Pataki - speaking before many workers at Heritage Circle off North Street - boldly
proclaimed that "all 4,000 jobs are going to be protected and remain here in Endicott for
at least the next ten years."
https://wnbf.com/20-years-ago-pataki-4000-ibm-endicott-jobs-protected/
Most workplaces were like that in 84/85.
I was a college intern at IBM in Endicott in 1984/1985. I was only 20 years old and I vividly remember the masses of people that worked at IBM in Endicott. At lunchtime North Street, Washington Avenue would be full of people in mostly white dress shirts. My building was on Adams Avenue, only two blocks away from my apartment on Jackson Ave, I only had to walk 2 blocks to the office. Now that everyone WFH that doesn't sound too impressive. I also remember as a naive 20 yo that no one in the office seemed to work very hard or knock themselves out, there was no sense of urgency, it was all a very complacent/relaxed/country club atmosphere. Between a long lunch and talking on the phone for hours, if you placed 4 PO's a day, that was considered a rough day. Looking back in hindsight, this whole Endicott operation would be history in less than 10 years and I am glad that IBM never impressed me enough to try and make a career there.