Thread regarding IBM layoffs

I can appreciate the stress of having to fire an outstanding employee. But counter that with the stress experienced by the fired employee: wondering if you're going to be able to pay those college tuition bills, get another job, afford health insurance, or ever retire.. all the while watching your manager (and your engineering buddies who wisely went to work for the government) retire with nice defined-benefit pensions. I think we all know which form of stress we'd prefer! How many FLMs refused to fire people and instead took the hit themselves, or resigned if unable to take the hit? Like, none. Or very very few.

The point is not to cast FLMs as callous or indicate they have no stress coming from above. But there are too many managers! How many levels are there? way too many. Managers have power but with power should come responsibility. If IBM is doing poorly, it's time to fire some managers because they, along with Ginni, are responsible. If anyone hasn't noticed, we non-managers have been cut to the point that it's difficult for us to get the work done.

It is personal and the Mgr's that I knew took it very personally. We as Mgr's were given targets (headcount, not people) that we had to achieve at any cost. Any good Mgr would fight for their employees and would do anything possible to keep them employed. I for one got in trouble with HR and my 3rd line Mgr for finding a loop hole which saved several employees.

To assume all Mgr's are calloused and enjoy firing people is very short sided. Try walking in their shoes and see the stress they feel by being forced to lay off outstanding employees that they have built up a relationship with over years.

It's all personal and since managers are selecting the targets, they in general protect their own. Three people were RA'd in my area; none deserved. Shortly thereafter, the second line retired the normal way, with a great pension. Why didn't he RA himself, and thereby save three people? Nobody has missed him, and the proof of this is that his former position has not been filled. Just another line manager taking up space and earning far more than deserved. But he ruined the IBM careers of three hard-working people.

Someone has to do the nasty work of firing people. They will have their turn.

Former FLM here... FLMs are not a protected class as you might suspect.. I can rattle off a whole list of former FLMs that have been RA'd in the last 5 years.

I only know one manager that was RA'd and that was a personal vendetta from his boss.