Corporate America Sucks!

[marcmax]

I know this is a global forum but I just had to vent.

I have spent the majority of my adult life working for an American corporate giant, IBM. Yes I knew I was just a cog in the machine, but I believed the company line and believed they would honor their corporate responsibility. Boy was I wrong.

60 days ago I was told at the end of June my services would no longer be needed, but I was eligible to retire. The only problem was all the time working for an "IBM Company" didn't count, just the time for IBM.

I'm sorry but I just don't get it. I worked for IBM, showed up at a customer saying I was from IBM, got a paycheck signed by IBM, but now I wasn't actually working for them. JMHO but it is a load of legal BS and I am pissed.

I have spent most of my life supporting the railroad industry and already have a position in place with a railroad company for the day after I leave employment with IBM but I just need to vent what an arrogant company I have spent my life working for.

For 20 plus years, the company policy was always that if there was ever a layoff, the severance pay would be 2 weeks pay for every year of employment with IBM. 30 days before they laid off 70k (older employees) they changed they policy to a maximum of one months pay as a severance.

My apologies for venting and ranting but I just needed to get it out. It won't change anything but it makes me feel better.

[Tony Smith]

You have my total and absolute sympathy.

My first experience with the way american corporations work was way back in the 70s with NCR, I swore I would never work for another.

Presumably your new role has some influence over acquisition decisions, make them work extra hard with no prospect of ever getting the sale.

[montmil]

Very saddened by your treatment, Marc. Hopefully, the future will be brighter.

Your treatment, and others with similar situations, is disgraceful. Don't get me started... [smiley=furious3.gif]

[wilcom]

Very saddened by your treatment, Marc. Hopefully, the future will be brighter.

No matter how good your relationships are within the corporation you are never safe, A Corporation has NO soul. Always treat them as you would an armed man,

IBM's policy is beyond "chicken [BLEEP!]" to say the least'

Good Luck Marc, we feel for ya

[Barry]

That's a dirty trick to play.  It's things like this that remind me employee representation in the form of trade unions is not a bad thing.

They wouldn't have got away with that in the UK as there is a statutory minimum entitlement to severance pay and transfer of undertakings legislation to make sure they can't wriggle out by changing the company name.

[Bob_Roller]

I work for, what was considered an employee friendly company, an airline .

 We have been without a  contract since mid August 2012, still no contract as of this date .

Management wants a bankruptcy type contract, while they have made record profits  .

We are in mediated negotiations, a government appointed mediator is now involved with this process .

Last week a company official made the comment to the union and mediator, that if we could outsource all of your jobs, you would be unemployed tomorrow .

My attitude now is., my work mode is in idle reverse .

If another flight never leaves on time, I'm comfortable with it .

Today, is my 23rd year anniversary with the company .

I'm glad I'm at the end of my working career, if I lose my job tomorrow, so much the better !!!

[clonmore1]

Here in the UK, we have the ability to take our 'private' pensions at 55 ( private pensions are classified as company type pensions and other arrangements made for retirement by an individual outside of the state provided pension).

I turned 55 in May, over the years I have built up a number of these private pensions, the only problem now is following the financial crisis of 2008, many of these pensions are in a negative position and the trustees don't want those who can to take further funds out of the pot!

We also have some high profile cases where large UK companies have collapsed and the pension money has somehow disappeared yet the main owners have continued to take huge dividends...

As they say;

"In a poor area, somebody will take your cell phone, in a good area, somebody will take your pension"

It all adds up to a simple fact, the world is ruled by a very small elite who seem to be above the law and retribution, the rest of us exist to pay for the privileges of this elite...

[Bob_W]

I worked for years for one of the seven dwarfs until I was called to the office one day. Several years before, the company offered to add five years to both years of service and age for purposes of early retirement. Among the incentives was a continuation of health insurance for life. I was not old enough to qualify.
I year or so later the health insurance was cancelled. The retired employees fought, the final decision was since the company was self insured, they could cancel insurance any time they wished in spite of agreement made at the time of early retirement.
Although I left the company for about a year, my total years of employment by were credited for both the severance package and retirement commencing years later.
Good luck with new adventure. I am glad to hear you were to get immediate employment. I had to spend several years returning to the same income I left.
Large scale systems with twenty four seven on site support were going away and dinosaur doctors were going extinct.

Bob

[marcmax]

No matter how good your relationships are within the corporation you are never safe, A Corporation has NO soul.

I went into this with my eyes open and knew better. I got seduced by the company line of security to raise my family. I did and they are fine young adults so at least that is no longer a worry. But I knew from the start that big business is nothing but a group of cold hearted, money grubbing bastards that will use you for what they want then toss you to the curb. I put on blinders and told myself it is the other guy that has to worry, not me. Yah right!

This is just another "trial by fire" that is part of life. If life was easy you wouldn't appreciate the good things when they happen.

I broke my back jumping out of airplanes and the doc told me I would probably never walk again. I told him "FU" and got on with life. Within 3 years I was a competitive bicyclist riding multi day events of 300-400  miles. Never walk again my a$$.

I have survived two ex wives and their parasitic lawyers (don't get me started on lawyers).

I had my Dr tell me I had cancer and had maybe 9 months to live, to get my affairs in order. That was almost twenty years ago.

So this is a setback, that is for sure but I can do one of two things. I can give up, feel sorry for myself and put a bullet in my brain or I can say, "FU world! I'm not going down without a fight." and get on with life.

I am fortunate to have a very marketable skill in the IT world and was able to find another job (for the same pay) so life goes on.

Thanks to everyone for the moral support!

[nhmaf]

So sorry to hear of this horrendous treatment, Marc.   It seems like there could certainly be grounds to suit for better benefits/severance, etc... but it would involve lawyers and cost $$$, and I know at these times that is the last thing anyone wants to deal with.   I hope that things turn around for you soon.   Corporate America hasn't treated me very well over the years either, but it still wasn't as bad as what was done to you.   Hang in there - you've demonstrated enough persistence to get through anything many times over, I'm sure you'll come out alright again (even though it does get old)..

[marcmax]

I want to apologize to all the members for my last post. As the saying goes " I was in my cups". When I read what I had posted I realized it sounded very fatalistic.

I am thankful for all that life has given me. I also consider myself blessed to have been able to find employment when so many are struggling. I have my health, I have my friends and I have an income. Oh yes, I also have my rubber cow. What more do I need?  

[clonmore1]

Nice words Marc,

Many of us that are a little along in years would agree with the sentiments in your origenal post.

[Burt]

Nice words Marc,

Many of us that are a little along in years would agree with the sentiments in your original post.

+1

Like most people I have had the odd sh*t sandwich dealt to me in life including a complete career change.  At the moment I am doing quite well, and most importantly I have kept my motorcycles and have more than when I started out.  

As the saying goes; "you'll never see a motorcycle parked out the front of a psychiatrist's office".

[Mike V]

A Corporation has NO soul. Always treat them as you would an armed man, ...

Truer words have never been spoken Joe.  Corporate America hasn't been playing fair for many years now and it's not likely things will improve anytime soon.  Eventually the exponential growth of greed will light the fuse to total implosion.

Best of luck to you Marc, the one thing they can't take from you is your dignity.  Doesn't pay much but ...

[Ed Miller]

I saw a bumper sticker that said "I'll believe corporations are people when the State of Texas executes one."

Hey you guys, we're waiting.