Charter Lays Off More Than 1,000 Call Center Employees Amid Continued Consolidation

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Office closures in 4 U.S. locations follow wave of earlier shutterings in January

Charter Spectrum call center
Does this young Spectrum call center employee still have a job? (Image credit: Charter Communications)

After shuttering call centers in Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Syracuse, New York, earlier this year, Charter Communications has embarked on a new wave of customer-service consolidation. 

Also read: Charter Says It’s Shifting and Expanding Its Call Centers to Keep Up With Its Changing Business, Has No Plans to Move Them Back Overseas

The cable operator has confirmed that it has laid off more than 1,000 workers, with Spectrum-branded call centers in Ontario, California (452 jobs lost), Rochester, Minnesota (352), Austin, Texas (232), and Columbus, Ohio  (175) being closed.

“Our goal is to retain as much talent and experience as possible," Charter said in a statement. "Employees at these locations may transfer with relocation benefits to other Spectrum customer service centers and are encouraged to apply for any open position within the company for which they are qualified. Employees who do not have a role with the company once the center closes will be entitled to comprehensive severance benefits.”

Also read: Charter To Increase Spectrum Internet and TV Prices in July

Back in 2017, amid the regulatory approval phase of its $55 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, Charter pledged to create 20,000 new jobs, a declaration that included the repatriation of its overseas call centers. 

Nearly a decade later, that “20,000” is getting steadily whittled away. 

Charter also confirmed this week that it’s increasing prices on base internet, TV and landline phone plans in July. 

Daniel Frankel
Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!