Published reports indicate Verizon Wireless is planning to close five call centers and consolidating seven other facilities across the country. The moves are expected to impact around 5,200 employees, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The report notes the closures will include facilities in California, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Connecticut, with approximately 3,000 employees impacted by the cuts. Those employees will be offered a $10,000 package to relocate to one of Verizon Wireless’ other call centers, apply for a different position at the company or take a severance package. Verizon Wireless will also provide up to $500 for employees to visit other locations before making a decision.
Call center consolidation will see employees moved to nearby offices, which the report indicated would impact up to 2,200 employees.
“The company is closing a few call centers, and we are relocating those jobs to make best use of these open seats that we have,” a Verizon Wireless spokesman told the Los Angeles Times.
Published reports two years ago noted that Verizon Wireless was set to close three U.S.-based call centers in a move that impacted 3,175 jobs. The closed centers included locations in Bellevue, Wash.; Houston; and Southfield, Mich., impacting approximately 2,600 employees. The carrier also consolidated a call center in Folsom, Calif., with a center in Rancho Cordova, Calif., impacting 325 employees; and consolidating its Internet Response-Chat Team into a pair of locations in Ohio and Illinois impacting 250 employees.
T-Mobile USA later that year announced plans to close seven call centers resulting in 1,900 job cuts. The carrier said the move reduced its number of call centers from 24 to 17. The closed call centers were located in Allentown, Pa.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Frisco and Brownsville, Texas; Lenexa, Kan.; Thornton, Colo.; and Redmond, Ore. The carrier said it employed approximately 3,300 people at those locations.
Carriers have noted that consumer preferences for self-care services has lessened the need for manned call centers.
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