Announcement of IBM job cuts from European Works Council Spring 2019
IBM Works council Job cuts 2019
Job cut comments from May, April, March 2018
May 2018
From anon: I have been RA’d on May 27th. My last day is end of June. In reading watching IBM (even before I was FIRED) with 145% of quota performance it seems we are helpless. I have already found a new position. At my age I am blessed, but others are not
From anon: 90% in Raleigh, 80% in Dallas, 70% in Ann Arbor
Regarding the Layoff’s in Watson Health this week. This is how it went down:
Managers were notified on Monday there would be a large RA this week, they were NOT given any choices, they were given lists of people that were affected. and were told to tell those people on Thursday morning. Some managers lost entire teams including the managers of those teams.
Damage control started immediately after with managers being told to tell remaining employees that they were safe and not to worry. This was the message that was communicated down from upline managers to staff to prevent the continued voluntary resignations.
Watching IBM Anonymous. 24 y/o impacted by cuts at Truven. Severance the same as most IBMers – 90 days left of work, 1 month severance after that
I was RA’d on Thursday in Dallas and the consensus is that no one really wants to stay because there is no plan for the future and working in an environment where departments are stripped and can no way meet the demands of supporting the existing clients. Personally, I feel lucky. Who knows if the 90 day package and 1 month severance will be offered for the next wave of RA’s (and there will be)
I just got notified that I am affected by a resource action. I am in the “Platform for Health, LSC Infrastructure DevOps” group and have been working at IBM for 2 years and 11 months now. It looks like a lot of other people in Watson Health were affected. This could be huge.
Wanted to share anonymously about a massive layoff in Watson Health, potentially limited to Provider acquisitions (Phytel, Explorys, Truven). They are laying off 50-70% of staff today. Not sure about total affected since there’s no transparency, but our Dallas office has 230 people. Cleveland and Truven have more, I believe. I was laid off this morning.
I was RA’d Thursday from Dallas Office. Only small crew of 16 remained to prepare for last selloff expected before end of 2018. We are receiving news from other offices about losing of contracts and massive layoffs of key technical people. It is not a just a bit of shrinking, it will hit Watson Health 2018 heavily as many projects promised to be delivered this summer and second half of 2018 are abandoned. Releases of many key applications that were a joint effort between multiple offices were expected during the next 3 months and are all now cancelled.
April 19, 2018
The logic still escapes me. I’ve been a 2, 2+ and 1 throughout my 10+ year career; and 2017 was my best year. It’s a sad state for IBM clients – the value and knowledge continues to be shown the door.”
Joined IBM as a dev straight out of college and was thrown on one of the watson health acquisitions; RA’d on 4/19 with <2 years at IBM. I knew the risks before I joined, wish I could say the same for others.
were let go. It didn’t seem to matter how well utilized we were or not. I am on a big, long-term project.
Are we eligible to collect unemployment, or is that signed away? I won’t receive my package until Monday. Thanks.
Does this group have discussion boards on dealing with R/A’s? I think it could be good for him to talk to others who have experienced something similar.
-> The severance payment is based on 5 weeks pay per year of service, calculated on reference salary average over the previous 3 years. The severance payment will be capped at a maximum of 24 months reference salary.
Received 1 month of severance pay for 17 years.
I’m looking to track anyone impacted by the Canada RA taking place on April 19, 2018. The people I’ve spoken to do not have fair offers and we are looking to gather more evidence and consider our options.
I’m impacted by the Canadian RA taking place April 19, 2018. The package being offered is not fair.
4 years at IBM age 26
Post anonymous. GBS R/As happening. 20 years no rating under a 2 never on bench. Claim it was financial reasons
March 29, 2018 job cuts
58 years old
technical sales position.
for traditional IBM logo/Systems & Technology Group (STG) products was announced Tue Apr 3, 2018.
Watching IBM My husband, 51 years old, who’d like to remain anon, was laid off Thursday after 13+ years with IBM in Operations in Portland, Oregon. 2 weeks’ notice; he’s out 4/12.
Never anything but positive performance reviews and praise. And then, boom.
At least 10 people in Digital Sales out of Littleton today.
I received my “Letter of Redundancy Proposal” yesterday (10-Apr). It states that Under the current proposal, effective 30-June my role will no longer be required.
Unsure how many heads, but 50+ managers / teams affected
This is excused by movement from RETAIN to SalesForce support model.
Approx 25 IBM Remote Technical Support analysts advised of RA this day. 90 Days notice etc etc…includes aix, websphere, Tivoli and Pureflex and X-Series Remote SoftwareTechnical Support Analysts.
Cuts also took place couple of weeks ago in Canada under a Pathways to Retirement package.
You work until end of July for 3 days a week while being paid for 4, and receive a lump sum of 1-2 months more than legally required in your province. This is better than the US packages but very low for Canada. Don’t know how many affected.
I was also given notice on 3/29/18; last day will be June 27th with one month severance. I’m female, 60 years old with 37 years of service in the North America Global Business Partners organization. Work location is New York.
23 (twenty three) quarters of declining revenue… maybe the minions aren’t the problem… Time to take a look at Gru?
19 years with IBM
Age 40+
S&D New York technical sales
Always high performer.
Watching IBM From anon: I was notified that I would be RA’d today, Thursday, 3/29/18. Last day will be 6/27/18. Told the reason was that my job had been eliminated.
I have suspected ageism because I am 63 years old and I was told that I needed to build up my skills.
Did over 300% of quota last year.
Also know of 11 others across ECM including our 2 TechLine folks.
Watching IBM -Anon please: IBM has plenty of money to advertise en masse at The Masters but cries poverty and is otherwise RA happy.
I bet 80-90% of the people watching had no clue what they were talking about. Watson to them means Bubba.
I again received a notice that I could take the Techboot camp or the IBM volunteer option. Question: If I select the 90 days separation package with the one month separation that I was offered can/will IBM try to get rid of me BEFORE the 90 days are up? Wondering what experience of others who have been RA’ed has been?
Watching IBM Anon: This month in Wroclaw Poland IBM cut 55 Jobs. The people came to the office and were called by their UOL one managers and got a resignation contract.
They had to return their computers immediately and no time to save anything they had on it.
Location: New York, NY
Age 56
Informed of RA on 3/29/18.
Job: Sales role in Comms/CSI market, North America
Years with IBM: 19
Acquired 2010. 29 years total service 8 years according at ibm
Ra today.
8 years at IBM, SE region, Analytics, 55-60, Male
Time with IBM: ~3 years
Age: 27
I had my call already today. Last day is June 27. 90 days notice, one month severance. IBM got forced into giving 90 days due to the size of this layoff and thereby tripping the WARN act limits in several states. Someone said that taking the educational assistance will cut back your severance. That’s only true for the technical boot camp option. You can use the $2,500 education assistance option without affecting your severance. I’ll have more info as I get my package tomorrow via overnight. 1Q commissions will be paid, but not all of 2Q since they’re pulling a fast one by dumping people on the 27th, before the end of the month. I’m in US tech sales hybrid cloud.
Many of us in the Technical sales arena are getting our walking papers on Thursday, March 29, 2018 with a 90 day notice period.
When the manager’s call was held, the clown that led the call started off by saying the following, “I look forward to working with you all throughout the year on this and other opportunities.” Talk about a lack of situational awareness and a complete lack of empathy…shocking I know. 
🙂
HR and the executives on the call kept telling the managers that they need to own the process and the decision of who was let go. One of the managers brought up the concept of Culture, Ethics, and being honest and the fact that IBM has created a toxic culture because we are being forced to lay off people that have done nothing wrong. This is not about their performance, this is about IBM’s lack of execution and strategy and driven strictly by profit/greed. Several managers that had people affected by this action spoke up and applauded him for stepping up and stating the facts as they are. Of course HR and the executives completely sidestepped his factual statement.
Also, for those of us that are forced to lay off our entire department due to the infinite wisdom of our executives…this wasn’t a choice. They want us to tell them it was our choice. Oh sure, that would go over really well. The conversation would go like this, “Hey Joe, I am calling to let you know that you are being laid off along with my entire department and myself….oh and it was all my choice.” LOL (The stupidity and audacity to tell us to let them know it was our decision.)
The Technical Sales organization employed 6,000 people four years ago. During this round of layoffs they are letting go 1,000 more Technical Sales professionals, leaving the organization with less than 3,000 in total to cover the entire North American region.
Ginni has destroyed this once great company. I am no longer proud to say that I am an IBM’er and I haven’t been for the last 6 years. I was hoping it would change and that the board of directors would wake up to her lack of vision, plan, and strategy. She has killed the company and the pride that went along with treating people like people instead of just profits. I am sick and tired of laying off people that have done nothing wrong and have done exactly what was asked of them. I won’t miss looking over my shoulder and having to tell another hard working person that they are being laid off through no fault of their own.
############################################################################
From December 2016
One of the areas not often spoken about, but important is IBM’s facilities group, known as RESO. This group went through a major organisational change earlier this year. The new VP, who has been in the role now for one full year after the old exec was finally asked to leave, has lost all control of the global team. After making his presence known a couple of times in his first couple months, he is completely invisible. Word down even from middle managers is that he’s nonexistent. When he is seen, he apparently micromanages some details usually left to architects and engineers, then heads off.
To put his own mark on the group, the new guy relieved the previous Directors of their responsibilities, then promoted lower level managers to new positions of authority after they fawned over him in the first month of his tenure. The least enjoyed and least respected managers, who climbed on the backs of others, are now the ones calling the shots. All can see where this is going.
The group is floating in disarray and has become a laughingstock to suppliers and other facility groups around the globe, as well as to the poor souls that try to keep the projects and the facilities running.
The amount of vacant space throughout the company is staggering, and the space utilisation of active buildings is atrocious. Funds are managed so poorly all to cover up the deep issues, only propagating the problems.
The creation of the so called Agile work spaces are portrayed as modern and sought after, but they are being built only to cover up the existence of empty offices, at a huge capital cost for each project. Then only to realise the same low utilisations.
Its said the data centre sub teams are asked to perform near miracles, running old centres with tired equipment. The number of data labs across the globe is astounding but space utilisation is low, with no notable efforts to consolidate. This only stretches the small number of staff even further.
All of this while the data centre team is led by a stammering finance man who knows little about the technologies and the challenges the staff faces.
Now, layoffs are again being talked about. Morale is in the cellar. It’s a near circus. Sad times for a team that, well known or not, has been an underpinning of the IBM business throughout its history, providing infrastructure to all of the other business units and their operations.
Job cuts August 2016
Anon: Still processing the information but there is an RA in progress and “I am affected”. I’m in GTS (work from home Boulder) and do mainframe engagement solutioning but it sounds like it will be larger than GTS. Word is the standard cheepskate severence.
Watching IBM Anonymous please: I made the list today too. Details: 31+ years of service. Std pkg. Currently in Business Transformations Organization. Reason for Severance: Reorg and I am no longer required. Comment: As so many have said, jobs are going over seas.
Watching IBM Please keep anonymous. RA’d after 17 years. Systems Group. Age 49, told it was because of my experience and performance and the direct the business unit is going. Never less than a 2+ in the last 15 years. We all know what is really going on.
Manager seemed stressed reading the official script on the phone.
Asked how many were let go in this RA and he wouldn’t comment on the issue
I was told that my skills and performance are below what is expected on this position. Sounds about right?
Watching IBM Anon: I knew it was gonna happen soon. IBM wants to get the people off the payrolls prior to 12/15, to save the 401k match. I was not affected, not sure about others on the account I am on. to be honest, we have already been decimated to the bare minimum, most of the account has already been replaced with Costa Rica IBMers.
Watching IBM Please keep this anonymous……. GTS Resiliency Services was affected by the RA today. Numerous people with 30+ years of service……Resiliency Services was hit hard in the very last RA. Pretty sad being that they support on-site customers.
Watching IBM PLEASE KEEP ME ANONYMOUS: Just got off a senior leadership call concerning GTS — MORE LAYOFFS are planned going into September. lots of discussion about how much brain trust is leaving and how much is going to fall on those left behind… also the fact that those who are RA’ed are NOT eligable for re-hire… a fact I was unawre…. unreal — really sad
Watching IBM Anonymous…. 19+ years. RA’ed today. Lost two jobs to landed resources from India. IBM = India business machines. GBS. Anybody that thinks they are safe. Your time is coming. But Ginny is building a chalet in the Swiss alps. Good luck. Finally over the waiting. Seen all my friends go before me.
Watching IBM Anon: Well got the call today, 22 years of service and I’ve been RA’d, 90 days with a severance of 1 month. Bitter sweet feelings since I’ve been VERY unhappy with the way things have been going the last few years. I’m in GTS (work from home in Broomfield/Boulder Co.) as a Transition Project Manager.
Watching IBM Anonymous please: Just got word that RAs are happening in GTS. So far, people working in the CICs, myself included, aren’t affected…looks like they’re targeting the wfh people again.
Best of luck to any that are affected.
Watching IBM From anonymous Hi – ugh. I’ve just heard about another RA happening today. An old coworker of mine from GBS is affected. He was notified today and his last day will be Nov. 29. No idea of size/scope of RA. My area here in Analytics was not included this time.
Watching IBM Anon please, RA’d today 19 years 11 months and 21 days when I am walked out. WFH. My GTS entire area is shifted to India. Pretty devastating. I heard around 100 notified.
Watching IBM Anon: in IBM for 20 years, currently in CIO half of the group is RAed because not co-located. Other half to go next year unless they move.
Watching IBM RA in GTS, so far no tech folks hit (but we were decimated on the last round), but heard that US-based PM’s targeted. Please keep anon
Watching IBM Anonymous please. RA’d in GTS US after 24+ years. The usual package. Out 11/29. Midrange OS support on solid commercial account, which is giving new business to IBM and phasing out support from ibm’s competitors. So new revenue on a growing green$$ account not a factor in keeping experienced US staff who know how to deliver.
Watching IBM Just add it to the list…as anonymous of course. But from what I know, alot of Tech Support was hit today with the jobs being in Egypt now
Watching IBM another wave of cuts in TSS UK started this week, part 2 of the 2016 cull…
Watching IBM Please post as anonymous: I’m in the number this time. After over 15yrs and then several 2+ ratings. But of course this happens right after Thanksgiving and before the 401K match time.
Watching IBM http://wraltechwire.com/ibm-layoffs-/15976338/
Watching IBM Please keep anonymous..mgrs in gts were ra’d yesterday employees still be told in gts as i write this
Watching IBM Please keep anonymous. I was RA’ed today. I’m in the CIO. Was told that the reason is that my position is being eliminated due to co-location strategy to limit # of locations that CIO personnel are in. Some of my work will be transitioned to other resources & other work eliminated. I don’t know of other folks affected. Nearly 20 years service and a whole 1 month pay 😞
Watching IBM Anon: 15 years in this month. I got notified this morning my last day will be Nov 29th with 4 week severance. I am in the GTS area, my manager has to let go over 50% her people. The work is being moved to GDF since it’s all restricted work and we can’t send it offshore.
11/29 last day
Watching IBM Anonymous please. RAs today in Software Group. 90 days to find another job and 1 month severance. Selection criteria was not shared. Co-worker had 19+ years tenure and 50+ years of age. Prayers for those impacted.
Watching IBM Anonymous please : Today was my turn too. Over 30 years of service, mostly 2+ and 1 ratings. Actively working on a contract. Angry about how it is handled, sad to see the end of my IBM career. Weary of wondering if or when this would happen. Frus…See More
Watching IBM want to remain anon please. RA happening today in the US, GTS managers are making calls… not sure who is involved yet.
Watching IBM Please keep anon: Just got the call. US based in GTS global. Manager says HR calling it Work Elimination in US. Didn’t have overall numbers but said it was widespread and impacting 2 in group. Both “retirement eligible”.
Watching IBM Pls post anonumously : Tomorrow 344 dutch colleagues will be RA’d
Watching IBM Anonymous please: RA’d today in USA Storage Presales (CTS). Multiple 2+ ratings, exceeded quota past 2 years, top quarter of organization. 90 days notice 1 month severance.
Job cuts March 1st and 2nd 2016
You are correct. I get my packet in the morning. The big screw job is that I’m only getting 1 month severance instead of the 25 weeks I am entitled when I was hired. I’m thrilled I will be gone in 90 days and “stick them” for my vacation pay.
Heard notifications are going out tomorrow morning. Transformation and Operations. Aggressive. US and Global Delivery Centers effected. US employees are given 90 days notice and 1 month severance. Won’t that be fun for everyone?
Sent to Watching IBM: “After 41 plus years I got the call today. How many more ways can they take from hard working IBM’rs? I was ready to go last year when they had the severance package. Why didn’t they do it then? We have been living and working with this “writing on the wall” for years. What stings the most is the severance cut. But as everyone who is now an ex IBM’r I have only heard positive move in their lives. Praying for the same. Good luck to all who are caught in this today. ”
“I am a GTS Strategic Outsourcing casualty of the mass firing today. My manager told me it was big and widespread, and I’d be hearing from a lot of people that will also be notified today. My official end date is May 31, 2016 (90 days) and the severance package is 1 month. I was encouraged to look for jobs inside IBM and was told that they are “plentiful” and “open”. Even if I were to believe that, I’m not sure why I would stay, looking over my shoulder every month or so waiting for the IBM axe wielders to come for me again. I’m looking forward to moving on and leaving this nightmare behind me. I wish everyone good luck, whether you are staying or going. I’m not sure which group is going to need it more.
Job cut. GTS division as a service delivery manager.
The team has been spread increasingly thin over the last year to the point where we really can’t keep the service up and running smoothly and keep customers happy with the continuous improvements they expect. Instead, we are mandated to invest our limited resources in Marketing enhancements (that customers don’t care about) that will enable us to sell more of the product. Customers are becoming increasingly unhappy. The wheels are falling off the wagon.
################################################################
January 29, 2016
Sources say todays job cut postponed until February 5.
Jan 8, 2016
Watching IBM 