Is AT&T’s RTO Mandate a Mass Layoff in Disguise?

AT&T Inc., the biggest US phone company, has 350 offices spread across all 50 states, and many employees have worked from home since the pandemic started. So it came as a shock when Chief Executive Officer John Stankey in May mandated that 60,000 managers must report to work in person—but at offices in just nine locations.

Stankey’s demand is a high-stakes game of musical chairs, with team leaders making location assignments to a handful of hubs focused on specific duties. Although the restructuring may yield big savings on real estate and boost collaboration, many employees now facing long commutes or relocations view it as a move to reduce staff. “It’s a layoff wolf in return-to-office sheep’s clothing,” says one AT&T manager who, like others in this story, asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.