Imposition of draconian security measures is what phase en route to a full authoritarian dictatorship? https://gizmodo.com/ibm-reportedly-bans-all-employees-from-using-any-remova-1825921599

Google announced Duplex and it responds like you and me. Rewind to 2012: we saw Jeopardy; Google was all about search and maps. Fast-forward to 2018, surprise, yet another company is about to eat from IBM's buffet of strategic initiatives. Google... — read more 

Virginia M. Rometty of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP, earned $18.6 Million in 2017 while the company’s shareholder return was -4.0%. . . . Virginia M. Rometty of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP Tenure: 6 years Pay Rank: 82 out of 456... — read more 

Are we expecting any layoffs from the Armanta acquisition? I know there is really not a lot of overlap, but when it comes to IBM, I've learned by now that even a smallest excuse for a layoff is a good excuse for a layoff. Hopefully I'm wrong about... — read more 

IBM's strategy is more about creating an environment of fear so that more people at all levels will jump off of the sinking titanic. This is evidenced by monthly head count reductions regardless of performance. It is so sad to see shareholders hard... — read more 

Buffett: OUT! https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/04/warren-buffett-says-berkshire-hathaway-has-sold-completely-out-of-ibm.html

www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/03/h-1b-visas-tighter-rules-illegal-tech-outsourcers-claim-in-lawsuit/amp/

Interesting article, especially considering that IBM is currently in the spotlight for age discrimination. American Workers Are Older Than Ever, And They're Sticking Around... — read more 

www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/01/h-1b-abuse-bay-area-tech-workers-from-india-paid-a-pittance-feds-say/amp/

Are we looking at any more major layoffs any time soon? There has been very little chatter on it, which makes me feel hopeful. I know people are saying there are employees being laid off nearly all the time, but I am not talking about those layoff... — read more 

Just found out (5/1) today after submitting my promotion packet last week for the July 1st promotion to band 7. I had 3 excellent PAs near 100% utilization and staffed on a project not set to end until fall of 2019. Not sure what I could have done... — read more 

I think it's a myth created largely by corporate America that millennials don't care about job security. Every millennial I know would love job security, but corporate America simply does not offer it anymore. So here we have an example of corporate... — read more 

"The slow-motion horror show that is IBM under CEO Ginni Rometti [sic] continued with this month's quarterly financial results." That's the opening sentence of the article. . . https://www.zdnet.com/article/ibm-still-failing-after-all-these-years/

Nothing new in the article, but just another data point highlighting some further media coverage of the ongoing RA's. https://247wallst.com/jobs/2018/04/27/who-ibm-is-laying-off-and-what-they-have-to-say-about-it/

IBM has dragged down partners by selling obsolete products that have had a downturn in the markets over the past 5 years (substantial decreased sales). Various partners are laying off ex IBM employees too (that had been a a part of the transitions... — read more 

Quite an interesting read -- https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/04/27/exec_pay_in_2017_bernstein_report/

Well since it was already totally hosed-up. . . http://www.cityam.com/284725/tsb-brings-in-experts

The Consulting by Degrees Program will be discontinued by the end of this year, all current CbDers will be reassigned or laid off.

Is it me or are there way too many VP's at IBM. Do we need 4 levels of VPs? You will never see the company flatten management levels - instead they bring out the pink slips to the real people who keep the company running - then once they make their... — read more 

Keeping the shareholders appeased by hook and by crook[edness]! https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ibm-raises-dividend-by-47-2018-04-24

A declining trend in the company’s headcount also continued. In May last year, CRN reported the A/NZ entity employed 5980 employees in 2016, which was down by 1803 staff from prior year’s 7783. In its 2017 report, IBM A/NZ reported employing 4913... — read more 

And the crackdown begins! https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/startup-visas-work-permits-for-spouses-of-h-1b-visa-holders-to-go/articleshow/63900821.cms?

I think there's only a small cultural bias towards youth and a lot of the age discrimination is an exaggeration. Lots of laid off people I've worked with who had 35+ years under their belt can be entitled and are often cruising by. They're the same... — read more 

They are asking people what accommodation requests they need should they work from an office location. The problem is the communication is really poor - managers are trying to ask these questions without letting the cat out of the bag too soon or... — read more 

I've heard some teams have been told that they will be told to stop working from home and start coming into the office 5 days/week, possibly starting as early as the beginning of May. Rumors about this have kicked around for so long that I had... — read more 

If you are a recent graduate run from IBM, it will not be a good experience. There will be no training, your peers will be over-worked, the client knows that IBM is over-charging for your services and the environment is toxic and sterile. After many... — read more 

I think the most poorly managed section of IBM is GTS. We see a lot of unworthy people in top positions. Employees who doesn't have any skills on the product are hired from bench or other teams. What's worse is they are not even groomed. A few good... — read more 

https://twitter.com/TheLayoff/status/988500627163635713

The new IBM CFO made his plans plain on the earnings call. These are his words. The Z mainframe cycle is coming to an end, as it has run it’s course, and we expect headwinds as the year continues. IBM took a 610 million charge to make their numbers... — read more 

Another big RA in GBS this week, including me (quite surprised), 3 years at IBM the second time around. Also heard many CBD'ers cut, so not sure how pervasive it was, but think significant after another earnings miss this week. Getting 90 days, then... — read more 

Tom Fox: Companies will continue to invest in AI. In every deferred-prosecution agreement there is a requirement companies use evolving international and industry standards. Companies such as Facebook, IBM and others are beginning to incorporate AI... — read more 

6m15s minute video from Vox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e681QNbHloE

So everyone who I spoke with who is getting laid off is in an almost identical position as I am: they are all set for promotion in 3 months, or have just been promoted. We are guessing that they are only getting rid of people who are inline for... — read more 

IBM's professional and ethical demeanor as well as the breadth of offerings ensured that one could get an audience with a company’s CEO. And with so many “solutions” there was always a reason to call on a variety of executives to talk about their... — read more 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/evaluating-virginia-romettys-profit-productivity-article-greulich/

Just wanted to start a thread... Chime in if you have any RA news to share... All groups, IBM Software, Global Technology Services (GTS), Global Business Services (GBS), Systems Technology, Retail Solutions, Finance, Integrated Supply Chain... — read more 

VS did not work. So they are moving HARD to cut heads, deep and wide... No expressions of Interest (EOI) submissions have been received and I can confirm to you… that we have not been able to meet our business objectives through the voluntary... — read more 

Every. Single. Year. RAh RAh RAh... And then, 70 Mil pocketed...

Is there a possibility that someone can break the veil of exit agreements that required no legal action (or only via arbitration)? Could this be applied to one who left "voluntarily" after being given an RA notice? Especially given the ProPublica... — read more 

As someone in the under 30 bracket working on a mainframe product, this whole "cut the 'old heads' and replace with new talent" thing is ridiculously stupid. The executives don't seem to realize how much of this just plain isn't taught in schools... — read more