Layoffs are continuing in GBS NA as a result of Bench Management.
Bench management is for those who are not actively staffed on a client billable project. You get put on a PIP, and if you can’t find a client billable project within 60 days you will be terminated.
This comes down to the fact that the GBS NA Partners can’t sell any business, so employees must suffer the consequences!
13 replies (most recent on top)
@4wom+15cf8ftB that’s market rate for consulting graduates. The compensation for new hires is more than fair.
Performance improvement plan
What does PIP mean?
Someone from GBS recently posted here that GBS starting salaries were $95,000 a year.
That's irresponsible of GBS. In GTS some are in the mid $30,000 range after several years.
No surprise where IBM is cutting more heads.
I agree. The rates are and and have become too small (at least to have a qualitative work for the client) and the delivery model wrong, another shame. Moreover IBM treated as slaves, owned and whipped by the ignorant nepotists in S&D and other dinos, the consultants they acquired from a Big 5 time ago and this prevented to obtain from them goodwill and more important to learn some good lessons on the real way to do consulting, with quality. Preferring to maintain a plethora of nothing doing (hangers, yes) and moving part of the jobs to some asian low rates slaves (from some exotic and not aligned countries, a geopolitical choice ? apart the low rates, maybe). The doorkeeper mindset instead of the assault patrol' mindset ( think, apply the change and go away from the client at least for a while, and remember what you learnt) ... was too easy for the stingy and blue elephant. Now, the train has gone. Bye
The rates are not too high. I worked for Big 4 and other SIs and our rates were the lowest I have ever seen. Even Accenture would not allow such a low average day rate. The problem is the delivery models have too many people at the wrong level. A project that Big 4 would take a team of 4 to do- 1 Sr Mgr, 1 Mgr, 1 Sr Consultant, 1 Business Analyst- GBS would take 6 local people bands 7-8, plus a huge India team, plus an AP, Partner, and other hangers on. It’s the wrong mix and far too many people to be effective!
@3eae I totally agree. The rates are insane, which make it impossible to get work, which means they raise rates again. The place is madness. I'm so happy I have moved on from it.
I was told B9 & 8 are the new 10s and Ds, they keep raising the blue rates to astronomical numbers except for GTS. GBS is a dino on a fast track to extinction. Bail now before you get the axe, let them eat cake. Take the bonus - commish and sprint don't run.
We're just sacrificial lambs while the Directors, Partners, Associate Partners get to keep their jobs and bonuses even when they can't sell anything. How is that possible?? They're playing with people's lives and emotions. This is beyond cruel. This year they've set up an "Integrity Committee" to do the "right thing", what a total joke!
It seems IBM is playing hardball with GBS. Performance PIP’s vs layoff. I guess that’s the world of consulting billable hours
I think you upset the GBS fan boys that were counting on that 1% earnings saving their jobs.
Always pointing to GTS for IBM layoffs. "GBS has earnings, we don't need worry" smh
Can confirm too. When are there going to be PIPs and firings for APs and Partners who can’t sell? In my practice we have more APs and Partners than B9 and below combined! And there’s been no work sold this entire quarter. This isn’t sustainable!
This is confirmed; aggressive bench management is a thing now. Although I believe the timing has been extended due to COVID, or at least, was.
Expect ongoing layoffs through bench management, as B9 and below lose their jobs because Partners aren’t selling. The workers will pay the price for Partners and their inability to sell.