AT&T cutbacks in Japan rattle old sensibilities

Article Abstract:

A controversy involving an AT and T subsidiary in Japan and the labor union which represents its 4,000 employees illustrates a larger cultural issue. At issue are cost reduction and personnel management strategies that are fairly tame by US standards, but which go against a deeply-ingrained Japanese tendency to view a corporation as a kind of quasi-familial structure. Though no employees have actually been laid off at the company, there have been some outsourcing, site relocations and reassignments. The labor union has threatened a symbolic half-day strike, both in protest and as a sign that such further measures as workforce reductions involving older employees would not be tolerated. There has been a recent trend, in the view of many observers, for Japanese companies to become more 'American' in their efforts to stress the bottom line over traditional Japanese cultural concepts.

Japan, Telephone company, Telephone companies, Subsidiary Company, Company Business Management

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Nudging workers from comfy nests: AT&T pushes for telecommuting

Article Abstract:

Telecommuting is on the rise, and AT&T is one of the companies promoting it. Research shows that 2.4 million employees of typical corporations telecommuted in 1990. In 1994, that number reached 6.6 million, and estimates suggest that it will reach 11 million by the year 2000. Federal requirements mandating the reduction of pollution through the reduction of employee commutes are helping to drive the telecommuting boom, as are the reduced costs companies are enjoying. AT&T saved $80 million in 1994 by closing offices no longer needed thanks to telecommuting. Approximately 20% of AT&T's employees now work from the home at least one day a week. AT&T's experience shows that employees are more productive when removed from the distractions of meetings, telephones and co-workers. AT&T does find that its highest-level employees have trouble with the concept of staying out of the office.

Telecommuting, MIS, Management information systems

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Employees anxious as layoffs loom

Article Abstract:

AT&T employees and the state of New Jersey suffer from uncertainty as they await layoff notices in the wake of the company's decision to dismiss 40,000 employees. AT&T employs 49,000 people in 326 facilities in New Jersey, making it the state's largest private employer. It contributes some $6.6 billion annually to the state's economy, through a combination of taxes, salaries, pensions, philanthropy and buying. AT&T says that 6,000 to 7,000 jobs will be cut in New Jersey in the first six months of 1996. New Jersey officials point out that the loss represents only 0.2% of its 3.6 million jobs. AT&T plans to pay each laid off employee eight weeks of salary, along with a severance payment representing 5 weeks to 25 weeks of salary, depending on length of employment. The company will also pay a bonus equal to 20% of the severance payment and add $10,000 for training and moving costs.

AT&T Corp., New Jersey, Employment, Layoffs, Layoff

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