending on your own goals. Which is what I do. As an employee, forget loyalty, forget doing what's best for the company - do what's best for you personally and if that conincides with the employers goals, thats fine. But always put numero uno first. Skipping vacation time? Forget it? Extra hours? Don't be silly. Take work home? You gotta be kidding me.

I have to say, in 12 years I've seen enough really good people terminated due to "cost reductions" and all the other bullshit that now I tell newbies to start looking for another job as soon as they have 2 years under their belt, and plan to change jobs at least once every 4 years. As soon as you stay too long, you start to get into a rut and and if you're aid off, it becomes harder and harder to find a new job the longer you sit there. I've averaged one job every 3 years and right now I am looking around for the next one after almost 3 years in the same employer and role. Time to move......THAT is what Stankey is basically saying should be the norm.

Works for me, but it's really not what a lot of people want, is it, and I see it as being detrimental to society overalll. How nay people can live with that kind of instability?

Stankey says a lot of things that make sense, and he's putting the company first and foremost, which after all, is his job, but there's a tradeoff between the company and employee's, and Stanket throws a lot of whats meaningful to many employees out the window. To me, all that means is, any employee has to put their own interests first all the time. And no one should be committed to remaining with any employer longer than 3-4 years max. Thats my take anyhow. What do you guys think.

https://www.businessinsider.com/att...il-employee-feedback-survey-rto-policy-2025-8

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/car...S&cvid=bc5f6b99df7644518422aa742b317d5d&ei=36

 

[Saint_Ann]

Takes some people longer than others to catch on.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Takes some people longer than others to catch on.

Yeah. My dad's a contractor, has been for decades and he drilled that one into me way before I started working. I'm always surprised at people who think their employer will show them any loyalty whatsoever. Most large companies are managed by beancounters these days anyhow, and they really don't give a crap for the people working for them.

It can be different in smaller companies of course, but at that level its very individual.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

One very valuable lesson I learned a bit later in my work career: don't work for fat people.

 

[HisArpy]

One very valuable lesson I learned a bit later in my work career: don't work for fat people.

Or hyperactive ones either.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Or hyperactive ones either.

I've never seen any hyperactive fat people.



Except for maybe when they run their mouths.

 

[TheGreatOz]

It's been dead a long time.

I've been involved in enough 'rationalisations' and 'reorganisations' to see how organisations really see their staff. We carefully stage manage the communications, rehearse with HR the exact timings and specific talking points.

We'll let you know when we can what's happening, nothing is final yet we say while the future org chart is on my screen and savings have been calculated. There will be a consultation process and opportunity for feedback before final outcomes (but I know your final date and will tell you at the precise time and manner that HR requires)

 

[eric_erosfan]

And AT&T's CEO Just Made It Official.....

It's an interesting read, and a fascinating insight into how AT&T CEO John Stankey sees his employees. Basically, slaves who need to work their asses of for nothing but a paycheck.' The old quid pro quo where you worked for the company and went above and beyond when needed, and in return the company was loyal to you has been put to bed for all to see. It's not every day that a CEO's 2,500-word response to an employee engagement survey goes viral but this one did. AT&D did an engagement survey and Stankey apparently didn't like the results and lashed out at his frustrated employees. The article itself is good, the memo by Stankey is revealing....he's basically making it very plain that all the longheld norms around workplace loyalty are gone.....

Stankey says his workers deserve a transparent career path, a functional office, and the proper tools to do their jobs - but a funcional office and the tools are all givens that aren't even worth a mention. As for a transparent career patth, I've been working 12 years and I've never seen that. Every promotion or change I've got in 12 years has been because I applied for another job and changed employers. LOL.

Personally, I don't see anything new here. It just articulates it and makes it plain that as an employee, you gotta say fuck the company, what's in it for me, and do whatever you need to do to secure the job skills, training, experience and whatever else you need to go find that next job and move sideways for more money, or upwards, or out and into something new, depending on your own goals. Which is what I do. As an employee, forget loyalty, forget doing what's best for the company - do what's best for you personally and if that conincides with the employers goals, thats fine. But always put numero uno first. Skipping vacation time? Forget it? Extra hours? Don't be silly. Take work home? You gotta be kidding me.

I have to say, in 12 years I've seen enough really good people terminated due to "cost reductions" and all the other bullshit that now I tell newbies to start looking for another job as soon as they have 2 years under their belt, and plan to change jobs at least once every 4 years. As soon as you stay too long, you start to get into a rut and and if you're aid off, it becomes harder and harder to find a new job the longer you sit there. I've averaged one job every 3 years and right now I am looking around for the next one after almost 3 years in the same employer and role. Time to move......THAT is what Stankey is basically saying should be the norm.

Works for me, but it's really not what a lot of people want, is it, and I see it as being detrimental to society overalll. How nay people can live with that kind of instability?

Stankey says a lot of things that make sense, and he's putting the company first and foremost, which after all, is his job, but there's a tradeoff between the company and employee's, and Stanket throws a lot of whats meaningful to many employees out the window. To me, all that means is, any employee has to put their own interests first all the time. And no one should be committed to remaining with any employer longer than 3-4 years max. Thats my take anyhow. What do you guys think.

https://www.businessinsider.com/att...il-employee-feedback-survey-rto-policy-2025-8

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/car...S&cvid=bc5f6b99df7644518422aa742b317d5d&ei=36

Lol. 12 years and you have it all figured out? Try 32 years. I have been employed in high tech for 32 years and never felt like my job was secure. Even though I have become a lower end millionaire. I have $500K in RSUs vesting over the next 3 years. I could probably retire today but I don't want to walk away from the RSUs. And I still enjoy the work. I wish the industry was more stable but my advice is don't be the dumbass in your organization.

 

[Hel_Books]

Boss: You'll notice I work long hours. You should too.

Boss: You'll notice I'm available to be contacted at night and on the weekends. You should be too.

Employee: I notice you have an extremely large salary. I should too.

 

[MaturemanAJ]

Yeah. My dad's a contractor, has been for decades and he drilled that one into me way before I started working. I'm always surprised at people who think their employer will show them any loyalty whatsoever. Most large companies are managed by beancounters these days anyhow, and they really don't give a crap for the people working for them.

It can be different in smaller companies of course, but at that level its very individual.

Small businesses sell with no consideration for the employees which is their right for investing the money and sweat equity but in return employees need to take care of their own $%!@

Don't extend yourself to the point you need them. That fancy house is just an anchor if the job disappears

 

[AlexBailey]

Yeah, working for the US military is no better. Your retirement can be revoked on a political whim.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politi...ansgender-troops-being-separated-from-service

 

[ChloeTzang]

Yeah, working for the US military is no better. Your retirement can be revoked on a political whim.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politi...ansgender-troops-being-separated-from-service

That's really off, but then, so was doing the same thing over refusing to take covid shots.

 

[Rightguide]

Striving to become the most valuable employee to a potential employer demonstrates initiative, reliability, and a results-driven mindset, all traits that set people apart in a competitive job market. This is how to position oneself as an indispensable asset to any organization. Employers notice those who go beyond the job description, and often reward them accordingly. This is how myself and a couple of others became partners in a successful business. In short, hard work for the right people becomes the most reliable investment you can make in your own future.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Striving to become the most valuable employee to a potential employer demonstrates initiative, reliability, and a results-driven mindset, all traits that set people apart in a competitive job market. This is how to position oneself as an indispensable asset to any organization. Employers notice those who go beyond the job description, and often reward them accordingly. This is how myself and a couple of others became partners in a successful business. In short, hard work for the right people becomes the most reliable investment you can make in your own future.

The trick is being employed by the right people. That doesn’t happen very often.

 

[JohnEngelman]

John Stankey seems to have an "employees do not matter to me" attitude. It will be interesting to see if AT&T thrives or does thrive not under his leadership.

 

[Rightguide]

The trick is being employed by the right people. That doesn’t happen very often.

That's it. Sometimes, big corporations treat their employees as expendable strangers rather than valued partners.

 

[Chernosoth]

Corporate loyalty is dead, especially where employers only use employees, without teaching useful skills and making employees more valuable. The opposite situation that may become much more common is master craftsmen teaching apprentices.

 

[Rightguide]

Corporate loyalty is dead, especially where employers only use employees, without teaching useful skills and making employees more valuable. The opposite situation that may become much more common is master craftsmen teaching apprentices.

There are a lot of good incorporated businesses out there, stay away from those monolithic overlords of consumerism where the corporate conscience is always on vacation.

 

[Cuckwannabe111]

I have worked for small companies that treated their employees wonderfully, and small companies that treated their employees like crap.

I worked for a Fortune 500 company once, and the local store treated us wonderfully. Employees worked hard, had good attitudes, and treated customers well. Then, we got a new store manager and he was an absolute idiot. Micromanagement at its finest. Had never really worked in the store outside of a management role, and was not from our area, so he had no clue what it was like to work the floor and no clue what the local people wanted/needed. In less than a year, a large majority of workers had left, some of them having been at the particular store for 15+ years. Profits in that store dropped, but instead of place the blame where it should have gone, corporate sent more micromanagers. I was happy to leave there to a better job

 

[AlexBailey]

That's it. Sometimes, big corporations treat their employees as expendable strangers rather than valued partners.

Yeah, and in the US’s version of employment based health insurance you can lose your coverage when you change jobs, when your employer goes out of business, if your employer fails to pay your premiums….

My 27 yo foster daughter moved and changed jobs recently. She went to the hospital with appendicitis before 90 days (required before she’s eligible for coverage) at her new job and now owes > $80k. They kept her in the hospital for three days but would not do an appendectomy because she had no coverage.

US fuckin’ A

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Is the CEO of ATT the most qualified person to make generalizations about workforce loyalty? About 46% of American workers are employed by small businesses. Only 23% work for companies with more than 500 employees. The US has a highly diversified employer base and a highly diversified workforce. Loyalty is strong in some pockets, not so much in others.

 

[Lance_Castro]

Yeah, and in the US’s version of employment based health insurance you can lose your coverage when you change jobs, when your employer goes out of business, if your employer fails to pay your premiums….

My 27 yo foster daughter moved and changed jobs recently. She went to the hospital with appendicitis before 90 days (required before she’s eligible for coverage) at her new job and now owes > $80k. They kept her in the hospital for three days but would not do an appendectomy because she had no coverage.

US fuckin’ A

27 year old foster daughter?

Niiiice!

 

[eric_erosfan]

27 year old foster daughter?

Niiiice!

Too old right?

 

[AlexBailey]

27 year old foster daughter?

Niiiice!

Not everyone is afflicted by your arrested development.

We’ve had her since she was a teen and we’re still family.

She’s an auto mechanic btw.

 

[Rightguide]

Yeah, and in the US’s version of employment based health insurance you can lose your coverage when you change jobs, when your employer goes out of business, if your employer fails to pay your premiums….

My 27 yo foster daughter moved and changed jobs recently. She went to the hospital with appendicitis before 90 days (required before she’s eligible for coverage) at her new job and now owes > $80k. They kept her in the hospital for three days but would not do an appendectomy because she had no coverage.

US fuckin’ A

That may be true where you live, but here, a U.S. hospital cannot legally refuse to treat a fatal case of appendicitis simply because the patient lacks insurance coverage. Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), hospitals that participate in Medicare are required to provide a medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment for emergency medical conditions, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay or insurance status. Appendicitis, especially a potentially fatal case, qualifies as an emergency medical condition.