Verizon layoff memo emphasizes upskilling; Meta tells workers they’re being judged on AI use

Greetings, comms pros! Let’s take a look at a few news stories from the last week and see what we can learn from them.

1. Verizon layoff memo focuses on upskilling departing employees

Verizon chief Dan Schulman shared a memo with employees on Thursday announcing layoffs that will impact 13,000 staffers. In Schulman said that the rationale for the move was out of a need to reduce labor costs and reduce “friction” that adversely affects customer experience.

While many layoff memos allude to what’s next for employees, Schulman’s note took an extra step, announcing a fund for employee upskilling among departing employees.

According to Business Insider:

Changes in technology and in the economy are impacting the workforce across all industries. We see it in our families and within our communities. To help our people prepare for their future, we have established a $20 million Reskilling and Career Transition Fund for employees departing Verizon. This fund will focus on skill development, digital training and job placement to help our people take their next steps. Verizon is the first company to set up a fund to specifically focus on the opportunities and necessary skill sets as we enter the age of AI. It is my intent to also work with other companies and the public sector to address the opportunities and challenges in a world where technology will impact all of us.

Schulman’s memo is notable because it does more than just give the typical thank-yous and words of appreciation for affected employees. It communicates to remaining employees through the fund’s announcement that they’re more than just a number at Verizon — they’re a person trying to navigate an increasingly complex job market, and it provides a real avenue of support for them.

It’s also the sort of tactic that preserves employer branding from the negative impacts of job cuts. The focus on people and emphasis on the need to build skills in a changing environment shows that. Layoff communications can be both business and people-first when done right.

2. Meta to employees on AI skills: They’re a must going forward

Meta recently told its employees that their AI skills will be part of employee review formulas going forward. According to a report from Business Insider, Janelle Gale, head of people at Meta, said that in 2026, AI use will be a “core expectation.” The company will seek to determine how employee productivity is connected to AI usage. AI use won’t factor into the 2025 assessments, but the memo encouraged employees to include AI-related wins on their self-assessments.

“As we move toward an AI-native future, we want to recognize people who are helping us get there faster,” Gale wrote in the memo. “For 2025, we’ll reward those who made exceptional  AI-driven impact, either in their own work or by improving their team’s performance.”

When changes in strategy and policy happen, internal comms need to be at the forefront of the process. They need to outline what’s ahead and what employees need to do to meet adjusted expectations. By rolling out AI use requirements clearly and over time, Meta’s comms team lets employees know what they need to do in advance of the change. This can help decrease employee resistance to change among employees. Additionally, it sends a signal that the company recognizes employees are people whose behaviors won’t change overnight. To sustain the momentum, Meta’s communicators will have to keep the conversation going and show employees not only the specifics of how AI use will factor into their roles, but why it matters so much to the company strategy. AI and automation are already a huge part of meta’s mission, so adding another part of it to employee competencies keeps it culturally relevant. That kind of continued dialogue will help it become a cultural norm.

3. Report: AI anxieties rise when leaders don’t communicate

A recent report from Mercer found that a lack of communication about AI’s impacts on people’s jobs is to blame for some of the anxiety employees are feeling about the technology. The data reported that just one in five employees in the poll of 8,500 workers had direct conversations with their managers about AI’s impact on their jobs or the company. In addition, 75% of employees said their CEO hadn’t touched on AI’s effects on their workplace, and 87% said that their HR leaders hadn’t discussed the subject.

This data shows that there is an opportunity for communicators to work with managers and leaders alike to form talking points around AI usage. Manager comms toolkits are a great place to start — by writing those documents in an organized format, comms can give leadership a playbook to address pressing questions through the company’s voice. Even something as simple as an FAQ doc for managers and leaders can make the difference between anxious employees and employees pointed toward the answer. Comms pros hold the key to making that adjustment.

4. How about some good news?

• An 18th-century painting was returned to a Mexican church after an overnight heist.
• A baby sea otter was reunited with its mother after being rescued off the California coast.
• A new anti-malaria drug could fight the disease more effectively.
• Ragan Training is great for communications pros to find inspiration and resources.
• You should be rewarded for your work. Find out how to earn an award here!

Have a great weekend comms all-stars!

Sean Devlin is an editor at Ragan Communications.