IBM: Maybe No One Will Notice Our 2,800 Layoffs…

If no mention of layoffs was made during IBM’s reporting of its fourth-quarter results it’s not because the company hadn’t been planning them. IBM sent layoff notices to a number of employees last week–just one day after reporting a 12 percent gain in fourth-quarter earnings and issuing an encouraging financial outlook for 2009. And according to reports, the company is eliminating about 2,800 jobs in North America–mostly in its sales and software units.

While confirming that these “resource actions” are indeed taking place, IBM (IBM) refused to discuss details. Instead, it offered up the standard staff reduction obfuscations as comment. “We are not going to discuss specific numbers or locations,” spokesperson Doug Shelton told The Poughkeepsie Journal. What I can tell you is that managing resources and skills is an ongoing component of our business model. IBM continuously evaluates its mix of skills and resources, and makes changes as needed. The nature of our business is that we must constantly assess employee skills and resources and at any given time, give IBM the flexibility to match the current and future needs of our clients (skills that the client needs). Managing talent in this way promotes the continued competitiveness of our operations and matches our skills and capabilities with the evolving needs of our clients.”

So much for IBM’s lifetime employment concept.

[Image credit: Someecards]