"IBM Has Trimmed Its Workforce by 8,000 People"
Last night: IBM Driving Workers Crazy (Maybe It Wants Them to Just Resign, No Severance)
Citing the above report, courtesy of IDG at the time, an IBM insider for 25 years says the exact number is 8,000 (and IBM isn't done yet, the silent layoffs have months left).
Here is the full text from William A (Bill) Brown (former IBM, left 6 months ago, a C*O position):
IBM has trimmed its workforce by 8,000 people. That's a significant number. I'm posting because I've been flooded with emails/SMSs from ex, soon-to-be ex, or afraid-to-be ex-employees .I negotiated my salary at the start of my IBM career. I was a sr. experienced hire and expected the compensation to match. The recruiter who shepherded my hiring process said, "Bill, take the job and the offer. IBM never fires people. You will be there for the rest of your career." The recruiter was correct. I quadrupled my initial salary during my career but gained something much more valuable.
I gained the exposure, experience, and maturity of working for a global company. I worked on all continents (except Antarctica), lived on 3, and received a practical education equal to a PhD, which money can't buy in any university. I met, worked with, and became friends with some of the most intelligent people I have ever known.
What a ride!!!! Sure, there were ups and downs, times when I was disappointed or felt like I was unfairly treated, but in the fullness of time, I was made better by the experience. Any athlete will tell you that your game gets better when you play with people above your level. This is so true and is what IBM gave me. I also worked my hind parts off. Back to the 8,000. It's hard to get fired, and it's hard to adjust without feeling like your value has lessened. But your value hasn't it has grown significantly. If you were responsible for your career, kept your skills up, and your eyes and ears opened, your value has grown even more.
Your experience, gained over time and struggle, is heads and shoulders above most in the marketplace. But if you don't believe that, my telling you won't help.
IBM made a business decision that the street likes very much. Its stock price is the highest it's ever been (221.23 on September 25, 2024). IBM will continue to make these decisions. You can be angry, but please consider the Pros and Cons from a non-emotional perspective.
You walk away with a lump sum of 90 days' pay (more if you were an executive), lifetime career coaching, a training or retraining budget, counseling, and here's the cherry on the top: the experience, education, and network of all that you've been exposed to at IBM. It's not a bad deal; it's better than most of their competitors.
As I've said in another post, take some time to relax, clear your head, and breathe. Put any negativity or resentment you may have in your rearview mirror. Keeping it won't change anything, but it will make you miserable.
Sharpen your skills and add a few more. Most companies can't find people with your experience and will value you for what you have. If a company doesn't, well, you don't want to work for a company that makes bad decisions. Move on.
If I am not already part of your network, please add me. Email me at aes@3pp.com or ibmalumni@3pp.com. I will help if I can.
Someone in the comments said: "That's sad Wonnie. You're running PR for laying off 8000 people. After the 100+ thousand in the last three decades. IBM has not invested in people for decades."
"Apparently 8K RA'd in last round," someone wrote an hour ago. "So according to this source, apparently it was 8K people that were broomed aside in the last RA."
How can a company legally lay off 8,000 people without saying anything? █