Thread regarding IBM layoffs

Software sales MGRs required to put reps on performance improvement plans?

I heard a rumor that in cloud software the first line managers are mandated to put 20-25% of reps on Performance Improvement Plans that end before 4th qtr to cut headcount w/out having to call it a Covid lay-off. I suspect because they can give them an impossible goal, and after 30-days walk them out without severance or benefits. They skirt their commitment to no more layoffs under the guise of the firing being “performance” related. Easy targets since very few are hitting anywhere near pre-Covid quotas. Especially tricky with 4th qtr sales not counting - IBM’s highest sales quarter.

Can anyone confirm this? Has it already been done or is underway still?

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @OP+16XF5Ykb
Comment! It's anonymous!

10 replies (most recent on top)

Can any FLMs or second-line managers explain how they can condone this behavior? If you are forced to put someone on a PIP or have been given a name of someone to layoff, what is the point of your role? Not to mention how can you sleep at night?

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @9ypc+16XF5Ykb

@4ybw+16XF5Ykb

Totally agree!

The Execs really don’t care, they will perpetuate the lies so they keep the company going the next quarter and the few next ones so they can cash in until they exit.

The OpenShift/CloudPaks strategy will fail because it makes little sense to run server type of software in containers. Yet IBM wants to force every customer to make the switch!

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @6she+16XF5Ykb

I can confirm as someone on my team was just put on a PIP. AI Applications Sales.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @6gnq+16XF5Ykb

IBM is a $77B company, was a $107B co 8-9 years ago. Can we stop pretending that RH (a $3.5B co) along with Cloud Paks (containerized DB2, Websphere and MQ) is somehow the "future of IBM"? There has to be more to the strategy than that. We pay you execs a lot of money, THINK!

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @4ybw+16XF5Ykb

IBM-Red Hat just launched the Red Hat Marketplace... this is IBM strategy to sell going forward... digital all-in... IBM thinks they no longer need sales people and that people/companies will come in droves to the Marketplace!!

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @4qdt+16XF5Ykb

As previous poster has said IBM only wants to market to Fortune 500 customers As such, they only need a skeleton crew marketing / sales force IBM is embracing their B to B roots and abandoning their B to C roots

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @4fqg+16XF5Ykb

ha ha they have either laid off most sales staff - or the others have left, AUS used to have about 40+ sales and tech sales in cloud now less than 15

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @4ntz+16XF5Ykb

There are two things to keep in mind here 1. Redhat is the golden child, and if you work on a product that Redhat can compete / replace you are most likely in the danger zone. 2. IBM has make no bones about it They want to market to the fortune 1000 worldwide If you don’t fall into that zone you are disposable

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @3czo+16XF5Ykb

When was there a commitment to no more layoffs?

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @2lnz+16XF5Ykb

I can't confirm, but that would not surprise me... This is what IBM is great at... screwing its own employees all the time.

The new IBM leadership is ALL-IN with the OpenShift/Cloudpak stuff, yet they want to screw their sales people... Someone explains to me how this is going to work?

It won't, it is the same OLD IBM which is trying to make it quarter to quarter so they can keep and increase the dividend so that the stock price doesn't drop to the abyss!

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @2nnu+16XF5Ykb

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