Forget the recession. Layoffs are so 2010. There's a tech company that's doing well enough to be sharing the wealth with its employees -- every single one of them. And it's called Verizon Wireless.
Today is bonus day at Verizon Wireless -- the mobile phone arm of Verizon Communications Inc., I'm told by some spokespeople. Verizon, which is publicly traded, reported operating income of $14.6 billion on revenues of $106.6 billion. Their numbers dipped slightly last year from 2009, but the company still made billions in profits. And they paid out a bonus to employees last year, too. (Sidebar: There were no bonuses for most of us hacks in the newspaper industry.)
So what did Verizon Wireless employees get today?
From a Verizon Wireless spokeswoman:
This year's bonuses range from 8% to 10% of the employee's salary and are based on the company's overall performance in 2010. In addition to their bonuses, our employees will also be receiving merit increases and profit sharing awards in the coming weeks.
To that I say:
Verizon has about 2,200 employees in Maryland, working out of a regional headquarters in Laurel, a call center in Hanover, and numerous Verizon Wireless retail stores. The company has won several workplace honors from magazines, including Baltimore magazine.