Thread regarding IBM layoffs

@pa yup they commit employment Fraud with it

@jz not the case. IBM uses PIPs as a cheap way to reduce headcount. They are putting whole teams on them. They don't have money to pay for RAs so they disgustingly and immorally use PIPs.

@kw Those more popular colleagues who su-ks up must be Na-i sympathizers, so LOL. Only times they gets gassed is when Na-i bosses eat beans.

@jz I think the entire world knows that IBM uses PIPs as just another means of reducing headcount - i.e, in place of RAs (PIPs are cheaper and easier for the company).

Who gets PIP'd? Just like who gets RA'd, these are folks whose only "failing" is their unwillingness to su-k up to the powers that be.

Far from deserving the PIPs, their job performances are often superior to that of their more popular colleagues. In any event, their ultimate failure to meet PIP requirements is a foregone conclusion.

The area(s) cited that need improvement

Isn't most people on PIP maybe deserve? I mean, doesn't it seems they weren't completely 100% effort? Every times I hear this person been PUP I think yes, they didn't always work too hard and maybe PIP helps improve.

@jr I was PIP'ed and RA'ed. Now, they keep calling asking for the return.
Who does the planning in this stupid IBM place.

I was PIPed. Absolutely crushed my PIP. Then RA'd during the following RA event. The RA cycle is a way for them to push out the PIP survivors. Unless you have a very strong network of lifelines in other parts of the company you are done at IBM.

I have no affiliation with them and I have never used them however the one law firm in the Toronto area that stands out for me is Samfiru Tumarkin.
The reasons they stand out:

• for many years, had a regular radio show handing out free legal advice on severance and related topics
• they have a YouTube channel where they continue to cover severance topics semi regularly
• When IBM does a massive layoff in the Toronto area they tend to show up here in this website so we know they "have their finger on the pulse" so to speak
  If you do engage them I would be particularly interested in how it went and if you went with contingency, what percentage they asked for and what you landed on.

@d2 not sure they need H1Bs anymore. They have critical mass of jobs in India already; they just send most of those jobs to India directly. The US is cooked.

With a pro American administration like this who needs treason?

How to create 1 million American jobs?

Deport 1 million H1Bs / L1s with fake degrees back to India

Save all your documents from last reviews and secretly record all conversations with manager pertaining to this topic and get it to a lawyer asap. There are already been several lawsuits “won” in Canada over this. Take the ba----d down! And get your money. Everyone in your shoes really should doing this until IBM reforms their ways on this matter. They have decided to we-ponize PIP system and use it wats it was never intended for and their should be consequences for doing that.

@c5 Make sure to fight hard, anything you leave on the table goes to the slimy Indian

Thanks for your suggestions. From Markham, Ontario, I am looking for lawyer to negotiate severance, do you have any lawyer to recommend?

@bc Thanks for your suggestion. I am looking for a lawyer, do you have any recommendation?

I am close to retirement and my message is for those in a similar place. I would treat a pip, if you have a track record of good performance, as an attempt at wrongful dismissal, and since my plan is to engage a lawyer anyway to fight for a big severance, this would be the time to do that.
As a side note for those in Ontario Canada, legal precedent is that those who have fought for severance after a long career at IBM have been able to get somewhere around 1 month per year of service up to a total of about 24 months. This is not something that any employer has to pay right away, but it has been the outcome if you are willing and able to fight IBM legally, which I expect anybody can do if you hire the lawyer on contingency.

I was put on a PIp 3 month ago.
Goal not achievable in the time as the parts not even made yet.

I shared with the people I work with that I am on a PIP. And not to share.
If they have some feedback, give to me instead of in big meeting.

I worked on the project and if coworker asked me for other support, zi explained difficult unless they explain to my manager this to be higher priority.

I learned and achieved a lot. my manager did not want it to pass. he extended for another month and another month even though goals completed.

coworkers wrote to 2nd line manager about the great stuff which made it hard for 1st line to fail me.
eventually I passed as he had no choice.

now he tells me often that next time no PIP.

He really does not like me. best choice in my view is to do a good job and let people around you understand it. so if the manager wants to get rid of you it is hard.
don't hide

I’m in the same boat as you (and many others), but in the US. Historically rated “exceeds”, this year rated “meets” and now on a PIP. We committed no “wrongs” other than being European and American.

I can’t speak to the odds of beating a PIP, or the value in pushing back on the patently untrue parts, but I would suggest mentally re-framing it: Not “how can I mitigate this?” But “Do I even want to?” Seriously, an unjust PIP is IBM marking you for eventual termination. It is NOT a reflection on your actual performance or your value as a person, or even your value to IBM (many high performing employees have been PIP’d). It’s someone higher up selecting your employee number off a spreadsheet. SO: Why stress trying to mount a logical defense to an illogical situation? Use the time to start looking around and planning your next step in your career.

You can try to satisfy the PIP. But it is designed to overwhelm you with work you cannot do. It will push you to the brink mentally if you let it , if try to do everything that is required. Like the previous post mentioned , they will probably tell you you failed the PIP anyway at the end.
When you are put on a pip, it basically is saying you are targeted for removal. They’re hoping that once you start working the PIP you will see it is impossible and quit. I have seen it happen many times when I was at Ibm.
I’ve also seen a few times when people have been taken off a pip . This usually occurs when the employee fights, the pip vigorously with HR and has evidence that the manager is lying within the PIP.
So I would say the chances are slim if you’re on a PIP you will survive at IBM .
Good luck.

Congratulations!! your friend the manager has just told you to be-doverthe table and take your hands to spread your cheeks apart so he can take you pound town and make it gape. Remember he is your pal. So be sure to thank him for it. And wish the others next line to get it good luck!

PIP is the moment when employees get to experience what 'at will' employment is. IBM can fire an employee at any time - no reason required.

When hit with a PIP, there are two paths.

One is to consider it as a moment of separation. You and IBM are now adversary in a zero sum game til the PIP period ends and in most cases, you are fired. Use this time to prioritize life and look for next job, which will, according to many who have left IBM, almost always pay you better and treat you better then IBM who, as a operating model, pays less then industry average.

Alternative is to try to satisfy the PIP requirements. I've seen many doing this and in all cases, they are fired anyway AFTER being mentally tortured and lose the time to look for another job.

IBM is a sinking and becoming an Indian company. Arvind and the executives are disgrace to a storied American brand.

You will likely look back at getting PIPed from IBM to be a fortunate moment in your career.

Most likely your manager has been forced to PIP you to reach a target. Not sure in EMEA, but in NA this will end with you losing your job regardless of your performance

The PIP is a strong "hint", you are no longer welcomed in the Indians tribe. Make room for some Indian. Train the Indian before you are out the door and on the street.

When is your PIP end date?