Pros
I worked at Paramount Global and its various predecessors for 23 years before being laid off due to their decision to cut U.S. and international operations. My role in the CBS Interactive Division was among the 800 positions impacted by the 3% global workforce reduction in February 2024. My time there was a valuable experience; I developed my skills, expanded my project responsibilities, and collaborated with excellent teams throughout the company. The company offered free learning paths to enhance employees' professional skills and personal development and an excellent benefits package that covered most of my expenses. Upper management communicated frequently about their plans and fostered a culture aligned with their values, which at the time included Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion efforts. My director effectively built a cohesive remote team through near-monthly updates and team-building sessions over Zoom. Ultimately, the employees were the company's heart, prioritizing collaboration over competition. I felt at ease contacting top executives for project support; they were always ready to assist.
Cons
Approximately three years before my layoff, the company enabled some partners I had managed for over a decade to conclude their contracts. While I supported our partners during this transition, I received minimal direction concerning my future job responsibilities. My team and I sensed that the company was more inclined for us to resign than to confront the issue directly. There were vague conversations about transitioning me into a new operations position, which I was open to; however, after six months of ambiguous assurances, nothing came of it. While working in the company's Sports division, many team members were sports enthusiasts, unlike me. Over the years, I often faced confusion and received questions like, "Why are you working here then?" These inquiries were disheartening. Nevertheless, I appreciated my role, the work I contributed, and my colleagues. So, in that regard, why wouldn't I choose to work here?