Company: IBM
Date: 2008-06-16
Overall rating: 2/5
Employment status: current

Avoid IBM Global services - more work, less pay, clueless management
Pros: If you are just out of college, this company will allow you to travel and see parts of the US (as long as they are generally major cities).  In fact, this is the ideal employee for the company since they can work you as much as they please, and you are unlikely to complain.
Cons: IBM used to be the benchmark for IT workers, but is no longer.  I joined this company from an outsourcing, and regret that I did.  They are the worst sort of corporate abusers, continuously asking you to work more hours, provide "giveback" (i.e. free extra hours work from you), without any compensation.  Their incentive plans are laughable, including a recent one-time bonus of $100 if you worked 45 hours in a week.  For many workers here, they reduced their salaries 10%, put them on an hourly pay scheme, and then force them to work an extra 4-5 hours per week to make up the difference.  The first line managers have no power or decision making authority to speak of, and just spout the company line.  Upper management is clueless, and think they can replace us at anytime with low cost Global Resources (e.g. Indians, Brazilians, Chinese).  These are the worst aspects of modern capitalism.  I am strictly a hired gun for these people, and have no loyalty whatsoever.  And unfortunately, that's the way I'm treated by them.  If you are being outsourced to this company, run.  They will f*ck you over.  We are getting no inflationary pay rises this year, at all, and the difference between a good employee and a better employee is approximately 1.5% in compensation.  I don't even bother anymore, as I consider my time more valuable than the pittance they offer.  In fairness, I've had enough, and am currently looking for a new job.  My advice:  avoid IBM Global Services.