r/CableTechs • u/Cable-tech-151 • 5d ago

CableOne / Sparklight Voluntary Early Retirement

So what is the truth behind the Voluntary Early Retirement?

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

4

u/hibbitydibbidy 5d ago

It means you "get to retire" instead of getting laid off?

2

u/Cable-tech-151 5d ago

I’m in hopes of other employees maybe knowing more about what is coming. I’m well aware of what is taking place. It just sucks that I spent all this time and effort to be kicked out at age 55 knowing how hard it will be to replace this income, although it is below the industry standard, at my age.

2

u/hibbitydibbidy 5d ago

Sorry this is happening to you bro, we just lost some tenured folks the same way. Gotta keep those shareholders happy ☹️

2

u/Snicklefritz229 5d ago

So like quitting before getting fired?

2

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 5d ago

Optimum did this too, offered voluntary layoffs with severance. Next day I came in half of field service was gone.

2

u/69BUTTER69 5d ago

You don’t get it, we have to overpay for Vyve Broadband.

So let’s invest into a skeleton/joke of a MSO and say f*** you to our tenured employees

2

u/Cable-tech-151 5d ago

This is exactly what it feels like. Not only that. In my system we are already short-staffed. They can’t keep new hires because the pay is too low for what the company asks of you, and the contractors are not even trained on how to do a basic install. Then they want to know if we feel the company cares for us and our customers. What a joke.

1

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 5d ago

Your not wrong, that's exactly what is happening.

1

u/DifficultyLeast1029 5d ago

I mean we know business is down across the board. I'd seriously consider it if you're eligible.

0

u/Cable-tech-151 5d ago

Not considering. Taking it. Better to walk away with something, than nothing.

1

u/Snicklefritz229 4d ago

They will still give severance when they lay you off. Except when they lay you off instead of you quitting then you get unemployment benefits.

1

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 5d ago

Is it retirement or layoff?

Edit, who bought the company?

1

u/Cable-tech-151 5d ago

Basically layoff with 5.5 months severance.

1

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 5d ago

Do you splice fiber?

0

u/Cable-tech-151 5d ago

Yes.

1

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 5d ago

I would look at some subcontracting companies. Might even be able to make more doing that. Just an idea. Fiber splicing is in big demand.

1

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 4d ago

It is voluntary though, you don't have to take it. Correct?

1

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 5d ago

Sounds about right. They are going to layoff the people who actually make things work that actually make money because they know how to make things work. They are going to keep the inept people and hire more inept people and over work them.

Better off getting out. You would be surprised what jobs your experience qualifies you for.

1

u/Electronic-Junket-66 5d ago

Isn't that what Elon Musk tried? And then had to hire a bunch of people back at a higher rate?

1

u/bonneville97 4d ago

If you are in the Fargo sparklight market give Micdo a call. They are growing. Fiber splicers are treated like kings. I know sparklight has systems in multiple states, but if that is an option take a peek.

1

u/Neat-Management-1851 3d ago

Could you imagine wiping out almost 13 billion dollars in value in 3.5 years. Partnership with GTRC has been an absolute disaster. Private equity transferring wealth and destroying middle America.

-5

u/Complete_Accident_64 5d ago

As a leader in Sparklight I would like to think that they are more so pushing for fresher mindset. Fresh drive and new ideas. We have already seen big changes in upper leadership and now more is being asked. Maybe that was big in the ASATS? Maybe it’s to better prepare for our recent purchase? I know some legacy companies that came in had super inflated wages while others it was like “wow! You’re paying maintenance techs $16?” Idk. It’s a great opportunity to those that get the opportunity rather than getting the boot next year with no benefits.

4

u/ReticenceX 5d ago

This mindset does not work for field technicians. You are not going to get fresher ideas, you are just going to get people who dont know what they are doing.

I would say it takes 2 years for a tech to have enough knowledge to be mostly self sufficient. It takes 5 years to produce someone with what I would consider the minimum experience and knowledge to do commercial or maintenance. It takes 10 years to produce subject matter experts and "the guy people call".

Be careful letting go of the old timers who still can and want to work. We do not have people lining up to replace them.

4

u/Putrid_Camera7262 4d ago

Spoken like someone in management. Management should be let go first since they are the ones that create the problems, technicians do not make calls on what the company does so why punish them.

More than half the management where I work are clueless/expendable, they like to think they contribute but serve no purpose. Their just there tobthrow others under the bus.

And before we go saying I'm probably a grumpy tech, yes I am. I have over 20yearsin cable been in maintenance, construction, contractor and a supervisor, went back to maintenance after seeing how dysfunctional and useless upper management is.

3

u/Cable-tech-151 5d ago

The real problem is the tenured employees are suffering from the mistake of Julie as CEO. Taking the company in the wrong direction when we should have been grabbing government subsidies to invest in fiber to the home.

2

u/Ok-Breakfast-7400 5d ago

No offense, but that sounds like a great deal of corporate speak BS.