IBM Layoffs Devastate Workers At Essex Junction Facility

Further IBM layoffs have been slated to take place this Thursday beginning with staffing cuts at IBM’s Essex Junction facility. The layoffs plaguing the Multi-National company were reported on back in March this year with 5000 US based jobs being lost to cheaper labor costs in India.

In this latest round of cuts IBM announced that due to dismal earnings in the first quarter of this year it was necessary to make cuts within the company. On Wednesday, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin was notified by IBM that he could expect job losses in his constituency as the company culls it’s workforce in order to curtail further financial loss.

Governor Shumlin said in an official statement: “We heard from IBM today that sites around the United States, including the Essex facility, will be notified of a workforce reorganization that will result in layoffs. I am always concerned when we learn that Vermonters face job losses. Our hearts go out to the affected workers and their families, and I pledge my administration’s resources to help their transition. The Vermont Department of Labor has mobilized its rapid response team and is prepared to assist all laid off workers”.

The current round of IBM layoffs have rumours abounding within company walls as staff members try to work out which departments in the company specifically will be affected. It is rumoured that around 4000 employees will lose their jobs, but no one knows exactly when and where this will occur.

The bosses at IBM have remained mysterious and illusive about the specifics of the cuts. IBM spokesman Doug Shelton sent an email stating: “Change is constant in the technology industry, and transformation is an essential feature of our business model. Consequently, some level of workforce remix is a constant requirement for our business. Given the competitive nature of our industry, we do not publicly discuss the details of staffing plans”.

The companies workers are dismayed about the secrecy that is coming from management and hope, as we all do, that they will be put in the picture as soon as possible so that they can make plans accordingly for their future.

Do you think companies should be more transparent with their staff when it comes to layoffs? Is the way this set of IBM layoffs was handled by the company acceptable to you? Share your comments below.