IBM Employee Job
Cut Survival Kit
Helpful
Information
Things
To Do:
- While you
still have access to IBM systems, print off your
salary history and pension history from
Money@Work and take it home. (Even if you get 30
days to "find another job in IBM", you
may no longer have access to these systems).
- If you have
any files at work listing award history,
education history or other personal information,
print them and take them home. Education history
can be important in establishing the skills you
list in your resume.
- Write down
exactly how much vacation and floating holiday
time that you've used. Make sure you have taken
credit for all your holidays. Unused holidays are
forfeited, but IBM has to pay you for unused
vacation.
- If you are in
a location where 500 or more employees have been
let go within 30 days, IBM must conform to the
federal WARN act and give you 60 days notice and
60 days pay.
- If you are
over 40 years old, please file an age
discrimination complaint with the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); their
web site is http://www.eeoc.gov. This is
particularly important if your area has new
college hires. Document if new hires are brought
into your former area after you have been let go.
It is perfectly legal for you to file a complaint
even if you've signed a waiver to get your
severance check.
- Locate copies
of your appraisals and PBC ratings from
"HRA", and take them home. IBM won't
voluntarily give you any reference information
after you are gone. Plus, if you decide to file a
complaint with the EEOC, you will need a record
of your performance. Even if you don't lose your
job at this time it is always good practice to
keep your personal records at home.
- Keep in
contact with co-workers who remain at IBM. Be
sure to make a list of their external email id's
and phone numbers so you can contact them (you
can make a copy of your Lotus notes directory.)
Sometimes the best source of a new job is one of
your colleagues.
- Send a note
to the IBM pension administrator
(pension@us.ibm.com) asking for a copy of your
current vested rights in both annuity form and
cash form. Provide your serial number and home
address. (Note from one of our members: Don't
expect to easily get the information that IBM is
legally required to provide you. After three
requests and a threat of legal action, he has not
received his vested rights information, but
instead has been directed to use the Money@Work
tool to get the information. BEWARE! Money@Work
does NOT provide your vested rights, it only
tells you what IBM estimates your retirement
income will be based on IBM's formulas and
assumptions.)
- Also please
fill out the Alliance web site form about your
job loss. We need the statistics. You do not have
to provide your name if you don't wish to do so.
- DO NOT assume
your manager is watching out for your best
interests. They too may be laid off and looking
for a job themselves. If they give you a window
for finding another job inside IBM, make the
calls yourself and send out as many resumes as
possible.
Web
Site Links With Further Information:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: http://www.eeoc.gov
Older Workers Protection Act: http://www.ahipubs.com/FAQ/benefits/older.html
US Dept. of Labor: http://www.dol.gov
Find your state Unemployment Office: http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/map.asp
Helpful
Articles:
http://adresnet.com/laidoff.html
http://jobsearchtech.about.com/library/weekly/aa080398-3.htm
http://www.essence.com/highlights/at_work/aw_012202.shtml
For
those who remain:
Without a union, management dictates everything about a
layoff. With a union, we could have a grievance procedure
for unfair situations and we can have the terms of the
layoff in writing, such as the right to be recalled back
to your job when business picks up. It is up to you
- continue with Gerstner and Palmisano controlling your
future OR join the Alliance and build power in the
workplace for IBM employees.
Disclaimer:
This information is not legal advice. Please consult an
attorney for any questions you may have.
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