Claims That PIPs Are Abused for Silent Mass Layoffs at IBM (Without Severance) or Forced Retirements

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Jan 25, 2026

Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) "clearly bogus as everyone on my team who has been on one has been fired"

PIPs are nowadays widely used by GAFAM, not just misused inside IBM. It's just some legal hack or trick to sack people while blaming them for the sacking (even if the reasons are financial, not in any way connected/associated with the worker's performance). In recent hours people challenged the assertion you can salvage yourself once you're put on a PIP:

their who use of pip or lower performer status is bogus. They are using it in a way these protocols were not intended. It’s nefarious how they are really using these protocols

IBM is shedding off a lot of workers in "forever layoffs" [1, 2] and those impacted always act like "THIS IS OK!" because of NDAs (they might get denied what they are legally entitled to because challenging IBM in court is too expensive or more expensive than what one is entitled to).

In recent hours we saw ongoing discussion about tribalism at IBM and the role that plays in promotions/demotions/RAs:

That is the reason why the next IBM CEO is going to be White (non-Indian). Could have been Dinesh, but no!

Minutes ago: (Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra)

Last working day at IBM. Grateful for the exposure, learning, and connections built along the way. Ready for the next challenge!

Maybe part of the "forever layoffs"; this man isn't retiring. █

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