Buzz about possible coming IBM layoffs

What rumors are people hearing about Big Blue and possible layoffs this month?

Buzz is humming along on ibmemployees.com, Alliance@IBM and other places.

Some expect cuts to hit later this week, some say Jan. 29.

Companywide estimates of job cuts run as high as 16,000 in some places.

Here are a few varying unconfirmed perspectives floating around Internet:

Here are some postings from the Alliance@IBM:

Comment 1/03/08: We have a department of over 50 people. Many of the contractors were told on 12/31 that it was their last day. Things are falling into place.

Comment 1/02/08: DEEP CUTS EXPECTED AT BTV!!!! Jan 23 is the date. Ditoro cutting 100's of jobs. Very few spared. So Sad. Goal is to cut costs. BTV has very little work. Good luck to all.

Comment 1/02/08: Listen.. I work for the SEC and I can confirm the layoffs for Jan. 23 for at least IBM. I don't have clearance but I did manage to take a look at a document confirming this. IBM is not 100% sure; but the fact that we have already been notified of these cuts means there's a good chance the layoffs will go through. F.Y.I., I'm at a library computer.

Comment 1/02/08: rumors of mfg in Rochester, MN being sold to Geodis... time will tell!!?? -homerj-

Comment 12/27/08: IBM is laying off 400 jobs in its software division with 1 month to find another position; mainly marketing and admin positions. -Anonymous- 

Here's some from Christine Young of the Times Herald-Record:

An unofficial online employee Web site, IBMemployee.com, says massive layoffs are coming to Big Blue later this month.

While IBM spokesman Fred McNeese says the company "does not comment on rumors or speculation," there's plenty of both on the site.

"All divisions in IBM will be affected," says one entry, adding the majority of those cuts will be announced Jan. 23.

"Get all your ducks in a row," it continues. "Time is running out."

Several more posts say approximately 16,000 employees, mostly in the U.S., will be affected.

"I heard this from a second-line manager," says one employee. "Confidentiality agreements were signed in the upper ranks to keep this hush-hush, but nothing this big stays out of the light for long."

Over the past few weeks, multiple sources have told the Times Herald-Record that a major resource action is coming. The IBMemployee.com posts are significant in that they seem to confirm what the Record has been hearing — all centered around a mid- to late-January announcement.

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Still another writer said, "My manager is involved in the layoff planning in our division (part of the technology group). He told me the numbers in our division were going to be very large, a lot larger than what the other managers were expecting. He moved half of us onto projects with government funding commitments and thinks he can protect the people he has left, but he's not sure. Nobody wants to fearmonger, but the layoffs are coming."

Comments

[Mike]

"All divisions in IBM will be affected"

I HIGHLY doubt *all* divisions in IBM will be affected. I can think of one that won't be.

[cabbey]

yeah, is CHQ *ever* impacted?

[anonymoustoo]

Are they closing roch, and moving the people they keep out to the east coast?
Or just laying off?

[employee]

all manpower are laid off for 2 weeks as of jan 12th, miss managed company for sure.they have all employees coming in at 5 or 6 am and nothing arives until 9 am, makes sence to me, sit around for 3 or 4 hrs.

[lando]

I heard today that nearly 20% of Rochester will be getting the boot.