Verizon to lay off call center workers in New Mexico and Texas

Verizon plans to lay off 257 workers from its Albuquerque, NM call center and 133 employees from its Austin, TX call center. The layoffs are part of a shift to a “home-based agent model” in which employees work from home. The Communications Workers of America warned that many of Verizon’s employees are not able to meet the company’s strict at-home work requirements, including high-speed Internet access and a silent room to work.

“Some [employees] are in remote areas without high-speed Internet, and people who live with family members, a loud roommate, or a dog that barks might not pass the company’s on-site inspection for a quiet home,” said CWA organizing coordinator Tim Dubnau.

Links:

Verizon closing Austin facility, laying off 133 employees (Austin American-Statesman, Apr. 2, 2019)

Verizon to lay off 257 call center employees (Albuquerque Journal, Apr. 5, 2019)