I'm a soon to be IBM employee - not by choice. I've been going through posts here and my dread keeps growing exponentially with every new thread I open. Things seem worse here than at AT&T, which I didn't think possible.
Is it really like that? How worried should I really be?
I am a former long term IBM'er who was RAd back in 2012. It was getting bad then - and I hear it's a lot worse now. Since then - I hear IBM has made changes to the 401k and other benefits to the detriment of employees. Before my RA was complete - they gave me a chance to stay at IBM - and I said "no, I want to go". I feel it was one of the better choices I made in my life.
Environment here is clearly toxic towards IBMers who love their job, that's for damn sure.
We loved our jobs too. Something changed.
contemplate for a moment that you just lost a portion of your income through loss of active employee discounts, higher medical premiums, lower 401k matching, lower bonuses, less stable bonuses, less pto for most, an expiration date on your employment (which let's be honest, you may not even make it to if they ra you anyway), a seriously sh–ty isap package for the future elimination of your job, and the loss of pension for some. contribute to these losses being glossed over with a focus on only base salary many knowing that salary will be reduced if even offered permanent employment with us.
surely many will do the needful and perform well and have gratitude. but being experienced i know many shall not.
so of course any with this experience via personal journey or direct observation will become toxic.
Environment here is clearly toxic towards IBMers who love their job, that's for damn sure.
Update that resume and definitely be willing to relocate if you are seriously career minded.
Yes. Environment is toxic.
Like someone said previouly use your worry time.
I am amazed at the number of IBMerrs that have not had an updated resume when the axe fell.
Do as others suggested. Look for a better opportunity and leave on your own terms. Your name will be called eventually. As mine was after I turned that magical age.
I think the only people that post here are ready to leave.
I agree. That includes around 300K IBM employees.
I think the only people that post here are ready to leave and don't worry about retaliation. Who knows how anonymous this board really is.
Most people don't usually get on "thelayoff.com" to talk about how great their jobs are so you're getting what we statisticians call a heavy bias...
Actually, we call it a "skewed distribution".
Anyways, I agree that most people who post on this site have an anti-IBM bias. But why do you think that represents a small percentage of IBM employees? Given the exceedingly bad management and subterranean morale, it is entirely possible that 99% of IBM workers post here. I am more worried about the IBMers who don't contribute this site. All 20 of them.
@1rhp: Nailed it.
As someone who used to work for a company that was acquired by IBM several years ago and bailed because they saw the handwriting on the wall, I am not going to sugarcoat it:
Yes, it is THAT bad.
And my coworkers who stayed behind? A good 75% of them wound up getting pink slips 18-24 months after acquisition.
As several others here have suggested: you will be safe for 12 months, and perhaps 18 or even 24. But for your own sake, use that time to find another opportunity. Best of luck.
Update your resume ASAP and start networking
@1ac what you're seeing is a bunch of risk averse b and cplayers hoping they can outlast Ginni, or people who have gotten stuck in dead end jobs with legacy tech and no marketable skills hoping they can hide from the axe long enough to retire. The a players with good skills are leaving in droves for far better comp and benefits, and careers in tech that actually has a future.
And if you're over 40, the poster should expect to be targeted for a lay-off, co-lo, trumped up pip, or some similar underhanded tactic to get people to 'voluntarily' leave. This company has no values, ethics, or morals left...the only goal is to slow the decline long enough for the current leadership to fake success and punch out declaring victory, leaving the next leader to do the hard work and chop all the dead limbs completely off.
@ktj I had all that, key role in a high margin strategic initiative, and just left. There's no investment in the future, either products or people. Sure, you might not get whacked and run for a few years, but is that really the kind of thing you want to tie your own future too? While the work and products today might be somewhat current, it's just a few years neglect from being the next lotus, rational, websphere or Tivloi - all once great, high margin strategic brands that are now dying or dead, for both the technology and careers. Ibm is the best at milking and discarding both products and people.
To the op: go in with your eyes open and be your own career advocate. If Ibm sticks you on legacy platforms, or their inferior cloud tech, get out before you get stale and unmarketable, they will not invest in you, don't expect retraining or moving to better tech - you're likely to be 'too valuable to let go' if you're not out first.
@ktj As usual, you said a lot of things but it is all of zero value because of your tendency to state the obvious. I mean, it is pretty obvious that if he works in a high-margin division, on products that are strategic, costs less to the company and cannot be replaced, he'll be fine. LOL! What an insight! Duh, why didn't he think of that?
Your post would have been more useful, if you provided some real data like what divisions / groups in IBM are high margin? What products are considered strategic? What skills are considered non-replaceable? What is considered low-cost?
I love it, friend. Most people don't usually get on "thelayoff.com" to talk about how great their jobs are so you're getting what we statisticians call a heavy bias. Remember, there are 350,000 IBMers out there and only a handful here. Like with all online musings, take them with a grain of salt. :)
You should be ok for about a year. Use the time to find a better opportunity and get out when you can.
It depends on where you land within IBM, and what you bring to the table. If you land in a division that has low margins, are working on products not seen as strategic, or fall into a part of the business seen as high costs (you are older, or could be outsourced for a cheaper person doing your job), then yes you should be concerned. If you land in a division that has high margins, are working on products considered strategic, or fall into a part of the business seen as lower cost (you are young/cost less, or are working on something unique) then you shouldn’t be concerned. It’s the nature of USA business. “due to cheap bandwidth, find who will work for less”. If you can’t easily be replaced, you should be fine
Any turmoil at AT&T, whether it be bad management decisions or lack of project funding, will affect you at IBM