I am sure along with a lot of other valuable IBMers, I got RAed on Feb 15, 2021. I had 40 years of very successful experience in System Sales as Accounts Manager and Brand (Mainframe and Power) - I guess nothing matters. May be, it was 65+ years of age, though I am perfectly healthy and in last ten years was on the road for 120+ days a year. Are there others with similar experience and no specific reason for RA?
14 replies (most recent on top)
If youre not ready to retire at 65, don’t. I hate when people assume that you should retire by such and such
No one knows financial situation or history. Personally I won’t retire and can’t retire by 65. So no w of us actually enjoy working and like the connections.
How long has this been going on ? Usually, if i see a 50% rotation in the staff, I look to where people are going – and I'm embarking on the next 50%. Don't forget, the best are the first to leave.
Can confirm. Slave here.
Bruh no one who's young actually wants to work at ibm cuz ibm pays slave wages.
That's why it needs all these "new collar" initiatives.
Everyone who joins ibm is leaving in 3-5 yrs and walking into massive pay increase at their next developer gig.
Ibm pays slave wages in tech market. Don't blame young people, you cant even comprehend that ibm is the problem not young people
If IBM paid staff better, people wouldn’t need to work until age 65. You don’t see many people above the age of 50 at FAANG or even at the other tech dinosaurs for a reason- their compensation is more than enough for a healthy retirement.
Why do people automatically assume at 65 you can retire. You have no idea what this guy's financials are. Age should not be the factor - ability should be the factor - for any job. Experience used to be of value to IBM, but they no longer value it. They want young, because young is cheap.
This new generation of kids, who have set themselves up for the highest college debt on record, have also sold themselves to corporate America for very cheap. They entitled ones feel the entire older generations should push out of their way, and that they know everything. In reality, their replacements are already coming up through high school now, and will seek to replace them at an even earlier age for once discrimination on a massive level is accepted, it sets the barrier very low for each following generation. For those in Texas, if age was the factor of your RA, look up Kaplan law firm. IBM has been one of the worst abusers in history on age discrimination of folks over 45.
Interesting ageism case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw3k5O00Tz8
Posts like this make me smile :) MOVE ON!!! If you've worked for any IT company for 40+ years and 65+ years old enjoy your retirement! If you're not ready to retire money wise it's your own fault. I'm close to where you are (age and service time) and I'm ready due to good planning. I do feel bad for younger folks in this work environment. It's tough!! Good luck to all who truly need to work. Those who can afford to retire you are crazy to stay around!!! I'll be going real soon :)
Mr. 54, you need to start saving now. You need to discipline yourself, for every $1 that flows in, you need to stash .10 away, start now. Your excuses, I have bills, I need xyz...can be ignored. It is odd but cash flows through your hands like water or sand. You will adjust, it will "level" itself just like water does. If you are in massive debt, get a second job consulting at night. You can do it.
I feel bad for this age discrimination (if happening) but to be honest, I have been feeling that there should be more young blood in IBM. A couple of years ago when I joined a team of more than 30+ people, I realized that I was probably the youngest one in the team. I worked with many of those senior folks on different projects/accounts. most of them tried to take credit for my work. many of them just talked too much in the meetings and didn't work.
If you're 54 and scared to get laid off, it's your fault. You should be aggressively looking and not waiting.
Not to be too harsh, but you're the cow in the slaughter yard. It's not if, it's when.
Congrats on a 40 year career! You are a rarity within IBM anymore, as the industry moved in approx 2014 to a commodity based HW/SW scheme. As such you are witnessing first hand how a commodity based system deals with overhead. LOWER COSTS, as that results in higher profits. IBM doesn’t invest in innovation when it comes to commodity, but rather lowering costs. It’s not exclusive to IBM. Every manufacturer has had to deal with this, and it’s a rush to the bottom. When IBM failed to invest in innovation, it was just a matter of time to remove costs. I know this sounds cynical, BUT in a commodity market place, someone will always do it for less. IBM has taken that to heart, and HR has become ruthless when it comes to its execution. Newer companies have discovered the survival mantra. Innovate or die. IBM still hasn’t caught on, and makes excuses with “cool” sounding names like “agile”, or “perform culture”. You can’t shrink your way to success, BUT you may be able to shrink your way to a niche, and buy the innovation you need to survive. AK is currently exploring that, but you got caught up in the whirlwind of HR’s pursuit of cost reduction due to a commodity marketplace.
@brf I am a couple of years older than you and use to feel the same way. Then I played around with some online retirement planner apps (including Financial Engine) and it looked like I would actually be OK if I retired. Then I spent some time with a financial planner and confirmed that it was real, I actually could afford to retire if IBM RAed me.
(About a week later I realized that I wanted to retire even if IBM didn't RA me...)
Anyway, I highly recommend that you look into it and find out where you stand. You might be able to shed a whole lot of anxiety.
Dude, to be frank I wish I could make it to 65 years old at IBM... I am 54 and scared to hell to get laid off every day!! At 65, you should welcome retirement, and I am sure you are actually in a position where you can retire... I am definitely not there.