DISH has announced plans to move from its facility in the Falling Branch Corporate Park to another location in Christiansburg, while also downsizing the office from 600 to 150 employees.
According to a press release sent out Tuesday, many of the company’s customer service representatives will have the chance to stay on as telecommuters.
“As employee preferences shift, we have been offering more work-at-home opportunities that have proven to be effective for our operations, employees and the customers they serve so well,” said Kathy Schneider, DISH senior vice president of customer experience, in the release. “We already have 70 employees working at home in the area and we’re proud to remain in Christiansburg, a community that has meant so much to DISH and our customers for almost 20 years.”
The release said that there are eligibility requirements, such as having a dedicated workspace at home, sufficient Internet service and being an employee in good standing.
Spokeswoman Karen Modlin wrote in an email that employees were notified of the upcoming changes on Monday. She couldn’t say how many of the 450 employees not moving to the new office will be hired as telecommuters.
“We are able to accept all interested, eligible employees. However, we are going through that process now, so we do not know how many employees will choose to apply and meet the eligibility requirements,” she wrote.
For employees who choose to leave or are unable to work at home, DISH is providing a severance package and will make resume and interviewing assistance available.
“Bluefield, [West Virginia] is the closest DISH facility, but we also invite employees in good standing to apply for other positions throughout the company. Employees who transfer will be eligible to receive relocation expense reimbursement,” Modlin wrote.
DISH is in the final stages of selling its building at the corporate park, where it has operated since 2000. Modlin wrote that she couldn’t specify who the buyer is until the deal’s completed.
“We’re proud to stay in Christiansburg, which has been so important to our company for nearly 20 years,” Modlin wrote. “We have not yet finalized a lease on the new location in Christiansburg, so we are not able to discuss the specifics at this time.”
