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In the 90s IBM began massive layoffs. They were sued in a number of successful class action suits. The plaintiffs claimed IBM had heavily advanced the We're a b

In the 90s IBM began massive layoffs. They were sued in a number of successful class action suits. The plaintiffs claimed IBM had heavily advanced the We're a big family ethos, also had daycares on the campus, dry cleaners, gyms, and even had multi-generational families working there. IBM was found liable and had to make large payments to its former employees

chrisbolt 6y ago
Liable for what?
- visarga 6y ago
  having gyms, I presume
- jdmichal 6y ago
  The only thing I've found so far is age discrimination and race discrimination lawsuits. Nothing having to do with the working environment or promises.
- jgujgdrgvs 6y ago
  Violating pension agreements would be my guess
  - mcguire 6y ago
    https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/technology/ibm-employees-get-320million-in-pension-suit.html https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/technology/ibm-employees-... "I.B.M. said yesterday that it had agreed to pay $320 million to current and former employees to settle in part a class-action lawsuit over its pension plan in a case that may affect millions of workers at many companies and nonprofit organizations. "Under the settlement, I.B.M.'s liability in the case will be limited to an additional $1.4 billion if the courts uphold a ruling that a new pension plan discriminates against its older workers and is illegal. ..." "For older workers with years in a traditional plan, the switch to a cash-balance plan at age 45 or older can halve the benefits they ultimately collect, compared with a traditional defined-benefit plan." There was also an additional lawsuit involving the difference between employees and contractors, but I can't find the details now. Also note that IBM went from 400,000 employees in 1985 to 225,000 in 1995, also losing on things like OS/2, PCs, mainframes. And as for as I know, IBM has not created any major, successful software projects since 1990 or so.
  - twiddling 6y ago
    There was the whole move to a cash-balance plan and then those converted pensions were pretty much locked up pending legislation from Congress

chrisbolt 6y ago

Liable for what?

visarga 6y ago
having gyms, I presume
jdmichal 6y ago
The only thing I've found so far is age discrimination and race discrimination lawsuits. Nothing having to do with the working environment or promises.
jgujgdrgvs 6y ago
Violating pension agreements would be my guess
- mcguire 6y ago
  https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/technology/ibm-employees-get-320million-in-pension-suit.html https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/technology/ibm-employees-... "I.B.M. said yesterday that it had agreed to pay $320 million to current and former employees to settle in part a class-action lawsuit over its pension plan in a case that may affect millions of workers at many companies and nonprofit organizations. "Under the settlement, I.B.M.'s liability in the case will be limited to an additional $1.4 billion if the courts uphold a ruling that a new pension plan discriminates against its older workers and is illegal. ..." "For older workers with years in a traditional plan, the switch to a cash-balance plan at age 45 or older can halve the benefits they ultimately collect, compared with a traditional defined-benefit plan." There was also an additional lawsuit involving the difference between employees and contractors, but I can't find the details now. Also note that IBM went from 400,000 employees in 1985 to 225,000 in 1995, also losing on things like OS/2, PCs, mainframes. And as for as I know, IBM has not created any major, successful software projects since 1990 or so.
- twiddling 6y ago
  There was the whole move to a cash-balance plan and then those converted pensions were pretty much locked up pending legislation from Congress