It’s finally here.

Happy Work Forward Monday, V Teamers!

On today’s episode of Up To Speed Live, host Diana Alvear helped kick off our first official Work Forward week for U.S. hybrid employees. For many V Teamers, it’s been months or years since they’ve seen some familiar faces in person. We also want to thank the many V Teamers who never stopped reporting for duty in our stores and the field.

Work Forward activation

Today, we are activating hybrid schedules in the U.S., which means more V Teamers are getting back into the groove at their worksites. Throughout the country, Verizon has exciting things planned to welcome you back and make this transition a little smoother.

Want to share your photos of your worksite reunions with us? Tag us on social at @insideverizon. You just might see yourself on our platforms, including Up To Speed!

A special anniversary

Today, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hans Vestberg, is celebrating five years as an integral member of our company. Congrats, Hans!

But Hans wasn’t the only leader featured on Up To Speed today; we also spoke with Chief Human Resources Officer Sam Hammock, who was thrilled to see so many V Teamers back under one roof.

A global recognition

Verizon recently earned the 2021 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award. Presented only to organizations that meet the highest standards of excellence, this global award is a reflection of the many ways we engage and support our V Team.

The Weeknd tickets

We want to give you a chance to see chart-topping superstar The Weeknd in concert!

In the next few days, we might select you and a guest to see The Weeknd at Metlife Stadium this summer (July 16) in East Rutherford, N.J. All you have to do to qualify is take a selfie in your workspace – whether that's work-from-home, hybrid, in an office or hub location, or out serving our customers – and tag and follow @insideverizon by 5 p.m. ET this Friday (April 8). We’ll randomly select some V Teamers to rock out with The Weeknd.

If you’re a fan of The Weeknd but not planning on being in the New Jersey area at that time, fear not: We may be giving away more concert tickets in other cities. Stay tuned!

Celebrating our unique differences

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, whose 30 days help us celebrate our differences and similarities, reflect, and foster a deeper understanding of each other. Keep your eye out for some of the activities we’ve developed to reinforce Verizon’s dedication to diversity.

Our Chief Revenue Officer, Sampath Sowmyanarayan, announced the company's newest employee resource group, The United of Verizon. This month, the group's theme is “United Together,” which focuses on our mosaic of different beliefs, cultures, upbringings and traditions.

Mark your calendars for a special Diversity Month event April 12, when V Teamers will can join a conversation with Cid Wilson, the CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility. Wilson will discuss how individual uniqueness can foster career growth.

A week to do good

April 17 kicks off National Volunteer Week in the U.S. But as a global company, we’re getting all of our V Teamers, worldwide, involved to donate our time and talents for the greater good.

Founded in 1974, this weeklong event celebrates how volunteers tackle society's most significant challenges. All of Verizon’s ERGs will unite to spread the word about volunteering opportunities that V Teamers can join, so be on the lookout!

Inside Verizon podcast

If you’re looking for a new podcast for your office commute, check out the latest podcast on Inside Verizon. Diana Alvear and guest hosts are interviewing experts on NFTs, the metaverse, web 3.0, and more! And if you’re thinking, “I don’t understand these concepts,” well, you’re not alone. The podcast aims to simplify and elaborate on these important topics.

The first episode features an interview with Simon Fuller – yes, the same Simon Fuller who helped launch the Spice Girls, “American Idol” and other worldwide phenomena. Fuller shares how Verizon and 5G empowered him to launch his most ambitious project, which was years in the making.

Cisco Partnership could re-architect autonomous driving

Cisco and Verizon partnered on a successful proof-of-concept that could transform autonomous driving by using cellular technology and edge computing to virtualize costly roadside infrastructure at intersections.

It’s the kind of tech that could help with emergency-vehicle preemption at traffic signals, as well as streamline robotaxis, delivery bots, traditional cars and trucks, and any other vehicle that needs to navigate a connected intersection.

This represents a massive milestone for autonomous-driving applications that can be powered by cellular and mobile-edge platforms.

Nova Credit partnership allows opportunities for newcomers

Verizon has launched an exclusive partnership with Nova Credit to provide newcomers to the U.S. with easy access to the best devices on the best network.

Previously a challenge to those who didn’t have an American credit history, newcomers relocating from certain countries to the U.S. for work, study or personal reasons now can seamlessly opt in to share their international credit history with Verizon as part of the application process – improving access to the benefits and flexibility that come with our 5G Unlimited plans.

This partnership makes Verizon the nation’s first carrier to provide new-to-country customers with access to the best device promotions. There’s no need to pay the full price upfront, as Nova Credit customers can qualify for 0 percent interest on payment plans (up to 36 months) for our most popular devices, plus international calling features, such as Global Choice, to stay connected with loved ones abroad.

To learn more, visit verizon.com/internationalcredit.

We hope everyone has a smooth and enjoyable start to the week!

If you have any questions, email them to live@verizon.com.

Click here for a transcript of the webcast.

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