AT&T tells 60,000 managers to return to office, forcing thousands to relocate or quit

AT&T has requested 60,000 managers to return in person but only to nine office locations around the country, a mandate that Bloomberg reported after years of remote work. Despite having 350 offices around the country, CEO John Stankey requires workers to report to one of just nine locations. The changes will commence in July for Dallas and Atlanta offices, with the rest of the assignments beginning by September 4. 

Around 15% of managers, roughly 9,000 employees, will have to decide to either stick with a long commute, relocate, or leave AT&T. Although most affected employees live near one of the nine locations, a company manager described the plan as "a layoff wolf in return-to-office sheep's clothing." Stankey said employees were offered "generous" relocation services, but he expects the company to reduce their workforce by 15,000 employees after cutting $6 billion in costs. Stankey told Bloomberg that they have been "reconfiguring their workforce for a very long time." Representatives for AT&T have yet to comment on the matter.