Thread regarding IBM layoffs

Are you being reasonable? This is what the courts would consider if ever it went that far, which it will not. Two weeks is not a cast in stone rule. The rule is to give reasonable notice. What do you honestly believe is reasonable?

You can drop your laptop and phone at a local facility and disappear

You don't even have to do that. IBM will mail you a pre-paid shipping box to your house.

If you're in the "right to work" state, no notice is required. You can drop your laptop and phone at a local facility and disappear. Probably not professional, but neither is IBM.

I gave 2 weeks and felt so uncomfortable. Some people were really happy for me and others treated me as a spy during that time. I gave two weeks because I have integrity and had much respect for my manager, but I wish I would have quit the same day.

Wait until the ink is dry on the Offer Letter for your new job, then give whatever notice you want. 2 weeks is customary BUT a few days short never hurt anyone. I'm guessing you're a good egg and have pretty good references in your back pocket for the future anyway (outside of your manager etc).

OP here. Thanks for the reality check everyone. I decided to keep quiet. Hopefully, everything clears soon (it should, I don't have any criminal history or credit issues, etc.) and I won't have to send my manager an email the night before I quit.

I'm crossing fingers for everyone here, whether you've been impacted (yet) or not. Lots of people have said that the world outside is much better and leaving was the best thing that ever happened in their career. If you're on this site, you already know what you need to do.

@1aoq+19FKZ0bH And let's not forget HR's blind braves. Thanks also to you, for the perfect execution. CongratS!

When you are treated as a mercenary commodity, even the most naïve becomes so. Well done ibm, BoD, GR & Co. Guess we'll meet on the baker streets.

A mentioned here.. A bad reference or reputation disparagement?? Nonsense. As a contractor I was told a few times in the many times I've consulted for IBM that "You'll never work for IBM again". That turned out to be a lot of baloney. This is corporate America - the right hand doesn't know or care what the left hand is doing.

If you have the skillset, when an employer wants you, they want you yesterday. As with most employers these days, only dates of employment get verified. If anything more is said, the legal stuff rears its head. This isn't the 70's or 80's anymore, bluebloods. Past employers keep their mouths shut to avoid legal hassles. New employers usually just rely on a general background check. So if you haven't burned the building down or thrown your boss out of the window on your termination day, you'll be just fine.

Just operate under this precept: If an employer doesn't want me; then they damn well don't deserve me. You and the employer may have a different point of view on that sentence; but you can both agree on it.

It's not about owing IBM anything or getting some check mark from HR. It's about retaining a good reputation as a professional, among other professionals. Not everyone here is "horrible manager" or an "incompetent useless tic" ...many will go to other companies and could be an advocate to hire you. It's also goofy to assume that no one checks with their network to get the low down on you (for whatever reason). Something like "I heard they quit on the spot" won't help your career.

Maybe this is another side effect of constantly expecting to be laid off, but it seems like we IBMers could benefit from thinking about how we're going to be professionals after IBM.

I can only reiterate what has already been said....(a) don't say or do anything until all conditions on your new situation have been waived. And (b) If IBM were leaving you they would not lose 1 minute of sleep over leaving you in any kind of a lurch; you owe them nothing better in return.

This is the OP. I'm grateful for the responses here, I expected to get fried and probably deserved it for talking about voluntary separation + job offer when people here are dealing with forced unemployment.

I don't bleed blue, but I also don't want to get a bad wrap with IBMers. One seemingly minor/understandable thing can keep people from recommending you. And you never, ever know who you might end up needing or working for one day. It's not one big bridge to burn, it's a lot of small ones.

Working for another company while employed by IBM is considered "moonlighting" and has to be approved by IBM. Blah blah blah, I know, I know, "what are they gonna do? Fire you? ", etc. But it's really not worth the risks, however small they may be. Also, the other employer probably has a similar policy, and they CAN fire. I won't even get into the complications of going to a client or competitor!

Wait till you have a written offer and start date from new company.
At will employee's are under no obligation to give a 2 week notice.
IBM escorts "at will" employee's out the door with 0 day notice.
Spare us the "professionalism" lingo bluebirds.

I would not resign until your paperwork is cleared and you are officially accepted. Don't let go of the job at hand until the new job is totally signed. Most job offers have an out-clause of "pending background check, etc".

Just start working at the new company and occasionally respond to IBM stuff online ... my guess it would be weeks before they notice you aren't really doing anything, and months before they PIP and then get rid of you. Meanwhile you get two paychecks!

They will have no issue whether you give 2 weeks notice or a few days. You’re not as important as you think.

Act as a professional, that's my advise.

I get a kick out of some of you holdover "I bleed IBM-blue types" . It's 2021 and you'd be out on your hindquarters if IBM thought it in its best interest. More RAs are coming.. your number may well be up.
I've left several companies on a Friday to start a new job Monday. They would terminate an employee the same way. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. And I got hired back as a consultant for a few of them in the ensuing years.

Conversely, I was also a "good company boy" and gave 2 weeks notice to other companies. They still took my resignation as an affront and would never consider re-employing me - some dopey company "policy".
I've consulted for IBM over 1/2 dozen times in my career. A few times, they stupidly let myself and other contractors go en masse- only to recall us some months later. No problem here - but I did hike my rate. Stupidity is costly.

So - it' s all a lot of El Toro C-apo. Take care of yourself, your family and your career. That's the SMART way of staying in the black $$-wise. And try not to ever get too attached to a company or job. It's a quite unnecessary career detriment these days.

If I were you (and I am not) I'd actually start the new job on my IBM vacation time. If the job is looking like it will work out, then just call, email, or Slack your boss and give him the adios. If the new job stinks, well then, just go back to Big Blue from vacation and repeat the process. You are aware that it's still a (relatively) free country? Worried about a "bad reference". Don't worry. IBM will only confirm your employment dates -nothing else will be said or the smell of lawsuit enters the air. In light of the well known RAs going on at IBM, no employer is going to bother you about jumping ship from IBM.

So - get focused on priority ONE - YOU.

Do not resign yet. On your first day at your new work tell your manager you resigned and for then tos end you a box. Do not be considered of IBM.
Now from now until you start your new job take sick days and relax.

Just resign now but do it on Workday. They won't notice for two weeks.

You owe IBM nothing. They would cut you in an instant if it benefitted them. I wouldn't give them any notice. Ghost them and keep collecting their paycheck too until they realize your already gone.

if I feel something can go wrong with my paperwork/joining, I wouldn't resign until I have cleared out everything for the new job. I wouldn't worry about notice period. I believe your contract/employment with IBM is at-will which means you have no obligation to serve two-week notice. Once everything is sorted out and you feel comfortable, you can talk to your manager (which is again not necessary). If you are not doing any work as you stated, he might happily let you go early.
employer/HR puts a tentative date of joining in most cases that can be pushed by a week or two.
And If you are lucky you may get RAed during these two weeks and entitled to severance package.
your name may already be on the next RA list, you don't know so Cover your a**, don't worry about IBM.

No, you are not a jerk. You do what is best for your career. You own your career.
If you dont mind, can you share which Div in IBM/ which team, what city/location ?