From anon: I Have been with IBM for 16 years now. As an employee I have joined the company on its highest peak. Its very disappointing and depressing to realize how things turned out to be, not so much on the technology part, but rather on the HR and the way management handles its own people.
Better, how does the company think of its own people !
I have read so many postings, from Respectful IBMer's, from people who respected, from people who lived for the aspirations of this corporation.
Back then of course there were a few things above $$$$. Those things were called ethics, respect and facilitation. The IBM'ers VALUES. That was back then when management respected its own people. When there was mutual respect between teams and management.
Unfortunately that seems as non existent now, because the company decided that people are not worth dealing with, therefore do not train them but expect more of them ( similar behavior of that to a WWII prisoner), and then consequently abandon them massively with the worst non human behavior ever as if they are from another planet or as if they are responsible for the current IBM status.
Teams are expected to work 24×7 and given a mobile, IBM reserves the right to call in for anything, at any given time, as if you have no better things to do in your life, especially over weekends, or deal with anything else apart from IBM. All this is happening while they culture the theory of "No life after IBM".
More ever they do not want you to know of facts or new projects or your new assignments or the workings of your new assignments beforehand.
They do like to have you face it as it comes so that you end up being exposed in front of the customer at the end.
That is depressing and frustrating. It shows how much IBM respects you.
I never thought that incidents posted in this group will ever happened to small Geographies like mine. But oh yes! Its happening. When discussed several matters with some of the people I thought that they would still carry the values of an IBMer...I found out recently I was wrong. Felt as if I just hit a wall. The worst is that they decline everything you said and thought of, only to see it happening some time later.
Your opinions, gestures or goodwill do not count anymore. You and your values are not respected. Whats respected its whether or not you can be a 'YES MAN'. If you dare to stick your head up and fight for your rights as an employee, you simply terminated because of your previous actions.
As I am now 52, I am out of IBM, I do not intend to come back ever again. I have set a new course for a different industry.
I am not saying that with bitterness. Its the truth.
IBM has become a dirty war zone where you could hear only one word "Yes Man"