People Discuss Rumours of Mass Layoffs at IBM Becoming Public in 1-2 Weeks
Lots of noise and name-calling, but the layoffs persist and are very extensive
We've been watching a particular discussion thread since yesterday morning when we spotted very rude comments with some gems in between. The original poster has since followed up and we want to highlight some of the better recent comments. Some of them can give people an idea of what it's like to work for IBM in 2026.
Just a day ago an "Anonymous" poster spoke of some of the more docile managers: "Yea they are the ones who say annoying stuff like circle back, synergy, etc. They lead teams but don't know anything technical. All they do is schedule meetings, send slack messages and repeat the talking points of Alvind and the PipMonkeys" (high-level management).
The next comment pointed out that for a long time already IBM layoffs have been continuous: "I’m sure there will be layoffs like there always are. You could make this announcement just about any month and you have a 30% chance of being right . Layoffs are continuous mode of doing business at IBM. I don’t know why anyone is surprised at any time. For most people when they get the ax, it’ll be the best thing that has happened to them. I know, I spent 18 years there. I left voluntarily last year. The job market is not great. But that place is toxic. Has been for a long time.. everyone has to make a choice . Hang in there and take the hits to your mental health. Or walk away potentially take a hit to your financial health. Not easy choices. Good luck."
On playing workers off against one another (e.g. based on country/race): "Reading the comments on this post it’s clear they’ve already won. If the goal was to try to create some sort of internal “class warfare“ then it’s pretty clear that they’ve achieved it. You would like to think this is a more intelligent, sophisticated place staffed by intellectually capable adults, but the petulancy, little boyish, teenage style of writing and responding you see here suggests otherwise. I guess we all deserve what’s coming. Some of you are so intellectually gimpy you have completely missed the point of this post and zoned in on the band 10 part as if your lives depended on it, which I guess, given the intellectual quality displayed here, in a sense they do. Certainly your ego’s do. You honestly think they’re not going take out whoever they want whenever they want? We deserve what’s coming. They’ve already won."
"I don’t think most in IBM are even aware of this site. Very few seem to know about it let alone read it. Maybe spread the word about it," said another person.
Many at IBM do read Techrights.
"Maybe RA some managers for a change," said the next comment.
The original poster was dismayed by some nasty comments and clarified s/he is not a manager: "You are right. Wish I had not said anything. Sad to see this. I have been b10 but never a manager in 7 years. Only I know because my flm who is D told me."
Someone else noted the combative comments and said: "Class warfare. So stupid. After 15 years stuck at a band 9, I clawed my way in front of several panels to get promoted to a Band 10, STSM. I had to show not only I could walk on water but under my feet it all turned to wine. This was as an IC who could do strategy. The panel was arrogant and di-kish and it took me two tries. Crowning career achievement and for the first time in 20 years I could afford to go on a nice vacation. Then Arvind came and sh-t on my career. We had 3 reorgs in 4 years. It became impossible to get into the new cliques. They had their own people to protect and their own jobs. When I showed them the water walking, turning it into wine, the new management said "meh! We wanted Pinot noir but you gave us Merlot." Truthfully it wasn't that different from that. My last day was Dec 4. I was STSM barely 5 years before Arvind blow torched my career and dumped me in this evil, awful job market. I got where I got based on personal initiative and strategic vision - they got rid of me so they could hire a bunch of interns who don't even know how to wipe their own behinds. I was not management. I was a recognized high achiever. And being rewarded for that almost immediately got me laid off. Sorry to the Band 10s affected this round. It will never end until Arvind and his regime are ended."
Many want him (the CEO, Arvind) out, but he is already surrounded by enablers whose strategy is misguided and self-serving (to them, not the company).
There seems to be a lot of infighting there based on band and/or location and the latest comment sums up the current strategy "following the Kyndryl model":
The odds are very very good that IBM continues the cost take out in NA and Northern Europe. 6-10 k of legacy heads a year is the goal. Those take outs will fall more heavily on consulting and higher band levels due to “thats where the costs are”, and they are the only folks left standing. IBM is very much following the Kyndryl model which is to offshore labor to lower cost countries as labor has become a commodity, and manufacturing has already been offshored (except for mainframe). So what will 2026 bring? Here are a few speculations
- IBM will aim for a 5% on shore labor force. Kyndryl started at 8% on shore, but is rapidly moving to 5%. IBM has made the decision that labor is a commodity except for enterprise engagements.
- IBM will partner off everything infrastructure related except for enterprise. Yep that means all scaleout products, including TSS, cloud, Power and storage
- IBM will move to an IP model (HW) and distribution model (SW).
- IBM’s ultimate goal is high touch enterprise, and AI/automation everything else. Yep that means automation will gradually replace labor no matter where it is located.
In a nutshell, IBM is trying to cull the "expensive" workers and lessen the compensation of the remainders/survivors. Buying and selling things "on the cheap" while maintaining/building products/services is only feasible as long as most people have not caught up with what your brand truly means. IBM is killing its brand or its "goodwill". █