January 21st, 2009

IBM job cuts underway

Posted by Larry Dignan @ 1:53 pm

Categories: General, IBM

Tags: Software, Job, IBM Corp., Final Day, Tools & Techniques, Workforce Management, Management, Human Resources, Larry Dignan

We’re getting numerous instant messages, pings and posts about IBM layoffs going down today. The exact number of layoffs–or even if the job cuts are material enough for Big Blue to disclose–is unknown.

The official site for the IBM Employees Union–Alliance@IBM–has a bevy of individuals telling their pink slip tales.  The news comes just a day after IBM surprised Wall Street with a strong fourth quarter. Calls to IBM weren’t immediately returned. The Alliance@IBM site blares:

IBM JOB CUTS
ARE HAPPENING
in SWG 1/21/2009!

Among the comments:

• One of guys on my team in SWG just told me about the Resource Action. He told me there are hundreds on the list in the package.
• By my counts about 800 software engineers are selected in the action. 330 Staff, 280 Advisory, 120 senior, and others.
• Our Tivoli group lost four of six people. Severance offered is one week per every week of employment (from most recent start date). Final day is roughly four weeks from today. Some extension on insurance based, if I remember from the meeting, on time served.

Judging from the comments, it looks like IBM’s software unit is taking the biggest hit. That move isn’t entirely surprising given the number of software acquisitions Big Blue has completed over the years.

Meanwhile,  IBMers are also starting to blog about the layoffs. Aaron Leventhal writes:

This came as shock to me today, but I was just laid off from IBM. It was not a result of performance. They tell me it was because ARIA and working with external browser vendors is no longer a priority. There is still the chance to find work for another group in IBM, and I will probably be looking into that.

I have enjoyed working there, especially on Web 2.0 accessibility and Mozilla.

Also see: Can IBM sustain its momentum?