Altice Building 'Culture of Fear' After US Mergers, Says Report Altice is building a "culture of fear" at the US cable companies it's acquiring as it looks to dramatically and sometimes unreasonably cut corners. That's at least according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal that quotes several acquired employees worried about whether they'll keep their jobs. Altice recently closed on its $17 billion acquisition of Cablevision, after spending $9 billion to acquire Suddenlink last year. And while Altice USA boss Dexter Goei has been making the media rounds trying to make a good first impression, the Journal report doesn't help the effort.

quote: At Suddenlink, Altice didn’t announce job cuts when the deal closed. Instead, workers have exited in threes and fours each week as Altice has created new teams, contributing to what one former Suddenlink employee called a “culture of fear.” An Altice spokesman said the departures represented normal churn. Altice has a reputation as a hard-nosed cheapskate overseas, something that equates to cleaner balance sheets, but not always better service. For example, Altice-owned French carrier SFR has repeatedly come under fire across the pond for trimming costs, but To avoid news of major layoffs because of the mergers, Altice has been releasing employees in a trickle, creating a steady sense of unease at Suddenlink (and presumably now Cablevision):Altice has a reputation as a hard-nosed cheapskate overseas, something that equates to cleaner balance sheets, but not always better service. For example, Altice-owned French carrier SFR has repeatedly come under fire across the pond for trimming costs, but failing to invest those funds into necessary network upgrades and customer support. The Journal report notes that Altice has launched an "authoritarian" investment committee that is spending "multiple hours" in meetings to dig through spending minutiae in exhausting detail (not really abnormal for such deals).“The sentiment expressed by a disgruntled former Suddenlink employee is not at all indicative of our employees who are excited about being a part of Altice USA," Altice told DSLReports.com in a statement.







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Most recommended from 14 comments



n2jtx

join:2001-01-13

Glen Head, NY 8 recommendations n2jtx Member Not That Different I Guess Years ago I was verbally offered a job at Cablevision and was really excited so I verbally accepted. When I got the formal written offer, it came with so much negative boiler plate and additional questions that I ultimately turned down the offer. Shortly after that they had massive layoffs and I suspect they were trying to cover themselves suspecting I would be terminated within a month or two. I never trusted them as an employer after that and it looks like things are getting even worse. neelc0

join:2014-03-31

Somers, NY 8 recommendations neelc0 Member Altice is the Frontier of Cable Altice is basically the Frontier of cable, and the Frontier of France.



And to add to the fire, Altice's competitor in France, Free prioritizes long term investments over short term profits (read: are willing to invest in the long term rather than try to make quick money).

TestBoy

Premium Member

join:2009-10-13

Irmo, SC 7 recommendations TestBoy Premium Member That article logo.... Looks like it's humping Cablevision with Suddenlink.



Probably not far from the truth. :O goonierag (banned)

join:2003-07-18 5 recommendations goonierag (banned) Member Been posting this stuff happening in the forums. Took a while to see it on the front page here at dslreports. But like in the forums for suddenlink and cablevision,what altice is doing is getting around. Soon they will be in not the worst broadband isp's,one of the worst. Like I've been saying,the fcc,ftc dropped the ball on this one. They let a foreign company buy American isp's without any conditions and that company plans to buy more. Even when american isp's telco and cable buys another or merges there are always conditions. Why did altice get away with no conditions. Its like since they are foreign the get benefits.



Really looks good to the people of the US that the government is letting a foreign company treat the people worse then the local duopolies. Also going to look bad to other countries, more companies will start buying up America cause they don't have to worry about any rules placed on them.



I think altice should not be able to buy any more US isp's cable or telco's unless there are conditions put on them just like the rest of the isp's. Soon in cablevision area's not in the cities that got conditions will be where WV is. Restrictions on the broadband and the lowest caps there is of the broadband isp's and some not able to get the unlimited cause altice/suddenlink/cablevision made it. Must have at least 100/7.5 in your area. When there are area's they don't offer 100 down.

Anonded16

@optonline.net 3 recommendations Anonded16 Anon WARN Act Laying off people in dribs and drabs without notice can be a violation of federal law. See the WARN Act.