Back on March 1st, I was notified that I was being laid off from IBM after 26 years. I’ve survived many, many layoffs over the years and figured that sales technical support had to be nearly bulletproof and impossible to outsource overseas. I was right on the outsourcing but wrong on the bullet resistance — they took out 60% of us for no apparent reason evidently because this division’s ratios were different than that division’s ratios.
But that’s not why I’m mad. Disappointed, perhaps, but not mad about being laid off.
Here’s why I’m mad:
- IBM took the opportunity to keep five weeks of my severance pay by strictly interpreting a re-hire date. I had documentation (anticipating this from 11 years ago!) showing that a few months away from IBM due to a divestiture was supposed to be erased. I appealed, to no avail. “We can’t make an exception, then everyone would want one.” Hard to argue with people who don’t know the definition of an exception.
- For the same reason as #1, they only provided 6 months of Cobra subsidy instead of 12.
- As part of the glorious “Resource Action” documentation, you receive encouragement to use the job posting system to find another position within the company. Which I did, successfully. Or not, it seems that just because the job is posted, you want it, and the manager wants you….not enough. No hiring from the “RA” list was allowed within the division.
- It has taken three months and countless phone calls, tree-killing mailings, notarizations and other delays to receive my Personal Pension Account balance. I knew what I wanted on day 1 and the “Employee Services Center” (operated by Fidelity Investments) could have easily clicked twice and transferred my balance to my 401K (also operated by, um, Fidelity Investments). I wonder who is using my capital whilst I wait?
- My second Project 365 had to go on hold for 57 days while I sorted out my options and truth from fiction.
For BackAmp Research, only #5 has any relevance. I guess there are going to a few less travel photos.
