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Comment 05/09/08:
Reason for my post.
2007 salary 90000
2008 at 15% less 76500
8 hours OT = 22950 a year
new 08 salary 99450 -nike-

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Comment 05/08/08: To Nike et all - IGS has always required a minimum of unpaid 15-20% OT. Nothing new there. By successfully getting back 5+ years of salary increases and my exempt status, they can laugh all they want. I'm not sure  of the purpose of your post, but as a paying member, I was sharing my information as requested in previous post. -Anonymous 15% Lucky this week-

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Comment 05/07/08: To: **an Anonymous 15% Lucky this week** You work 48 hours a week according to your post. The OT for 8 hours is 30% over base pay. So you fought to get back 15% and go exempt. Wow, you just gave IBM back 15% of YOUR PAY !!!! The first and second line must have a heck of a laugh behind the closed door. -nike-

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Comment 05/07/08:
Salary = 58500
Band Level = 6
Job Title = IT Architect
Years Service = 3
Hours/Week = 40
Div Name = ITS
Location = Midwest
Message = Stupid Non-Exempt Thing -JonAnon-

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Comment 05/07/08:
Salary = 62K before 53K after
Band Level = 6
Job Title = IT Specialist
Years Service = 5
Hours/Week = 50
Div Name = 29
Location = MN
Message = I heard that of the 48 people that appealed their remix in my 2nd line org, only two were approved. I know several of the people affected (truthfully) presented their case based on answers that would lead to an exempt answer using the FLSA Computer-related occupation questionnaire. -Anon-

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Comment 05/06/08: I agree with the comment on project management. I too answered every question in my appeal interview as a project manager. My appeal was denied. After going through this, I am even more convinced that this whole pay cut was and continues to be retaliation. IBM lost a law suit and is now retaliating against employees. Else, why aren't all job families being held to the same exempt/non-exempt standard as IT Specialists? I clearly proved I should remain exempt based on the way the law reads, but because I am in the IT specialist code I lose. I have nothing against project managers, just using that job family as an example because I was one. I am non-exempt now, then so should PMs be non-exempt. -anon13-

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Comment 05/05/08:
Salary = 3000
Band Level = 2
Job Title = sakshi
Years Service = 3
Hours/Week = 21
Div Name = prakash
Location = kuppam
Message = TELL ME FULL DETAILS... -m.prakash-

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Comment 05/04/08: In the last 2 weeks, we have had our OT limited to 6 hours per week. Previously (before the salary cut), I worked 55 hour weeks. I am now working the 46 hour week and just not getting all of my work done. Has anyone else had this happen? Wondering if it is just my org or IBM across the board. -JustMe-

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Comment 05/04/08: House Republicans Move To Increase H1B Visa Quota TechCrunch, CA - Apr 21, 2008
Google it! .. (( from Microsoft to Oracle they are all pushing for an increase in H1b visa's..... Remember graduation is June and the new fiscal year begins in Oct. save your money you may need it....I'm just sayin' )) -spiderman-

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Comment 05/03/08:
Salary = 90+k
Band Level = 8
Job Title = Senior IT Specialist
Years Service = 30 years
Hours/Week = 48
Div Name = IGS
Location = Pok
Message = I was notified last week that my appeal was granted and that I would be returned to exempt and my salary returned retroactively. My personell files has now been updated, but I am still waiting for the pay to be returned. In my dept. there were 12+ that were reclassified. So far as I hae heard, I was the only one that was moved back to exempt level. Everyone else was told no. Not sure what the magic words are or why some do and others don't. the logic escapes me, but would love to hear how many other successful appeals occured. **an Anonymous 15% Lucky this week**

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Comment 05/02/08:
Location = DC Area
Message = For those folks who appealed their reclassification - My understanding is that the Department of Labor web site clearly states what they view as job attributes which qualify a position as exempt from overtime rules. Below is the URL for jobs in the computer field... http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/fs17e_computer.pdf
As you'll see on this web page, there's no indication that a Project Manager role qualifies as exempt; the exempt positions are mostly programming and system design jobs. -An Upset and Concerned IBM Employee-

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Comment 05/01/08: I too was turned down on my appeal. Has anyone been re-instated? -Just wondering-

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Comment 05/01/08: My appeal was denied. I answered every question during the interview as if I were a project manager. Obviously either their minds were made up prior to my appeal and they had no intention to grant an appeal - or - project managers are next on the pay cut list. -Panon-

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Comment 04/30/08:
Salary = 60500
Band Level = 6
Job Title = Consultant
Years Service = 1
Hours/Week = 40
Div Name = 5
Location = Ohio
Message = Started at $58,500, raise after 4 months, after one year of service, promoted one 1 year later, 20% raise (off $60,500) to $72,600. No complaints, this is my first job out of college. -C Mart-

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Comment 04/29/08: To Need_Advice, none of us would of ever stayed if we ever thought we were going to get canned after our hard work, never mind a pay cut problem that you have. Let me give you some Good_Advice; Get the hell out and now before you are canned. Believe me it's much better when you don't work for big blow anymore.. -Goot_Advice-

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Comment 04/28/08: -just1waiting- ... yeah...I hear you..they blame the sub prime mess in that story and while that is no doubt a piece of the issue at hand, don't you find it just a bit coincidental at the timing of it alll,,,I mean cutting foreign exec's perks and this
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/allianceibm-members-shareholders-to-challenge,367514.shtml
I don't know people they are laying off close to another 4,000 at GM today cutting shifts for trucks and SUV's which is not good.. However, the UAW is getting them what,,, 80% of their wages ..google it..think about it . The economy is going down people, I expect to see orders and projects canceled shortly. We have a crisis of confidence in the dollar and only hype of a recovery in the media. The FOMC will be meeting shortly on interest rates and if they cut rates again, it's very likely that the dollar will fall more and oil will hit new highs as a result..and that is going to put more pressure on wages. The price of oil and energy is making the economic downturn this time around way different than those in the past. I'm telling you , you need to protect yourself...but that's just my opinion, and what do I know right..we'll see.. -spiderman-

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Comment 04/28/08: My Appeal was denied today. Not sure what other choices left other than leaving IBM. -No_hope-

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Comment 04/27/08: To Spiderman- LMAO...I loved the article. The chickens are coming home to roost. Even though you can remotely manage data centers quite easily, you still have to have skilled personnel on the other end of the access line. They just love blaming everything on the subprime mess. This reminds me of what the American Indian women did to Custer after the battle of the Bighorn. They ran knitting needles through Custer's ears so that he would 'listen' in the afterlife, because he was not listening to them while he was alive. We little American indians have tried to tell the IBM execs that outsourcing is NOT working, but they do not listen. Now customers want little more than IBM's floorspace. That is why the U.S. orders are down. IBM has decimated the skilled workforce and now they do not have enough people with the skills to implement their hardware. So customers blame it on the hardware. Perhaps we can send Sam Palmisano a pair of knitting needles after the demise of a once great company. -just1waiting-

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Comment 04/26/08:
Salary = 49k
Band Level = 4
Job Title = SSR
Years Service = 9
Hours/Week = 40
Message = MADE 65K LAST YEAR DUE TO OVERTIME. -TEXACANO-

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Comment 04/25/08: Has anybody heard when we will not be getting increases? In the past we have been told we will not get an increase on May 1. -Beat Up-

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Comment 04/25/08:
Salary = 78,000
Band Level = 7
Job Title = PM
Years Service = 9
Hours/Week = 45
Div Name = 07
Location = Denver, CO
Message = To -spiderman- : While I feel bad for those employees impacted in the article, I don't think they should be feeling that low. When was the last time anyone here got a raise in the upper single digits? I haven't gotten more than a 2% raise any year in the last 4 years, and that's if I got a raise at all. -Anonymous-

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Comment 04/25/08: DEAR JADED. Yes. Sam will get a record raise. Hope that makes everyone rest easier . If not then I hope you join the union to express your displeasure. -Exodus2007-

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Comment 04/25/08:
Salary = 15% less (not a salary, a "pay remix")
Band Level = 08
Job Title = I/T Specialist pay cut test dummy
Years Service = who cares
Hours/Week = gottat be at least 45 now to break even
Div Name = Global Services
Location = anywhere USA
Message = -Need Advice-: IBM managers apparently NEVER ASKED or QUESTIONED HR when given job responsibility worksheets concerning their employees for the managers to fill out last year to target which of their employees should be made non-exempt and hourly and given the 15% base pay cut (IBM to call this a "pay remix" is worse than an insult to those affected by it). You figure if these managers AT LEAST challenged IBM HR by asking their employees what they ACTUALLY DO ON THE JOB instead of telling IBM HR through the worksheet what they THINK their employee does and respected their employee then perhaps the dastardly actions IBM took could either have been averted or minimized. IMHO, those folks who got settlement checks from the Rosenburg vs. IBM case made it real easy for IBM management to fill out the job scope worksheets to screw the employee. IBM did not do damage control due to the settlement: IBM took retribution out on those employees to say IBM complies with the FLSA by instituting the 15% base pay cut. If IBM didn\'t take retribution with the "pay remix" then they would have not considered a 15% base pay cut to those targeted. 1st QTR 2008 IBM again reported RECORD IBM PROFITS yet IBM says they CAN\'T AFFORD to not do the base pay cut to only 7600 or so employees in totally unconscionable. IBM also wanted to recover as much as they could from the $65M settlement as well by the 15% base pay cut. ASK IBM upper management and executives about this and see if you get this as the honest answer. So if you think any of the IBM management involved in your posiion change will be forthcoming to let you know they know if you took an I/T Specialist band 08 job from a band 08 Project Manager job that you might be affected by something like this means you will probably get the typical IBM non-response from management since they have been instructed by IBM HR to keep their ears and mouths shut. Basically without a contract you are now screwed. Join the Alliance if you haven't already to stop the injustices happening as we speak in IBM and all future injustices we haven\'t experienced yet but could surely be coming our way soon! -Anonymous-

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Comment 04/24/08: Here you go people...the pressure is on..and you thought that it was over!!

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Subprime_hits_where_it_hurts_most_-_pay_hikes/articleshow/2980352.cms

-spiderman-

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Comment 04/24/08: I just heard that my appeal was denied. I need some quick advice. I was a band 8 project manager. I actively sought a new job within my organization. The new job was a band 8 IT specialist. I actively began seeking this change in January 2007. An opening came up in August 2007. I took that new assignment which positioned me in the IT Specialist job family and this pay cut. Question I have, should I ask my managers when they knew this was coming and shouldn't they have told me it was a possibility back in August before I took the job? I don't know what I would have done as there were a variety of reasons I wanted a change. I will never know if I would have taken the job knowing a pay cut was coming because nothing was ever mentioned. Any advice? -Need Advice-

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Comment 04/23/08: We need # of years in industry data to make sense of salary. Someone has 5 years with IBM, but has been in the industry for 10 years prior to joining IBM would earn higher salary than someone has 0 year prior to joining IBM. -Ethan-
Alliance reply: Thanks for the suggestion. It's probably a little bit late to add that field to the form. It can be added; however, it is more dependent upon the poster to supply the information. We receive many comments for this section that do not contain any answers from the form. It also isn't a good assumption that prior experience would mean automatically higher salarys. Collecting the data and then analyzing it would determine that. BTW... Sign up with Alliance@IBM, as a dues paying member. Then organize your co-workers and get them to sign up. $10/ month is about two Starbucks coffees. We can keep you informed of all the news and employee activities, as members, as long as we can continue to be here. It takes dues paying members to assure that.

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Comment 04/22/08: I was an idiot on the 1st overtime lawsuit by not signing up. Just dumb on my part. I am not going to be dumb this time. Does anybody know if anybody that is or was in the 499a jobcode is going to be notified to sign. I will not throw away the paperwork this time. Its just a shame that the suit only starts from July 07 but that is better than nothing at all. -Wont miss out this time-
Alliance reply: Just for the record, Alliance@IBM found out about this new lawsuit from the employees and lawfirm that are filing it. We encourage it; but we didn't inititate it. While you're at it, sign up with Alliance@IBM, as a dues paying member. Then organize your co-workers and get them to sign up. $10/ month is about two Starbucks coffees. We can keep you informed of all the news and employee activities, as members, as long as we can continue to be here. It takes dues paying members to assure that.

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Comment 04/20/08: 
Salary = 55K+
Band Level = 3
Job Title = Deskside Services
Years Service = 7
Hours/Week = 40
Div Name = ITD
Message = Hired on as band 6, chopped to band 4 and then again to band 3. No salary cut when moved from exempt to non-exempt. -Sinking_ship-

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Comment 04/19/08:  You see how well those wage and salary cuts work. The execs will walk off with nice bonuses now earnings are up.. No reason to not do it again next year either as the rewards at the top were nice Yeah, there will be crying and moaning again by a few disgruntled employees but they'll have no choice... deal with it, is what they'll tell you ...what are you going to do about it.....ans nothing. They'll probably go vent on the alliance IBM site that\'s about it. I'll bet is the inside corporate joke at the top....What I don't get is why people will sell themselves out like that to the devil though... investing in the companies stock that is not looking out for your future. Heck, you are encouraging the outsourcing, layoffs, wage cut behavior by doing so. Go ahead, give more money back to the people that are selling out your community.and America it's okay as long as YOU make ten cents a share next quarter or whatever the numbers happen to be right....Kind of hypocritical don\'t ya think... Hey here's an idea for ya. Think like a CEO take charge of your future..When a market is threaten in business what do businesses do...they either diversify or form an alliance and sometimes they do both right ?. You get a 15% pay cut, why not pull out at least 15% of the money that you had in IBM stock to PROTECT YOUR FUTURE... DIVERSIFY. It's nothing personal just like many of you are told, it's just business...you already been cut by 15%. why give the people that cut you a reward for doing it..Does that make any sense at all?..Not to me....and...How about Instead of pouring all your time into overtime for a company that is, by all indications of the latest historical events going to outsource you the minute they find a qualified foreign candidate anyway. I suggest that you DIVERSIFY by getting a part time job outside the company and with another employer.... People YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE. ..Sure that second job most likely will not pay like the IBM overtime, and do to conflict of interest rules it may even be outside you field of interest... however how much peace of mind wil you gain knowing that you have a second source of income no matter how small it is, that is not defendant on one company that doesn't care about you or your future.. I'm telling you, begging you to consider diversification for your own well being. The value of that little job will look completely different, I guarantee you when the next round of layoffs and cut backs occurs. The writing is on the wall my friends. How important is your future security... can you risk your livelihood given the current circumstances. You are already taking a pay cut that is much larger than 15%. Look around you. The economy is falling apart...mass layoffs everywhere, 36,000 jobs cut in finance this year already not including 9,000 announced by Citibank this Friday..Merrill Lynch and Wachovia another 12,400 and the numbers keep rising: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN1827726720080419
The automotive sector is trying to churn over 70,000 I don't have to link it do iI, you all know how to google it. I'm not making it up. The airlines are all consolidating merging and laying off partly because of energy prices. Dell computer recently cut what, about 9,000 staff along with hundreds from the google/double click merger... there is no help from the government they are encouraging more H1-B foreign workers and extending foreign student visa in case you haven't read the link below posing the question where's lou dobbs....and I mean really....do you really think IBM numbers were all that great when you consider the exchange rate on the dollar... with the dollars over 10% loss in purchasing power vs the euro in the last year alone. By the way, what percentage of the companies profits were the result of exchange rate gains and wage arbitration from off shoring anyway. Have you looked at that..is it more than half....Whatever the number is I\'ll bet it\'s pretty big and significant so what do you suppose the chances are that the company will stop using those tools at their disposal, the layoff, and offshoring, and wage cutting tools next year.... if you stop using them next year, your profits are going to be sacrificed. So who is going to do that? Don't you feel like the sword of Damocles is hanging above you. Anyway I digress..I say that your wage cuts are much higher than 15% because inflation is soaring. It was most noticeable at the gas pump at first but it is now spreading across the entire economy. We are taking grain out of the food chain diverting it to ethanol for the gas tanks. As a result feed cost for livestock is being passed down and food prices are starting to rise exponentially. People we are getting it from all sides and to sit there and think that IBM will remain isolated from all this is a fools game IMO...Oh well I better stop I've rambled long enough. I don\'t even know if the alliance moderators will publish this rant or not. However I thank them for the site and this opportunity to express my feelings. To the readers, I apologize as I am not that good of a writer and I hope that you don't judge me to critically. I started to write a short note and it apparently turned into a rambling manifesto I guess my critics will say...Just thought that I'd pass along my thoughts based upon my experience that's all. Take it for what it's worth,,,Ultimately whatever decisions that you make you are the ones that have to live with the consequences so start making some wise choices will you please...do it for you...do it for your families...do it for all of America..this is not what we are fighting wars for in Iraq and Afghanistan is it.. Good Night and God speed everyone.. I'm done Thanks bia... Diversify yourself so that you are not totally dependent on a single source of income you may find that you'll gain some leverage. Diversify until you get the numbers up to build an alliance..If the company threatens to fire you because you have taken a second job outside the company that gives you added piece of mind a little nit more security that sends quite a message about how they care about YOU in the first place doesn't it? -spiderman-

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Comment 04/19/08:  My org has yet to release the salary plan for this year. The excuse is that it is being held up because of the ongoing problems related to the poorly planned and ineptly implemented forced change of exempts to non-exempts with the 15% pay cut. I suspect there are other reasons. One of which is the oft rumored change of project managers and architects from exempt to the non-exempt w/ the 15% pay cut. The second reason may be that they don't want to book a generous salary plan when the economy is in a downturn. If the job market for IT people collapses and no IT jobs are available, IBM can have a minimal salary plan because employees won't leave for better jobs that don't exist. Whenever dealing with IBM, you ALWAYS have to consider the most sinister option. -Billy-
Alliance reply: As we have said a number of times--it doesn't have to be this way. With a union and a contract; everything is negotiated and the contract life is a few years, so you know what is coming and you can plan.

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Comment 04/18/08:  Working OT is more taxing then you think. We already know this from our OT paycheck. Check this to confirm: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6187 -OT_pays_taxcollector-

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Comment 04/17/08:  IBM just announced record earnings yesterday, think any IBMers will get "record raises" this year? -Jaded-

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Comment 04/17/08:  I'm finding it hard to grasp that people actually believe the 15% pay cut is targeted to individuals who participated in the lawsuit. They targeted job families, not specific people. There are actually very few people within those job families that I know of that remained exempt. I did not take part in the lawsuit, but have 15% pay cut. -nobody-
Alliance Reply:   It's all in perception. It is a perception that IBM wanted the employees; especially in those job families, to have. One way or the other, IBM retaliated because they settled (lost); but the way they went about retaliation was to divide employees and imply that Alliance@IBM was to blame and attorneys are all bad guys.
The facts are otherwise.
Fact one: IBM broke the law. Fact two: IBM employees began this lawsuit before Alliance@IBM knew about it. They notified us and we did encourage them, because IBM broke the law (See Fact one). No one ever said that fighting back and standing up for your rights would automatically make IBM admit they were wrong and not strike back...
(See the Frederick Douglass quote on our front page, bottom.)

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Comment 04/17/08: 
Here is the updated monthly salary survey:
- Band 2: 5 respondents, avg: $33K, standard deviation: $10K, range: (min/max reported): $20K to $42K
- Band 3: 2 respondents, $31K, std dev: $8K, range: $25K to $36K
- Band 4: 11 respondents, avg: $46K, std dev: $11K, range: $32K to $60K
- Band 5: 5 respondents, avg: $62K, std dev: $13K, range: $48K to $77K
- Band 6: 61 respondents, avg: $56K, std dev: $10K, range: $37K to $78K
- Band 7: 123 respondents, avg: $70K, std dev: $12K, range: $48K to $110K
- Band 8: 103 respondents, avg: $96K, std dev: $16K, range: $55K to $130K
- Band 9: 35 respondents, avg: $119K, std dev: $18K, range: $89K to $152K
- Band 10: 11 respondents, avg: $148K, std dev: $25K, range: $107K to $190K
For the Band 8 data, I did not take into account the post by "rumo" on 3/31, where s/he reported a salary of 160K. This is either a troll post, or a test, as the number is outlandish for that band level. -Anonymous-
Alliance Reply: Once again, on behalf of all Alliance@IBM members; thank you for your efforts to help us all understand the IBM salary statistics. We hope you have become a member of Alliance@IBM, at some level. We encourage you to consider it and to contact us. 

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Comment 04/16/08:  Those that didn't sign the pay cut petition and are afraid of IBM further retribution. Why are you so pacifistic? If you are backed into a corner would you fight to get out? Go sheep; stay scattered. IBM will pick you off soon enough. You will lose your job unless you flock together and unionize! -Anonymous-

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Comment 04/16/08:  Has anyone who went through the escalation/appeals process heard back from HR? I read where several posters had their HR interviews a couple of months ago and was wondering whether their reclassification was overturned? -Still non-exempt-

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Comment 04/16/08: I did not sign the petition as IBM already has taken vengence against those who signed for the lawsuit by giving our names and amount of award to the managers. My management had a list with my name. Then came the pay cuts. Sorry, we who are still employed at IBM are not protected, nor have we been warned by those leading the lawsuit or petition of the harm that can come to us by signing for this who are still at IBM. -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: So you didn't sign the petition--that was your choice.
The ones that did are the brave ones that see an injustice and fight back.
Warn you about potential harm for signing? Thank goodness you weren't around during the American Revolution. We would still be a British colony. We have not heard of anyone who was told they were let go because they signed the petition. More people get let go because of their age. Working at IBM is a risk. How do you think IBM was going to pay out if they didn't have a list of names? If IBM is taking it out on IBMers as a form of revenge what does this say about IBM?

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Comment 04/16/08: -JustMe- Overtime is not taxed higher than regular pay. It may have more withholding, but the tax rate is the same. If you fill in a W-4 to change the withholding on your regular pay, then you can offset the additional withholding in your overtime check. Just be careful that you don't end up owing the IRS at the end of the year. -Anonymous-

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Comment 04/16/08: Still scared to be on a RA list - lots of that happening ine the past 2 weeks. OT frozen at 15% today in my organiztion for non-exempts. Since OT is taxed higher, I won't bring home my "normal salary" anymore. Is this happening any where else? I didn't know back in Februrary that either I or management has an appeals process. I was told that NOBODY would get this over ruled and that executive mgmt didn't even want to hear about it anymore...-JustMe-

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Comment 04/10/08: spiderman, add this factor to your jobs equation ... http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/26729?t51hb -Where's Lou Dobbs??-

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Comment 04/09/08: Get ready, prepare yourself my friends. Remember June graduation for all those foreign university students with the higher math and science scores is just about 60 days away and they will be entering the job market in huge numbers. H-1B visas baby. The economy is in the tank GLOBALLY and if you're a corporate exec trying to maintain your profits, and your job when you can't increase your sales or increase your margins the only option left to improve profits and get your bonus is to close sites, cut workers, offshore more labor, play the wage arbitration game. The stage has already been set. Millions of dollars will be save in severance packages this layoff go around as any potential package will most likely be based on a 40 hour work week, not the actual 50 hours or more that some of you work. This is just my opinion and it may be speculative but I would not be surprised that the new hires will come in sometime in June. You'll get 60 days to cross train your replacement and be out on the streets by September. Most of you will not see the six figure like buyout packages that many of the over 70,000 UAW workers are seeing and being offered right now. Good luck to you all... -spiderman-

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Comment 04/08/08:
Salary = 89K
Band Level = 8
Job Title = Project Manager
Years Service = 20
Hours/Week = 50
Message = Has anyone noticed IBM is now giving 3 performace ratings to any employee that is within the lower part of the ranking for the team they are on regardless of how well their perfomance or contributions exceeded their PBC objectives? This is now happening on the individual team level and not just at a higher overall average. I am seeing this on many teams where I work. The spin on it is "as compared to others" even when everyone on the team may be a "top gun". -Anonymous-

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Comment 04/04/08: With a 15% paycut I work 15% less for IBM. Further, I fine IBM another 5% work output, for lack of respect of me and others, by IBM. IBM can make dumb rules... so can we. Less pay=Less work. That's all, seems fair. Meawhile join Alliance@IBM. -NewRulesNow-

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Comment 04/03/08: Can one of the people who got their pay cut 15% and are not raising heck about it explain to me how you lost your backbone? Are you so afraid that you will not even protect your families income by organizing and fighting back? -zombie not-

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Comment 04/02/08:
Salary = 49k
Band Level = 6
Years Service = 2
Hours/Week = 40
Message = Gone & loving it: "Imagine working at a company where my manager actually knows what I do and they use an insane utilization quota to force me to use my vacation time when I am on the bench"
My last talk with my manager regarding PBCs and overtime brought up this topic. He mentioned utilization rates and that he needed to work extra hours if he took all 5 weeks of his vacation so that his utilization rate would be where it needed to be. "Wait. Let me clarify with you. Are you saying that if I take my 3 weeks vacation, then I need to work enough hours extra to make up for that time I'm gone????" I asked him. No, that wasn't what he was implying at all. It sure sounded like it. I told him that my 3 weeks vacation and 12 personal days are part of my benefits package so that my utlilzation is based on 46.6 work weeks, not 52. People need to stand up - collectively or individually - against stupid abuse like this. -tulsa_member-

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Comment 04/02/08: -rumo- 160000 as band 8??? That sounds rather too high. Band 9 or 10 maybe though. I am band 8 and make not even half of 160000 despite being in band 8 for over 10 years. So what's the story? -band8er-

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Comment 04/01/08: To "rumo": 160K for Band 8? That is quite unusual, since the max reported for Band 8 in the salary survey is $130K. I am glad for you if you indeed get that much. BTW, are you in the US? I am asking, not questioning. -Anonymous-

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Comment 04/01/08:
Salary = 59k before 50k after
Band Level = 6
Job Title = It Specialist
Years Service = 0
Hours/Week = 42
Div Name = 16
Location = DC
Message = In regards to the petition. I didn't sign because I gave my notice and took a job I had already been considering right as the paycut was being announced. Instead of a 15% paycut, I got a raise instead. I really like my new job. Imagine working at a company where my manager actually knows what I do and they use an insane utilization quota to force me to use my vacation time when I am on the bench. -Gone and loving it-

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Comment 03/31/08:
Salary = 160000
Band Level = 8
Job Title = project manager
Years Service = 10
Hours/Week = 44
Message = test -rumo-

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Comment 03/30/08: I don't like unions either, they cost the employee's money, you have to pay dues and all... Yes and it's better if we could all get along without one. However it would also be nice to be able to get along without a police force as money is taken out of our pay checks each week for that. Think of how nice that would be and how much more money that would be put in your pocket,,,,,,well, maybe your pocket...haha... and why stop there. It would be nice if we didn't need a military either right, man the money that you could save there huh? But let's get real here, without any of the above, without strength thru numbers, the strong will win over the weak, and the rich elite will win over the poor every time with no recourse. Yeah it would be nice, it would be nice if we could all just go about our day using the honor system for everything except you know that is not how things work in our society. Capitalism is built on if you have a winner, you must have a loser. You win and get the job, and I lose and go on unemployment. I win get the promotion and raise, and you lose and stay at your present level. The winners always want the status quo and it's not until you are on the losing side that your opinion will change....The problem with this competition mindset is not that it's necessarily a bad thing when the playing field is level and everyone is playing by the same rules, today, the winners are in China, in India, In Indonesia...etc...etc..and the playing field is not level. How are you gonna keep your job when your counterparts that have the same education as you do and maybe even more, can and will work for pennies on the dollar !!! I don't care how smart you are or how smart you think you are...how are you going to compete with that? These people are able to accept a lower wage and have a higher life style in part because their government subsides things and has price controls on basic necessities of life.. In China, they have not seen the price of Gasoline, and Diesel fuel skyrocket like we have happening here for example. No I not lobbing for price controls and subsides here. I'm just asking how can you compete with that,..,how... the cards are stacked against you. The foreign worker is able to work for less money because their cost of living is less so they will win and you will lose every single time until it changes....If you haven't seen the video on Youtube titled "Karl Fisch's Did you Know " I strongly suggest that you view it...it's only a few minutes long and it will enlighten you as to the demographics that you are up against in the labor market. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUsYFCfmNMo
This is why you need to band together and create a voice. IF you fail to do so, every single time that the corporate budget comes under stress the company will use wage arbitrage and offshore more work...why should it stop..it works..there are no negative consequence from the CEO's vantage point....I think that many of you believe that the last round of layoffs was the last. No, they are not the last. They just keep coming and will continue to come until either the rules change or when it's no longer makes economic sense..People you need a union and you need to also get busy demanding changes through your local legislature. America is on life support. Our economy is under attack in a stealth war. We are the ones in the final thoes as our vice president would say, not the insurgence...-sj-

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Comment 03/31/08: -SYSIN DD*- The number #1 responsibility for a CEO is the long-term viability of the company. Stock price does matter, but the long term viability of the company is paramount. Ask anyone who owned ENRON, Sunbeam, LORAL or Bear Stearns stock. The best way to ensure the long term viability of a company is to treat all stakeholders - employees, customers/clients, stockholders and the communities in which they do business with respect, honesty and value - to treat them as partners in the success of the company. IBM executive leadership has zero respect for its employees, no respect for the communities in which they do business and blatant disregard of their customers/clients. The only reason IBM is concerned about its stock price is that the exec's compensation is based on it. -Frank-

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Comment 03/31/08: so IBM is on the governments "Excluded Party " list now according to this site http://www.epls.gov/epls/search.do?status=current&start=current&text=IBM
Now I am no expert here; but I do see the letters "EPA" in this document. So has IBM been banned from doing business with the EPA? Why? Is it a result of the TCE exposure in Endicott? http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080304/NEWS01/803040330/1006
Maybe this is all old news to some of you, however if the lawsuits that I would imagine that may occur out of this happen, I just wonder how many more people will get laid off and/or pay cuts as a result...Oh well, get ready for the next round of cuts I guess. What can you do! -cm-
Alliance Reply: Any lawsuits arising from the damage, done by IBM chemical spills, to Endicott resident's property have no bearing on IBM or retired IBM employees; unless those residents are also IBM employees or former IBM employees.
Once the results of the NIOSH health study of 28,000 IBM Endicott employees (from 1964-1990) is complete, there may be cause for action at that time. We have to wait about 2 to 3 years and see.
This comment is not really relevant to this Salary Comments section. We have moved it to the bldgchemcomments.php  Please visit that comments section to continue this discussion.

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Comment 3/25/08: When I had been with the company only a few weeks, some 45 years ago I was told, "IBM is in business to make money for the stockholders." Anyone who invests by purchasing shares expects this. It is futile to complain about Palmisano's concern or Barrons' interest in the stock price. Without it there would be no IBM. -SYSIN DD *-
Alliance Reply:  Without the employees inventing, creating, making, and selling IBM products and services; there would be no reason to have stock issued. Employees and retirees have been major stockholders for years. They have every right to complain about how the business is managed by it's BOD and CEO. Making money for the stockholders has not been the sole motivation for IBM employees to work as hard as they have; and to have suffered through 92 years of economic adversity and prosperity. Your point is oversimplified.

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Comment 3/25/08: Barron's ranks Sam as one of the top CEO's
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB120615216221756939.html?page=sp
This, my friends, is why Sam and the world will never care about the workers. Stock price is the bottom line. -atedat-

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Comment 3/25/08: Only 1500 petition signatures protesting the pay cut. 7600 were affected. Where are most of you folks? Why don't you sign the petition like the rest of us? The longer you do NOTHING but continue to be happy to work the OT the sooner IBM will limit or put the brakes on OT. Then it will be too late: you will have a 15% base pay cut with no OT. And IBM might just want to make it a 30% pay cut since you don't want to speak up and make your voice heard of SAY NO TO PAY CUTS! -one of 7600-
Alliance reply: Your message here is on spot. We advocate signing the petition AND joining Alliance@IBM. As a member, your voice becomes louder and stronger when it is among the collective Alliance@IBM voice. Keep telling all your co-workers about the petition and about Alliance@IBM. Get them to join. Work toward building the Alliance membership so that we CAN have a voice at the bargaining table. You can't have a Union with out "yoU".

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Comment 3/24/08: I guess my story is not too different from other folks that have gotten 'separated' from IBM. I had been with IBM for over 20 years, been a top contributer year after year. After our paycut I took a second job with another company during second shift. IBM found out and I was separated from the company. What a slap in the face. They said that my second job created a conflict of interest. What is making me mad, is that I know many people that work at IBM and the other company I am working for... IBM is aware of some of them and is OK with that....IBM will not answer why I had a conflict of interest and these others don't. I signed the online pettion..and it makes me wonder if that had something to do with me getting axed from IBM. Has anyone else signed the online petition and gotten axed or had any negative things happen to them at IBM? Does anyone know if I have any legal ground on pursuing a suit against IBM for wrongful termination? -Got Axed-

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Comment 3/23/08: http://w3.ibm.com/news/w3news/top_stories/2008/03/cl_us_nonexempt_banding_art.html
(This is an IBM internal link)
Have you heard this from your manager yet? You certainly didn't get a memo from McDonald or Moffatt about it. No surprise here from IBM HR communications not making this more visible. IBM in damage control mode and back-pedalling a bit now. Present band 8 reclassified as non-exempt no longer have a year to have their jobs restructured to exempt to keep their band 8 apparently. The 12 month deadline was rescinded. Those folks affected at band 6 who had their promotions frozen due to the reclassification have the promotion freeze lifted as of 3/1/2008 apparently. IBM does not say to those reclassified non-exempt folks that they can never be debanded or demoted however. We got to keep up the pressure and get IBM to back-pedal further and give back the 15% BASE PAY CUT NOW! -nopaycutsIBM-

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Comment 3/21/08: I can't see how anyone affected by the 15% base pay cut who is now reclassified as non-exempt can think it is better now for themselves since they are presently making more money with OT pay. IBM mentioned they had to do the 15% base pay cut since they CAN'T AFFORD to leave the base pay of these employees the same. So how can you think you can continue to make more money with OT? IBM can always and will soon say they CAN'T AFFORD the excess work hours and OT to these reclassified employees. Then will you feel you are better off with this? Fight and say NO to PAY CUTS! It's the only reasonable and fair action to take. -NoPayCut-

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Comment 3/20/08: IT worker... OT NOT sure how each state/area works OT. If your OT is based on the 40 hour week then your first line can get the correct pay. He/she just has to learn e-totals and do some work. If your area is anything over 8 hours in a day is OT then the four hours off does not mean anything. Management will not let this happen too often. BTW: In my area if you work OT and then have a sick day , the sick time is subtracted off the OT. Better to waste a vacation day then get sick with an OT week. BTW: why would you work a 12 hour day with 4 hours at 1.5X and then take 4 hours off on Friday and loose the OT? -non-exempt 27 years-

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Comment 3/20/08: I have a question that maybe someone has some information on out here. I have been reclassified to non-exempt and am recording hours in eTotals. My issue is this:
What if I want to use time off during the week other than recording OT. For an example, I work regular hrs M-Th. I also work additional hours on Tues. (4) and Thurs (4) in the evening. I want to take 4 hours off on Friday. I'd like to code that as unpaid absence, 4, on Friday. That would mean that 4 hours additional hours do not go to OT--my actual OT hours for the week would be 4 rather than 8. I'm being told that this is not possible in the non-exempt etotals time recording...?? I'm wondering my this non-exempt position would be different than any other non-exempt position in the U.S. That 40 hours is a weekly total, and once you hit that limit, OT accrues. Anything at 40, or short of it, no matter how that time was accrued, the is not OT. It'd be like I was punching a clock for any other job. Also, it seems odd that IBM would even want to force that situation, since that would mean that they are forced to pay at an OT rate.
I just don't see how this makes any sense.... -IT Worker-

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Comment 3/19/08: Relative to the salary survey results, perhaps some is the 15% reduction and some from firings (errrr layoffs?) of higher-paid folks in each band. -Hmmm-

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Comment 3/18/08:
This is the monthly salary survey:
Band 2: 5 respondents, avg: $33K, standard deviation: $10K, range: (min/max reported): $24K to $42K
Band 3: 2 respondents, $31K, std dev: range: $25K to $36K
Band 4: 11 respondents, avg: $46K, std dev: $11K, range: $32K to $60K
Band 5: 5 respondents, avg: $62K, std dev: $13K, range: $48K to $77K
Band 6: 59 respondents, avg: $56K, std dev: $10K, range: $37K to $78K
Band 7: 123 respondents, avg: $70K, std dev: $12K, range: $48K to $110K
Band 8: 103 respondents, avg: $96K, std dev: $16K, range: $55K to $130K
Band 9: 35 respondents, avg: $119K, std dev: $18K, range: $89K to $152K
Band 10: 11 respondents, avg: $148K, std dev: $25K, range: $107K to $190K
Compared to the results of Jan 2008, today's average for Band 6 is down by $3K (was $59K), and the averages for Band 7 and Band 8 also went down by $1K (was $71K and $97K respectively). This must be a reflection of the 15% pay cut. -Anonymous-

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Comment 3/17/08:
Location = Canada
Message = -T-S, Good idea but all IBM will do is find out who is donating to charity and find an excuse to fire them...that will save them from contributing further! -DM-

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Comment 3/17/08:
Location = Atlanta
Message = Even though the 15% cut to salary was done this year, each department was budgeted at 100% of salary plan. So, all of our old salaries are in the budget - this allows for the 5 hours of OT per week theory to make up for the cut. Some organizations may require more OT than others which then becomes a management problem to either miss the budget or aportion the OT correctly (one person gets more, one gets less). The problem is anything over 45 hrs per week and then there is next year.... -Really Bummed-

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Comment 3/17/08:
Salary = 95k +
Band Level = 8
Years Service = 8
Hours/Week = 55+
Message = at the moment I feel like a lot of others here, Why the heck would I want to go back to my Exempt job +15% and do the same work I am doing right now and not get paid OT, so far my largest OT check has been over $1200 for one week. And I should go back and take my 15% and work the same thing for nothing, not likely and yes I am fully aware that the OT will stop and I am all for that also, cut my OT, tell me I no longer can work every weekend....please tell me! Tell me I will no longer get paid to be on call and while your at it, tell me I'm no longer on call....please tell me. So what is there to go back to, cut my pay 15%, cut my hours 15% and please let me have my life with my family back again. -Just Another IBMer-

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Comment 3/17/08: Hey, I have an idea. I'm not sure how well it will go over so I'll just toss it out there......You want to protest your wage reduction in a positive manner, and at the same time show your management how it feels to have a lower income..... Well, the company has a matching funds charity program right. Get everyone to band together and make a nice big fat donation to a local charity, one that the penny pinching company will have to match under the program...... Can you imagine, all of a sudden 7,000 or more employees are donating to charity!! Come on guys let's get that 15% pay cut back though the charity donation program.... Yeah it will not go into our pocket, but we have the ability to get that money injected into our local communities instead of going over to China and/or India and that matters doesn't it ? ...I mean after all, the way the economy is going you may need the services of one of these outfits in the very near future so you might just as well become acquainted with the people that run it and then support it...you may even see non direct paybacks that you never even dreamed of.....If you were making $100K/year and now are making $85k/yr take a look at the company match program and figure how much you need to donate to get that $15k back as a matching donation...Why let the a company that could care less about you have that money. They have a program use it!!!.. make it to your advantage, help out your community. There are benefits of doing it , they just may not seem immediately or directly visible.....Yeah I know, I know, I'm asking for you to give up even more money but this is about principle isn't it....if you cannot contribute the max under the program contribute something however small it is to send a message...it doesn't have to be an all of nothing deal, and remember donations to charity are tax deductible too, so it may not cost as much as you think......for you guys that claim to be making more money on the clock now I'm calling especially on you to help in sending a message..don't let these people that don't care about you hang on to that money make 'em pay....some of you are gonna want and need those local community based social services when the company does it's next round of layoffs come June and you want them to be there for you don't ya..... think about it ..next round of H1-b grads that enable layoffs will be in June....think about it...yeah ,,,think about it... that's all !. -T-S-

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Comment 3/16/08: Thanks for the feedback and putting my head back on straight. I wonder if management is allowing this free for all OT and just waiting for the dust to settle and slam the door shut. -Beat Up-

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Comment 3/16/08: Beat Up: If you don't fight to get back your 15% base pay lost then what guarantee do you have that IBM will not freeze your OT opportunities or not cut your pay even more??? -sby_willie-

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Comment 3/16/08: To Beat Up: How many Merit pay increases did you lose by the 15% base pay cut? I don't care how intimidating this appeals meeting might or could be. IBM clearly values me less by taking away my last three merit increases by their deplorable pay cut action. I'm going to make that quite clear during the appeals meeting. I have more to lose by not going to the appeals meeting the way I look at it since not going could be a clear signal to IBM that I agree with their decision to cut my base pay to justify their demented pay remix philosophy. If there is any lawsuit filed, by declining the appeals meeting might hurt my chances to try to recover what IBM has taken away from me. -appeal'n'fight-

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Comment 3/16/08: To Beat Up (3/15/08 post) - You need to fight hard to get your exempt status and 15% back. Any monies seemingly ahead of the game now are short term for sure. If you cave and don't fight you will be real sorry later. The risk is that if you take or are forced back in to an exempt position a year or two in the future - no provision for that and you the loss of OT will get you an INSTANT 15% pay cut. If you don't get back to exempt by the end of this year you are screwed. Do not give up the fight back to exempt! -don't_give_up-

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Comment 3/16/08: A lot of us are making more money now as we're paid for the OT we've historically worked and may even work more because of the compensation. Nevertheless, by the end of the year IBM will cut OT to a minimum to make their numbers - have no fear. Either that or they'll increase the RA's to 'justify' all the OT (since you're working 20 hours a week over, let's just build that assumption into our sizings.) My recommendation is to stand pat and make as much money as possible doing what you've been doing. Around July start banging the job sites and push hard to find a better gig - the market's tight right now and a lot of pissed off IBM'ers are clogging the pipes. Just my $.02 worth, but then: if I'm so smart, how come I work for IBM? -IBM Tool-

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Comment 3/16/08: To Beat Up - Think about what side of the fence you want to be on when IBM tells you that you can't work any more overtime, or, more likely, when IBM offshores your job, lays you off, and pays you 15 percent less severence. -IBM Slave-

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Comment 3/15/08: I received my call for the HR and Lawyer meeting. I am not sure I really want to get my 15% back. I am making more money now. I am going to talk to a few trusted "advisors" for their opinions. I know OT is not a garentee, but I may be ahead of the game now. I am on the fence here and would welcome the opinions of the people on this site. -Beat Up-

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Comment 3/15/08: This is so sad. It's just like watching those hijacked airplanes crash into the towers back on 9/11..
What I mean is, that people in both circumstances sat around and looked at each other hoping and wishing THAT SOMEONE ELSE should do something.
Well my friends it's not up to someone else it's up to you...you have to do something and apparently there are no Todd Beamer's aboard this flight, we will not hear the words "okay, let's roll". no leaders here and it's sad.There are a lot of IBM'er Hippocrates out there too. Some of you talk about how wrongly you've been treated by the company and when asked if you hold the company stock you act as though the two are not connected. Hey, it's my opinion that if you own the companies stock you ar e supporting ALL OF THEIR actions, you are rewarding them for laying off, off shoring, and cutting the wages of your friends and neighbors. You are supporting your own path to poverty and a lower standard of living.,, so don't come crying when it happens to you. I'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't do with your hard earned money..just let your conscience be your guide . Some of you believe that you are untouchable from a layoff, that your skills are one in a million.... Well guess what...given the population in China, and in India, if you really are one in a million that means that there are 1,300 people just like you in China, and in India it's 1,100. So wake up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUsYFCfmNMo
Go ahead and keep supporting them if you wish. I see every contract win for your company as a lost to all Americans though.
You probably should get ready for the next round of layoffs if I were you. The way the economy is currently rolling it's gonna happen sooner than you think.
Think internationally. Look at the stock market. The Dow is down 15% and you may say well that's not so bad. However, then look at the exchange rate losses against the euro for example. Then consider what it is like for the international investor.You have another 15% loss just for the year if a euro dollar investor pulls out of the US market. Foreign investors are getting their ass kicked. 30% people !!
Now why do I bring that up here you ask, Simple, we hear all this talk about Fed interest rates cuts, how it will help our economy by making our goods and services cheaper and more affordable. With each rate cut however the value of the dollar has been falling further and further. Oil is a product that is priced in dollars ant it keeps going up in price to offset the dollars fall and we are not benefiting from either condition....and it's more so if your an international corp...
Another example is the Japanese yen... this week alone the dollar lost almost 3% against the yen The flip side of the cheaper dollar is that for international companies with a substantial foreign labor base, the foreign labor becomes more expensive. But don't worry, it has a long, long way to go for the expense is on par with us based labor.
Now guess where the labor will get cut first to offset the exchange rate losses on the dollar. With each Fed interest rate cut more pressure in being put on international companies balance sheets as foreign labor getting more expensive.It will be the US that will get the layoffs so that the corporate exec's can make their bonuses ...and you and the wall street investors will reward them for running this nation down to third world status.
Okay so I know I've probably rambled on long enough here... and I may not write very well and... I have drifted a bit off topic some will say.. So I\'ll leave you now with one of my favorite clips of Americans coming together in a show of support.. It's Disability Awareness Day at Fenway Park...a nervous kid with autism is suppose to sing the national anthem..and well you'll see what happens. This is the America I use to know,,and this is the America I want back http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhcZRFcjbhw
Best Wishes to all and thank you for your time -Oz-

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Comment 3/15/08: My last three MERIT increases wiped out with pay remix and reclassification. I wonder if McDonald, Moffatt, Palmisano and the rest of the thieving bastards would like to have their pay remixed this way? -No merit IBM-

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Comment 3/13/08:
Salary = 36000
Band Level = 3
Job Title = ssr
Years Service = 25
Hours/Week = 40
Div Name = 48
Location = nj
Message = how do i compare -Anonymous-

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Comment 3/12/08: Well, it's been about 6 weeks since the "reclassification" and I am curious as to what Alliance has done... has the petition been sent to IBM execs? Have any other actions been taken? -Just wondering-
Alliance reply: It is not just about what the Alliance has done, it is about what you, the 7600 employees who had their pay cut and the employees not yet affected have done. The petition has almost 1500 signers. Where are the rest of the "7600"? It will be sent when we have more signatures. We are also planning a rally/protest at the stockholder meeting. The Alliance members have sent e-mails to political representatives. Have you?

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Comment 3/11/08:
Salary = 54K pre-cut
Band Level = 6
Years Service = 7
Location = CT
Message = I sent a letter to the governor here in Connecticut about this whole IBM issue they forwarded my concern to the CT Dept of Labor. Here is what the Dept of Labor replied:
Dear Mr. XXXXXX
Please be advised that the Office of Governor M. Jodi Rell has referred your February 19, 2008 e-mail to the Connecticut Labor Department for investigation and reply.
I have thoroughly read your correspondence and shared its contents with my legal staff, as well as my senior advisors within this agency's Wage and Workplace Standards Division. Although I am extremely sympathetic to the situation of you and your coworkers, I have been advised that IBM'S actions are permissible and consistent with the federal and state wage and hour laws.
The modification of the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") in 2004 caused many employers to closely examine their payroll practices and make legal changes, such as those described in your letter. The fact that the reclassifications result in less wages to IBM employees does not, in and of itself, make such changes impermissible. As long as IBM notified affected employees in writing of the changes in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71 f, the company was within its rights to make unilateral changes to its payment plans. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss this at greater length, please contact Attorney Stephen C. Lattanzio of my staff at (860)263-6755. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Very truly yours,
Patricia H. Mayfield
Commissioner
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I never received an email about the pay cut, my manager read it to me. But imagine IBM has something on the website hidden somewhere that absolves them from sending me a formal letter. Who knows? Looks like we need to fight on our own two feet gang! ---Goodbye IBM-
Alliance Reply: Thank you for your post. A common misconception and frequent post to our comments section is that Labor Laws in each and all of the United States of America protect workers from these kinds of employer abuses.  Unless and until the workers have a signed, collectively bargained for contract; they are considered "AT WILL EMPLOYEES" legally. "Right to Work" states are even LESS protective of workers rights than those that are simply "AT WILL". "Right to Work" states are rabidly anti-union and will fight vigorously to keep unions out of their state. Check out South Carolina if you don't believe it. Remember all the recent mining disasters and worker deaths? ALL of them were non-union miners.  Safety standards were not implemented that were equivalent to UMW work standards. The laws are seriously geared in favor of the employer. Visit the NLRB web site for further proof of how skewed and jaded the rulings of the labor board are against unions. The only alternative to this is the massive shout of American workers et al; "WE must organize!" That is reality. And it must be done soon, before ALL Federal and State labor laws are abolished altogether. The Corporate globalists would like nothing better. Then they could all return the jobs to the USA and reap the obscene profits on American workers backs instead of those in BRIC and elsewhere.

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Comment 3/11/08: My team consists of four non-exempts, a contractor, and the team lead (who is exempt). We have a weekly on call rotation. Is it legal (ethical? moral? absolutely NOT!) for the exempt team lead to take his share of the rotation? This was mentioned to our manager and the manager says that HR told him that it\'s perfectly fine. I disagree.... he\'s taking standby and overtime hours (and thus, compensation) away from the rest of us in my opinion. In fact, one of the nonexempts had a family emergency during his rotation.... and the team lead took it upon himself to take that week, even though some of the rest of us volunteered!! -nohope-

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Comment 3/11/08: You've got to be kidding me. You guys are actually saying that a company with no moral compass can't make a profit and will die a slow death? Are we living on the same planet?? -MoralMinority-

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Comment 3/10/08: -A_member- Yep, IBM will see if they can get away with it and not get caught. And they usually do. Even when they do get caught they still "win" (see the pension case and the recent OT case). Since they got a stash of billions they usually can since they have most of the folks inside the capitol beltway already protecting their interests. IBM is very desperate to maximize whatever profits they can now; and will stop at nothing, even in this incident you described. What do you expect from this company? RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL? IBM is a sick and dying company in the USA (except for those "you know who folks" in Armonk). It'll also die in the BRICs as well but might wiggle a bit longer there. Even with their stockpile of billions cannot afford them to survive now with their sheer lack of any morals they now exhibit. -Anonymous-

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Comment 3/09/08:
Salary = 76500
Band Level = 6
Job Title = Technical Services Professional
Years Service = 4
Hours/Week = 50
Div Name = 7
Location = Chicago
Message = No raises ever. Was maxed out in my band. I put in work every weekend and over 30 OT hours per month. Managers can't even be bothered with passing on the appeals requests over on the Bank of America account. These same managers supposedly also neglected to change the job band of their employees when IBM initially got the contract. Unlike some of their peers in other ares of the same account who looked out for folks. (Yes, those people did not receive cuts). -IBM=thesuxorz-

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Comment 3/09/08: To --PC- IBM pays us twice monthly, not every two weeks. To determine your hourly pay you must multiply your bi-monthly pay by 24 (this results in your annual pay) and then divide by 2080 (40 hours time 52 weeks). This should result in you hourly pay.. -Ready to quit-

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Comment 3/09/08: PC : So why would you assume any different?-big blue-

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Comment 3/08/08: If any of you were expecting a reasonable salary plan this year, you won't see it. IBM will find any excuse to gut it and the slowdown in the US economy is going to be the excuse. They're counting on the lack of jobs due to the downturn to force people to stay in their miserably underpaid IBM jobs. -Renege-

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Comment 3/07/08: Looks to me the calculation to used to figure, yearly and Hourly pay is formulated in the Favor of IBM. It uses 48 week's to figure the yearly pay and then divides that with 52 weeks to break down to a weekly and then hourly rate. Loosing 4 weeks of the year and lowering the hourly rate. Then of course the OT rate is lower also. Check your pay rates. Compare now to before the 15% robbery. You may have a statement from your last review that states your monthly and Yearly pay.. -PC-

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Comment 3/07/08: Ok, now a different issue that is blatantly illegal which IBM HR is trying to do. One of my co-workers is a weekend warrior (in the guard/reserves). Last year, this person had to attend a school which lasted about a month. Now it's time for the annual bonus & this person is getting the bonus pro-rated because they were gone for a month! Can you say illegal or what? I told this person to call their employer relations liason in the military & they would contact HR to set them straight.. -A_member-

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Comment 3/06/08:
Job Title = Affected Employee
Location = USA
Message =
To -An Upset and Concerned IBM Employee:
Thank you SO much for sharing the information! I had my "interview" on Tuesday, but I wish I had your information in time. I felt lost out there. The "interview" was very scripted, and they were nice; however, I felt they were asking questions to pick apart what I would say to prove reclassifying me was right. To anyone else who may have upcoming interview with HR and Legal, make sure you are confident in what you tell them, ask them to clarify any questions they ask, and communicate how a majority of what you do is truly exempt work.. -ABWAffectedEmployee-

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Comment 3/05/08: 
Location = USA
Message = To appealingibmer - I had my meeting with HR earlier this week. I hope you see this posting soon enough for it to be useful to you. The types of questions they asked me -
Tell us about the project(s) you work on
What are the types of tasks you perform each day?
What portion of your time is spent on each task?
How long have you worked in this job?
Who provides your work direction & how often?
Do you work with users?
Do you do any computer programming work?
The person who did all the talking was very thorough in collecting specifics on my position. She seemed to be using a detailed script and was nice about the whole thing - I'm sure she's just as excited about these meetings as we are. She said I'd hear the results within a few weeks. Good luck to all of you who will be having an interview. -An Upset and Concerned IBM Employee-

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Comment 3/05/08: So I'm thinking since cost cutting is so in vogue that we should follow our companies lead, do a little cost cutting ourselves...chip in.. We have to help them save. You know I just can't afford maintaining my nice wardrobe of suits for work anymore. With these cost cuts sweats and ripped jeans are all I have to wear.. I mean my mortgage and car payments and my health insurance and retirement come first. and now there's just nothing left over to throw away on these luxury items. I'm sure my management will understand, We are only trying to save and reduce our cost too. Hey and I'm sorry if I can't afford to do my laundry as often either as you know , we are only trying to save ...our customers will understand that ...and if we show up on site all sweaty after riding a bike to a customers site it's nothing personal we are just helping to save money..you understand gas is so expensive and then there's the environment thing too. Yeah I know you give us money for gas but that just drives up the nations imported oil debt and my personal cost at home for my after work use of my car.. using all that oil...cuz, you only pay for business use of my car..I'm not finding the trade-off to my advantage anymore with gas approaching $4/gal. So thanks, but I think that I'll be riding a bike to the customers site now on. As a final note I want to thank you for lowering our tax bill by lowering our wages. Now our community gets to lay off some of our teachers and my kids have to sit in an overcrowded classroom. I don't know I thinking about home schooling now, however that is pretty time consuming so I hope that you understand that it's nothing personal if I need to stop working overtime as we are only trying to save that's all. -Oz-

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Comment 3/04/08: -To _Outa Here_ IBM used to be one of the top places to work. Be ever vigilant of that wherever you go. Even the best companies can be mismanaged by a greedy team of executives. -Exodus 2007-

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Comment 3/04/08: @NOYFB - You are somewhat correct, but it's a behavior that is embedded in our DNA. The fact is, it's very possible to get rich without stepping on people, and the morons who are running IBM don't know how to do it. IBM is simply too big, and I think its size is bringing out the fundamental problems with the company. Either way, I just got a job at a privately held company, and I am confident that this crap won't be happening to me ever again. Greed can be good. It keeps things moving. Stupidity is another story.. -Mass Exodus-

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Comment 3/04/08: Can someone that is going through the appeal process and has had their meeting with HR post the type of questions they asked. I have my meeting this week, and I want to be prepared. -appealingibmer-

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Comment 3/04/08: -An Upset and Concerned IBM Employee- : The only reason he wants to know who you are is so that he can take this to your manager and add you to the next round of cuts. They want to squash any dissent, especially when it is made public. -x-IBMer-

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Comment 3/04/08: Beat Up says: "When something matters to you, it matters to IBM. Employees are expected to resolve their differences by relying on the trust they establish with colleagues and managers."
This must be written by someone high up in IBM management. Trust?? managers!? Get real. I see no trust by employees for management. Zero. I trust that things will get worse, and that's about it.
"When something matters to you, it matters to IBM?" Uh huh. IBM just doesn't have the same goals. Raises matter to me as in, I want to be paid more. Raises matter to IBM as in, they want to pay me less.-irRational-

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Comment 3/03/08:
Salary = 69
Band Level = 3
Years Service = 11
Hours/Week = 50-70
Message = Granted, as a company IBM is pathetic. It says one thing and turns right around and does the complete opposite however, IBM isn't the only POS company out there. We just happen to be in the spot light. The problem isn't IBM itself, the REAL PROBLEM is GREED. Have any of you whiners looked at the rest of corporate America? It's all about the f'ing stock price! Who cares about people, we're simply human resources that are feeding the Big Blue money machine, and when it's done digesting you, it will excrete you like a cheap turd in the dirt. Now then, do you REALLY want to make a difference? Get on the phone to your legislators and DEMAND that Corporate greed be stopped dead in its tracks. Otherwise, we'll all wake up living in the USA, the biggest third world nation on the planet. Stop your damned pissing and moaning about IBM and grow a set of balls and do the RIGHT THING!!!!!!!! I haven't had a raise in 5 years. Do you hear me whining? No, I'm taking steps that are actually PRODUCTIVE, and by that I DON'T mean running off to another company with my tail between my legs. Get over the political correctness mode you're in, grow a set of testicles and take these bastards on like a freight train. See Sam sit. See Sam bullshit. See Sam drive IBM into the ground. Now get to it boys and girls. It's just like voting, if you don't then you DON'T HAVE A DAMNED RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A THING, OR THE WAY THEY TURN OUT!!!!!! -NOYFB-

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Comment 3/03/08: An Upset and Concerned IBM Employee- : Hate to tell you this but my bet is Randy never saw this note. It was most likely answered by one of his staff grunts. -big blue-

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Comment 3/02/08: The appeals process can be found at: https://cawasprod.pok.ibm.com/hr/global/concerns_and_appeals/ The appeals form can be found at: Concerns and Appeals :https://cawasprod.pok.ibm.com/hr/global/concerns_and_appeals/tm_webform.jsp
When something matters to you, it matters to IBM. Employees are expected to resolve their differences by relying on the trust they establish with colleagues and managers. However, there are times, for any number of reasons, when such resolutions are not possible. Concerns and Appeals programs enable you to bring your company-related concerns to management's attention to:
Have your point of view about a policy or practice considered.
Initiate an investigation of possible wrongdoing or inappropriate behavior.
Identify a broken process or unnecessary bureaucracy.
Appeal a management decision that has personally affected you.
Submission options
Softcopy: Use the Concerns and Appeals w3 form to submit a concern or appeal a management decision. You also can e-mail the appropriate Concerns and Appeals administrator.
Hardcopy: Fill out the fields on the w3 form and print it. You can mail it or fax it or write a letter marked "personal." If you wish to fax your concern, discuss it first with your country program administrator. Local address information is provided on the printable version of the form.
Submission process
The IBM Concerns and Appeals process is global, administered in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations. You should review the appeals procedures applicable in your country and consult your Human Resources (HR) web pages, your management, the appropriate HR staffs, or any formal written documentation regarding IBM HR policies available to you in your country (e.g. - HR w3 sites, or other HR program materials, etc.) to fully understand any unique requirements applicable in your country. In the event of conflict between this global process and your local requirements, the local requirements will prevail. -Beat Up-

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Comment 3/02/08:
Location = DC Area
Message = To big blue - you may be right in your assessment that Sam never saw the e-mail I sent (see my 2/24 posting). However, I did receive a response from Randy MacDonald. Unfortunately, he was unwilling to provide a meaningful response unless I identified myself, so he could verify I'm an affected employee. If nothing else, at least I made him aware of my concerns and opinions, which was my primary goal of sending the e-mail. I think it's great that we all share information with each other on this web site, but I think it's just as important to make IBM senior management aware of how angry we all are. -An Upset and Concerned IBM Employee-

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