Verizon initiates a second wave of layoffs

A second wave of layoffs has been initiated by Verizon, shortly after the company let go approximately 13,000 employees. These layoffs are concentrated in the state of Washington, according to GeekWire.

The layoffs number less than the first wave of layoffs. Less than 200 employees are being let go by January 23, 2026. Retail workers, analysts, and engineers are among the roles being let go from Verizon in Washington.

The layoffs were announced in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter, in a continuing effort by CEO Dan Schulman to restructure Verizon for more profitability. Schulman says Verizon is going to prioritize restructuring its internal operations instead of increasing prices for its customers.

Eboni Gregoire, Director of HR operations at Verizon, echoes the same sentiment in the WARN letter filed with Washington state's Employment Security Department.

"Verizon is consolidating and restructuring its operations to maximize the utilization of company facilities and resources."

The letter also states five of Verizon's locations in Redmond, Renton, Woodinville, Bellingham, and Spokane are being divested to an agent. These locations will not be operated by Verizon any longer.

Verizon put its plan into action after reporting weak subscriber growth.

How this affects you

It's disheartening to see Verizon continue its layoff spree, and this affects you greatly if you're an employee at the company. Verizon's customers are also affected, as they will be forced to rely on AI customer support more often.

T-Mobile is offering discounts to Verizon employees affected by the layoffs. The T-Mobile promo code also works for Verizon staff still employed by the company. We recommend using this code if you've been let go from Verizon, especially if you're finding it difficult to continue using a Verizon plan.

This second wave of layoffs also raises fears about more incoming job cuts. T-Mobile employees are scared for their careers after the Verizon layoffs. If you work at T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon, it may be worth preparing for the worst.

Images courtesy of Verizon