Don't misunderstand... casual and private conversations between associates and inter departmental teams, that most individuals would see as a healthy sharing of concerns/opinions over company goals and objectives, are relayed by one's own trusted teammates (and so-called friends) to middle management, again under the guise of eliminating team dissent. In reality, this is simply the procurement of "slanderous backstabbing" by one individual over another - for whatever reason, by doing so individuals hope to advance themselves in the eyes of upper management. However, since typically only two people are engaged in a conversation at any given time, the relaying of information is truly hearsay. Nonetheless, this "excuse" is still often used as a reason for dismissal from the organization, labeling an associate as "un dynamic".
If you want to work here, keep your guard up, be prepared to trust no one, and plan to keep to yourself. Say and agree with management's company politics and ideas and limit your "concerns" on any given initiative. Smile, nod and agree, and you will be left alone... but prepare to be lonely.
As a regional player in the wireless industry, an industry that is quickly absorbing most smaller carriers (even those that are still much larger than USC),sadly the ability to effectively compete is becoming slim. Coupled with extreme billing system issues, long customer wait and hold times, and a generally unhappy legacy customer base adds to their challenges ahead. The consolidation of network spectrum and devices over the next several years, will make it even more difficult for U.S. Cellular to stand alone for much longer, at least in its current state. The carrier must differentiate itself, and quit trying to mimic the larger national carriers on price, national network and reliable voice/data roaming - none of which it has.