Thread regarding IBM layoffs

Agree. When they did this 5 yrs ago a guy moved with his family and kids and 6 mo later was let go! I couldn’t believe it.

I don’t see this as being accurate just based on internal conversations that I have heard.. but if they do, they’re only doing to thin the heard and achieve more separations without the layoff. It is a merciless company with no soul and at the end the of the day they don’t care about any of us.. we are all just here because right now there is no alternative.

@1sda+1rYf6Lri

I've been away from IBM for many years now, but this policy smacks of desperation. The IBM of my day was always seeking opportunities, but people at the time who discovered new opportunities were well-rewarded for their discoveries (they got a cut). Is this still the case today? Outsourcing has been cut, consulting may be on the chopping block, and stories abound on IBM sc--wing the salespeople out of compensation any way they can. The customers I've seen were (are?) wise to what is going on, even at the highest levels, and (to my eyes anyway) didn't seem all that receptive to IBM people hanging out on the premises all day like starving dogs, looking to make another sale.

To put it another way...customers in my day were increasingly taking an attitude of "don't call us, we'll call you" when it came to IBM offerings.

To put it even more bluntly..."Get off my lawn!"

@1cgv+1rYf6Lri this came from a VP in SW. Several weeks ago he was sent a list from his HR rep of employees that had their work location set to Work At Home (WAH or WFH) in Workday.

Perhaps it's just his organization (but that would seem odd). Given the two week delay already hopefully they're rethinking it.

The goal of the RTO policy is not forced collaboration with your IBM peers even though management says that. It really is a policy of forcing IBM’ers to engage their customers more than they currently are to discover opportunities. Management doesn’t want you back in the office (note not enough desks, constant management oversight, and an environment that doesn’t encourage productivity), BUT they definitely want you on customer locations to discover opportunity. The ultimate goal is to have 100% IBM presence at customer locations to capture any opportunity that may present itself. It’s the old mainframe strategy from the 80’s and 90’s. If you don’t have a customer relationship where you are tolerated, IBM has decided you are not needed.

Get ready to triple up on the meager number of desks available at each remaining IBM office. Hope you like smelling your cube neighbor's farts!

@1cgv+1rYf6Lri

In Expert Labs in the US (non-managers), we have had to go back to the office 3 days a week if we are within 50 miles of an IBM office since January.

The problem is that there is a lot of confusion everywhere, and the CEO is clarifying sh-t!
Certainly in IBM Consulting, only managers are going to the office. I feel like the software group, and in particular the Expert Labs management is full of sh-t.

I was told by someone in HR who was in a meeting with our CHRO that there is NO return to office for individual contributors in 2024 and that the data for managers and execs returning is showing enough improvements/therefore they are not planning to enforce anything more. I dunno who your source of information here is, but let's not re-open the can of gasoline when IBMers already feel they are burning....

I have heard the RTO policy will take effect sometime mid Summer. There is a big reorg tomorrow. You know what happens, not everyone will find a new home.

I guess not enough managers have resigned over this to make IBM's cuts, so I guess now it is expanded to all employees... Good luck all!

This won't work in Consulting. Clients all over the country. Teams all over the country. Not even a fraction of the IBM office space exists to house everyone even if they wanted to come in. You can fire them, sure, but every single one has revenue directly associated to them and that immediately tanks IBM's financials, these are not overhead people.

I’m not uprooting my family (not that I can even afford it) or driving 1 1/2 hours each way daily because of his in-office fantasies when he could then RA me next March anyway. He already gutted the CIO. He’ll just finish wiping off the few teams that are hanging by a thread.