Thread regarding IBM layoffs

Of course they will share it here smiley. Not everyone kisses up like you.

No one here knows the fact. Anyone privy to that level of information wouldn't share it here. But we can predict the future based on the company's past actions, and that says we will see layoffs in the next few months.

Fact: Most are begging for the headcount reduction, especially in GTS

Fact: GBS is looking very attractive for a sell off

Fact : Some people here can’t handle the truth that IBM is going to reduce headcount.

Fact: IBM so far, has not had a big reduction and we are hearing June.

Fact: 5 or 10 percent reduction.

Fact: IBM will not give headcount numbers by geo or layoffs by location or year. If there was nothing to hide, why hide the facts? You are an IBM HR puke and have shown your hand. Nice try.

Fact: IBM layoffs happen every year. It was every year , then 6 months and then every 3 months. The delay this year is RedHat . IBM needs time to calculate the numbers of heads needed to cut . RedHat will cover many areas, another factor.

This year the name of the game is "divestiture" not layoff.

HCL deal will come to close this summer and all those products and people associated with this deal will go...either to HCL (you know if you are on the HCL list already) or laid off. So there is one group that is FACT BASED and for sure.

The second group is this new company thing that is comprised of the rest of the Watson Customer Engagement group's marketing and content management software and related people working on and selling those products. These folks will all be gone end of May possibly delayed to the end of June while they get their c-ap together ... the new company has no name, no legal dept, no nothing so they are ground zero . Anyway, those folks are all gone (if selected..this list is being made and will be small key group) the rest will be told to find a new job or its adios amigos.

ALL FACTS above.

So much that could be outsourced or just done away with. IBM still has layers of chart makers and people who meet all day, do really nothing. End of June is the time frame with a 5 percent reduction or more. Revenue was missed again. HR and names should be on the table by mid May.

Ya. I’m as likely to be an IBM troll as you are to be a psychic who can see the future with accuracy.

I was someone who followed these threads and worried about being laid off because of the fear these posts spread. I started to realize they all day the same things over and over again and layoffs don’t happen or if they do - no where near close the degree the fear posts say.

I am asking for facts because that’s a justified question to determine how likely it is to happen or not.

And don’t bother responding with the typical reterioc about it happening to everyone at IBM eventually. I’ve been waiting for 8 years based on rumours. I’m still waiting with no facts in sight (but would welcome it if it happened).

For those asking for the lay-off plan, you are likely IBM HR trolls. With poor financials reported in 1Q and pending RH acquisition, anyone with half a brain knows layoffs have to follow. Those of us that worked for IBM for long periods of time in management know that is the only play in the IBM playbook.

RedHat just delayed layoffs. This company is a big investment and high dollars into the billions so IBM needs time to check all brands for headcounts . They also are being careful because of law suits on older employees let go . Hearing a 5 percent cut which is about 20,000 employees. Service is going and watch for staff employees making charts and holding meetings all day. Those day are over.

This is all speculation. Not one recent post has given any facts that definitively show that layoffs are in plan. Unless someone can say with certainty that they know of actual plans that are in the works and where when it will strike - it’s assumptions and speculation.

For anyone reading this who is worried about layoffs - take the kind of posts that say they are coming with a grain of salt unless they have facts. Ask yourself if the poster is sharing their opinion or facts about a supposed lay-off in the works.

As long as there are worker bees there can be layoffs. IBM has historically had a 10-1 worker bee to manger ratio. If you drop that down to 5-1 you are still looking at 250-280k worth of worker bees. So there are plenty of places to cut. It’s all about profits, margins, and getting paid without having to invest in feet on the street (IP and patents). IBM discovered that they could off load a large part of their marketing to the channel and save money (you only pay the channel when it sells). Now ask yourself how do you do the same thing in services? Automation, offshoring, IP, patents, and joint ventures come to mind. There are a pile of bean counters right now in IBM doing the spread sheets to decide who it makes sense to replace via alternative go to market strategies. Redhat wasn't Bought for its financial spreadsheet, but rather for its exclusive monopoly power that it delivers vs other LINUX distributors Whether that monopoly power can be exploited is still a work in progress

How do you know it’s expected ? What proof do you have that it is actually planned? Have you seen a plan ?

Plenty of money to be saved at the team leaders and management levels. The problem is , these are the folks who recommended what people should go and who should stay. So , it will be interesting to see these people feed on each other. A lot of egos.....

There will be layoffs as revenue is declining and they have to do layoff to cut cost further to pay largest buyout of Red hat in history of technology company. Ibm spending $34 billion to buy $3 billion revenue generating company with only $1 billion cash flow per year .Even with existing red hat cash of $2.5 billion and future growth it will take IBM 10 years to break even spending of $34 billion.so layoffs is enviable not only this year but many years to come because of high cost of red hat acquisitions. On top of that they don't care whether work will be done or not or customer support will degrade.From top some one make decision of some %age cut(5% or 10%) based on numbers and that is implemented across the board and mostly it effects worker bees who actually do work rather then big fat Managment layers in between who are no value add or do anything to improve customer support or experience..This year layoffs is already over due. Not sure why it did not occurred in Q1 as it occurred for many past years in Q1. May be Red hat acquisition is playing with layoff date. Now next one is expected before June 30th.