When can we expect next round of layoffs? It is more and more obvious each day that anybody in their late forties or early fifties and up has no future at IBM.
This leadership will stop at nothing to get rid of us, it seems. And unfortunately, they keep doing it with absolutely no consequences, so why would they stop?
No layoffs until near the end of the quarter (mid-late March), as was done last year.
Can’t speak for this year but apparently last year 1/4 of Division 016 got let go.
They have already spun off around 500 GTS jobs in Germany to Bechtle a reseller. It was delayed from 2018 but is in progress now from what I hear.
IBM depends on services as a way to avoid making their products comprehensible. The products are such rubbish that no customer can figure them out, so IBM sells services. If IBM leaves the services game that would reveal the low quality of the products. Do they truly want to do that?
IBM has been positioning the sell off GTS for a number of years now. They want out of the services business so they can focus on their core (hardware and OS). I believe they are in their final stages of a divestment, which is why Bain was brought in. Watch for big news this year.
@X2pawI7-6nae, I think you are wrong. IBM has to sell something large to come up with the cash for Red Hat. It won’t be the Systems or the Cloud divisions. It may be Watson though more likely it will be the Services division which include GBS. If I were you I would start updating your resume.
"Watson hasn't been safe from layoffs for a couple of years now."
A couple of years? Where have you being?. It's being more like the last 10 years.
A newsflash for some of the people here still calling it GBS.
IBM kills Global Technology and Global Business Services: It's all ‘IBM Services’ now.
Watson hasn't been safe from layoffs for a couple of years now.
In 2017 and 2018 there were layoffs in development (including Watson) announced on March 29, with a separation date at the end of June. I hope my friends still at IBM don't see history repeat again this year.
@X2pawI7-6kru can you shut up about the sale of GBS. it's not happening, bain is not buying GBS. who would want to buy it and who would even have enough money
Next round of layoffs is evidently coming after the Q4 2018 earnings call. Brace yourself as it is going to be ugly. This is the last step for IBM to right size the Services division(s) before a sale.
Failed leadership. Period. Bad decisions, badinvestments and poor management. Look at the facts. Arrogant and inept Senior IBM Management. Wall Street agrees. What a shame.
Watson is not exempt
As an early adopter of Watson Workspace*, we want to share with you some important upcoming changes.
Tomorrow, Tuesday 15 Jan 2019, IBM will formally announce the End of Marketing for all Watson Workspace offerings and we anticipate ending the Watson Workspace service on 2/28/19. This includes Watson Workspace Essentials, Plus, and the free offering. It is our intent to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your options regarding the closure of Watson Workspace.
While there is no question that Watson Workspace is innovative and agile, it hasn’t resonated with clients or obtained the traction in the marketplace necessary for IBM to continue forward with the service. Despite our best efforts and enthusiasm for these offerings, our decision to withdraw them aligns to IBM’s investment strategy, focused on delivering solutions that deliver measurable value to our customers and business partners.
IBM has stopped accepting new orders for Watson Workspace products, and we will not be adding any new features to the offerings. We have been working with our licensed customers and business partners to provide options for handling subscriptions and contracts once the end of service announcement is published to provide a smooth transition.
Starting tomorrow there will be a banner placed into the UI of Watson Workspace informing users of the timeline for moving off the service. Mobile customers may find details in the release notes of the mobile app. We will also provide access to a tool that will allow you to download and save your conversations and content from Watson Workspace. Please plan accordingly to capture any content you'd like to retain as we work to sunset the service. This option will only be available for a limited time.
Thank you for your support of Watson Workspace and IBM Collaboration Solutions. Please find additional details and answers to commonly asked questions in the FAQ that will be posted in the Watson Workspace banner tomorrow.
IBM Collaboration Services, Offering Management
I recall reviewing Skills Matrixes as part or an outsourcing deal for IBM and the candidates being TUPEd in as part of the deal. Would certainly suspect it’s more than just a benign activity on the part of IBM.
My team had to do something that looked like a skills matrix too. We had to show where we had experience or were trained in certain areas. I’m far from the over 50 bracket but I’m still scared.
The skills matrix is the kiss of death. Be very careful what you submit as IBM HR and Legal use it as a lay-off tool. It becomes a defense mechanism they use when employees claim age discrimination. My suggestion is to back up your hard drive and print off any and all documentation that may help in an age discrimination suit and filing with the EEOC.
If you have time to work on your skills matrix then you have too much time on your hands.
When your manager asks how much time are you spending and on what, you are in trouble. Especially if you hit age 55 plus and
Are in any Service organization.
The dreaded skills matrix? Let me guess, some old Excel 97 spread sheet still?
IBM is so screwed.
My team was just asked last week to fill in a matrix of our skills and what were working on with timeframes. Now sometimes these requests can be data gathering for a big bid, but I know it’s not for a big bid this time as I know of several other teams who were asked to do the same. We know a layoff is coming and I’m getting my resume ready. GBS NA get ready to get hit hard.
Interested if this is a trend across the board.
When a company is B2B only, why even waste money on TV commercials?
Who Is IBM ? Oh wait, my grandparents talked about them back in the 50s.
Dump all of the IBM internal compliance teams, including Agile.
These have no value add to our clients yet the salaries are out of control.
IBM shoud layoff the non-revenue group it wast resouces it will good for the share holder get rid of the IBM Accessibilty group (Disabiility Accessibility) what is waste resouces and and non-productive) in Austin Texas
Agree, I BM needs to close the non revenue generated. and those group like Disability (WACG, SECTION 508...)
Yes, totally agree, "Sell" is the melody of 2019.
Jan 22nd is when Q4 earnings results. Look for remarks in the pre-prepared statements regarding changing resources, re-training, remixing, rebalancing skills or whatever the latest IBM acronym is. They sometimes will say in advanced if they will be allocating certain costs to skill rebalancing activities. As history has shown each and every year .... by end of March notices will go out to affected parties.
Yes I agree, the priority for 2019 will be "sell off" rather than "lay off" because IBM needs to raise at least 20 Billion to pay for Red Hat. IBM already negotiated a bridge loan with a few big banks which is the sign than one or more division are to be sold off before the end of 2019, or if not no later than early 2020.
Bain is looking to clean up the mess and the millennial's are not spared.
Far more radical plans for 2019 have been hatched by Bain. Watch this space but as a clue, think "sell off" rather than "layoff".