Pros

A former world class company whose name still means something in some circles. Those with tenure can leverage AT&T (pre SBC) experience as having real value on their resumes.

Cons

The people of AT&T are good, decent, hard working, dedicated people who deserve much better than what they’ve gotten. There is horrendous senior leadership at the top—horrendous. What exists is appalling. Paternalistic egos and lack of character run rampant. “The Emperor has no Clothes” and “See no Evil, Hear no Evil” are the order of the day. It is beyond appalling. The company was taken over by SBC in 2005 and is a shadow of its former self. SBC was always a cheap, tacky company with a Local Exchange Company (LEC) mentality. They not only lack respect for their employees, I actually believe they have contempt for them. That is what they’ve turned the “new” AT&T into. Alexander Graham Bell is turning over in his grave.

Advice to Senior Management

Trust the people who work for you. Stop treating everyone like a Union employee. Don’t treat anyone like a “Union employee”, not even the ones who belong to the Union! Look at world class companies like Cisco, HP, Gieco and SAS. Observe how they value and empower their people and institute those HR practices not the stifling, humiliating, arcane ones that are currently in place. Take a risk! Be bold! Drive decision making down to the lowest possible level!