Are rumors about more RAs before the end of the year true? I think the answer is no since I don't remember that IBM ever cut people right before the holidays, but I haven't been here long enough to be sure. Plus, we've lost too many people this year already as it is.
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I remember the old days at IBM! Worked 35+ years there until we were moved to Kyndryl. Kyndryl was better than IBM and actually gave me something I had not experienced at IBM in over 6 years! A RAISE and a decent one too! I liked working for Kyndryl much more than IBM and would still be there now if my customer hadn’t of left Kyndryl. Customer hired me at a nice bump in pay and now getting ready to retire. Working for IBM now is like getting stuck in a rain shower without an umbrella and not getting wet. It’s not if they are going to get rid of you it’s just when!!! Good luck to all… Life outside of IBM is nice 😉😀😉😀😉😀
PIPs are being used more and more now vs RAs
The people who are "safe" don't have to monitor websites to stay that way. Truth be told, there are not very many of those people left, even in the executive bands. Everyone knows the score, and just about everyone has to keep their heads on a swivel these days. It's unfortunate that even the survivors often wish they got canned instead, but this is a sick play indeed.
"If your position is safe, then you know it already and you're probably not at a website like this one. If you're at this website, then you're not safe and you can be fired at any time."
Or you're safe and monitoring these sites to know what might be on the horizon. Being safe means continually have to pick up the pieces from these RA's which gets old. At some point you start hoping to get laid off instead of surviving. And yes I could/should get a new job but it's not always that straightforward.
our contractors are scheduled last day of Nov 30th. Right in the middle of their critical customer deliverables. it was more important to cut costs than deliver, so
For the average IBM employee, it's safe to assume that their number can come up at any time. It takes a certain amount of spare cash to keep employees around during lean times, and IBM ran out of that cash a long time ago. It's been predicted many times over the years that IBM would eventually run out of fat to cut, and would begin to cut into muscle, sinew and bone. That's where the company is at now.
If your position is safe, then you know it already and you're probably not at a website like this one. If you're at this website, then you're not safe and you can be fired at any time. It's not your fault, it's just that your number came up in a very sick and sad situation, and there's not a whole lot that you can or could have done about it. Prepare yourself as best you can for that outcome and you'll be OK, no matter what happens.
PIPs are ongoing. Quarterly review of util or for sales - whether they are achieving their numbers
I've seen let go contractors with no notice just before the holidays. That won't hit the news cause the contractors are not IBM employees
RAs have been happening every single quarter for a number of decades. Remember that the company is trying to increase free cash flow after spendinf so much in AI, quantum, mainframe upgrades, new talent, etc.. Everyone should really have their resumes updated now so in case the ax falls they can be up and running for a new role first thing in the new year.
Old timer here...RAs have been going on at IBM since the late 1980s. 1q, 2q, 3q, 4q...doesn't matter. Holiday? End of year? Beginning of year? Doesn't matter either. What does matter is business profitability, free cash flow and impact to the business. Which projects will be impacted? That's a management decision, of course, with the caveat that profitability and cash flow are the first and only real priorities.
IBM tends to use RA’s for businesses they are exiting, spinning off, or have overstaffed. All of these options have pretty much been exploited over the past 5 years (except for middle management overstaffing). As such look for PIP’s to be the order of the day, as that’s the only way to squeeze more efficiency out of a stable/shrinking legacy business.
There’s always RA and PIP. It’s a nonstop cycle for these guys
4Q RA's are rare - a ton of sales get closed in December and the company doesn't want to do anything that might risk a big deal not closing.
1Q RA's on the other hand, that's almost a sure thing.
They don't care about the Holidays