AT&T the latest company to close stores, cut staff in wake of pandemic
The company had 244,000 employees as of March 31, so a 4,700 headcount reduction would represent a 2% decrease in its global staff.
It also said workers at the stores that close will be offered other jobs with the company, most of which can be done from home.
AT&T’s statement said it will also eliminate an undisclosed number of contract workers, most of whom are based outside the United States, as well as an undisclosed number of managers.
It said the cuts were made necessary by the changing customer preferences away from “legacy” products, such as landline phones, and in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It said those who lose their jobs involuntarily will get up to six months of severance.
“Reducing our workforce is a difficult decision that we don’t take lightly,” said the company statement.