Recently heard from an IBM executive that the RA program has been stopped. No joke! Explains why there hasn’t been an RA for awhile. No other details. Not sure how future “layoffs” will be handled or if severance pay will be given. Good question for your management if they even know!
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The saying by IBM executives is that we are getting away from an RA culture into more of a performance culture. PIP here we come!
It’s more than just 30k heads getting cut (RA’s) IBM will exit several businesses they choose not to serve (Watson Health is an example) IBM knows what the redeployment attrition rate is going to be (It’s higher than normal as jobs are plentiful) The ultimate goal is 170-175k head count after all is said and done. The 170k number gets IBM to a sustainable run rate with some purchasing ability and the ability to service the debt and dividend. It still doesn’t get IBM back to growth, as farming established fortune 1000 accounts is just trading legacy cash flow for modernization cash flow. You are running in place thus going no where fast.
I got out of there in November…wish I done it sooner
Many here in EMEA would be happy to just get a package and not this redeployment/ reskilling humiliation .. IBM thinking that completely changing ones profession is god's gift to employees. Treating employees like sh-t, not knowing what will happen if you do not accept digital sales job after 10, 14, some even 20 years in marketing. Or sending IGF people to reskill in technical sales.. Can you imagine how many unhappy redeployed "new sellers" can create impact, people who had to accept this offer for financial security of their families - how successful will they be. I dont know a single person who is happy about this. Another fail move.
Redeployment program does not shrink head count. That is IBM objective.
Can confirm 2/17 30k souls will be shown through the exit door.
Layoffs are coming, whether called RAs or anything else, they are right around the corner.
Given IBM’s new re-org (S1 (Established Fortune 1000), S1.5 (abandoned fortune 1000) and S2.0 (channel) what are the odds that the redeployment will be into accounts that are in the S1.5 space? That’s a very tough assignment to recover accounts that have moved away.
Redeployment is real - I’m in EMEA and I’m impacted by it.
RA is now called LO Layoff .
I will believe it when IBM post an internal letter to employees. If not, RA is coming.
It's now called the Reemployment Participation Program. Another IBM euphemism.
I hear from colleague in marketing that this is now actually IBM called redeployment - huge decreases in number of people in mktg departments happening since December in EMEA, APAC for example. They want to move redundant marketing people under digital sales - turn marketing person into digital sales. So while no layoffs, on the other it is forcing people into new roles which nobody really wants, so in a way this is layoffs w/o package - either take digital sales role or leave or leave when you are really frustrated. Or wait what happens next.
AK had mentioned belt tightening and cuts in his recent video. Don’t be fooled you fools
I’m quite confident that there is a cadre of talented people working diligently to rename the program. Unfortunately the RAs can’t stop because of where revenue is headed. Very sad, at one time I was so very proud to be an IBMer. Left a few years back when my number came up (probably due to age and salary) and the RA machine started. I miss my colleagues (have stayed in touch with a few) but in reality, it’s just a place to work. If anything, leaving IBM gave me clarity about life - it’s too short to invest your time in a company that demonstrates little regard for its people. The words are there, but the actions speak volumes.
Putting some lipstick on the pig? I am certain IBM will have a massive "reconstruction" coming. They will probably come up with some other way to label it to confuse the enemy, but at the end of the day nothing is new under the sun. I guess we we learn more soon, and probably the 24th?
Yes it's done. Until is not.
I smoke, but every time I put out a cig I stop smoking. Then in an hour I start again, then I stop.
The same is with our RAs, they will do one in Spring, then it'll be stopped, no more bro. And then, in October, we'll restart it again.
Give me a fu----g break.
Definitely a lot of people leaving on their own terms since they are fed up with IBM. May be that explains it…
I am sure the vaccination policy is a substitute for RA.
And yes they have consistent RAs still. Just enough at a time to keep under radar.
"A rose by any other name... "
Hahaha! Now that is funny. IBM will probably rename the program.