IT Layoffs

[Scuba_Steve]

Questions that were asked today.

What is the plan?
- Is it 10% across the board?
- Is it just LE's?
- Would I know if I was an LE (and told that improvement needed assumably).

- Why would I bother to try hard at anything now or ever again?

- What is my motivation to keep doing more than just coming in and drinking coffee until its my turn?

- What can I do as an employee to try to make sure I am not one of the next ones?

Do I work harder?
Do I make sure to have WAR done early?



Without any official announcements or sharing of the plans, then basically there is zero motivation anymore for the entire staff.

If its strictly a 'we picked you next' then can we motivate anyone to do anything from today forward?

Even the excellent employees who are normally high output high quality workers with self motivation are now pretty much lifeless.


Does ANYONE ever consider these things when they do this sort of stuff?

Do they every give any thought into how tough they make things for their lower levels of mgmt who actually manage for a living?




AND what kind of huge ************ (looking at you DB) does it take to wait until the job market sucks to do this to their people? Did they not have their heads out of their ****** enough to know that we needed to reduce staff for years now? Many people felt NJ was going to price themselves out of a job...and that's exactly what happened. If IS has been located more in ATL, and Louisville I bet the spreadsheets would have looked a hell of a lot different on the alleged cost savings of going with all outsourcing.


Good luck with the next round, all right? I hope your firings go really well.

 

[brwn2thebone]

Nice Summary, IU, and it is scary.

 

[tankerT1]

It's also interesting how they were sure to get their UPSPAC and United Way money, as well as all the letters written before they chose to drop the hammer.

 

[tsp1zzz]

My manager kept walking by my cube today with someone I had never seen before.
They were sipping on coffee and giggling while they looked at my red stapler.

 

[copper]

I would like to wish the recently disappeared good luck. Some how I feel you are bettering your situation and were actually the lucky ones.
It was frightening to actually realize that the one I worked with was not coming back when he was asked to be seen. I am glad we are friends outside of work. First it was a consultant I have been associated with for 10 years and then a friend.
This really sucks.

 

[randomUPSISer]

^Somehow I think I might agree with you that the ones booted today are the lucky ones. If we all continue to make it there and end up during a mass purging the Louisville job market is going to be flooded and nearly impossible to find an IT job without changing cities.

So any word on how Louisville made out today?

I heard 7 confirmed terminations, then later in the day 18 from RM's Ground Systems / Worldport area alone. If that was the case, how did EA's area make out?

Also heard some TTGers were read some corporate like note saying that management was done with the purging.

If the number was truly 10% then 7 total doesnt add up anywhere close.

While I was leaving my building there were some managers gathering around a terminated employees spot seperating what was personal from UPS property and putting it into a box. It was kind of disgusting to hear them making jokes with one another and laughing at each others jokes

 

[copper]

My friend confirmed the one week for every year.
I am becoming very paranoid. 4 of the ones let go were past co-workers and generally friends of mine. All were not the mainstream UPS culture. A black female, a black male and 2 Russian Jewish friends all with lives outside of UPS. Pattern? I too am a person whose inner circle are all non-UPSers. Is it a matter of time for me?
Is it because they never attended Six Flags over Jesus? Locals know what I mean.

 

[BrownBlood SDF]

I hate that this happened and you know it doesnt help anyone for speculation to occur. Look around you not just UPS the entire market, rumors hurt people cause un-needed worry. UPS isnt any different than any other company out there, accept that move along do a good job and dont give anyone a reason to think is this person doing a good job. Explain to me how this is any different than what say for example Humana does? When we went public it started the cycle of coporate america in what was a unique company. Maybe instead of speculating what the compensation package is and the next round maybe we can help the departed by helping them network, this market sucks right now everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. I wished this BLOG stated facts and not speculation.

 

[The Zen Man]

Personally, I call it a sadness that is going to impact the lives of hundreds of very loyal UPS workers and their families. These dedicated individuals have taken ownership and performed their duties with pride. Where is the ownership stratum for the "New" employees? Hmm...

Ownership?
Partnership?
What are you talking about?!

There where many stops along the way to the funeral, but we are in the procession now.

Among the last heartbeats perhaps was the change from a over funded mgmt pension plan, to a 401k 6% matching plan- for the "new labor force that wants to be able to be portable, and plan for and take control of their own retirement dreams"

Right... Opps did we mention that we just froze the 401k 6% match?

As the commandeering of the now infamous 2a-021 continues into next week- one will have to ask who is benefiting from all of this?

Didn't the board just have the audacity to put to proxy a compensation increase on their behalf for ADDITIONAL stock options to the tune of between 200-350% per member? (haha- you thought we weren't paying attention)

This in the same year we were asked to forgo our 3% increases? I'm sorry- but did anyone hear of LTIPS not being award in the last few rounds??

Now onto how they choose to handle letting folks go. Regardless of being an LE or not- these are people. Would it not make sense to bring the all together at once- explain hard economic times- blah blah blah. Escort them if you must- but give them the decency to gather their personal items and say good bye?

Really for a company that has figured out how to move a whale across the world- could we not figure this out? PS- the bake sale and car wash for UWAY was an extra special touch for the folks as they were walked out!

How about a communication to those "lucky" ones that are left? This is what is going on, this is why- some sort of blah blah blah? No- lets leave the employees that we want to keep in the dark about the whole thing- thats a good plan. That will keep them "inspired!" don't know about that one- DB- that does not sound too cool.

And speaking of those grade 20s and above- is everyone hearing the metal ceiling being installed between them and the rest of the "partnership"?
Now that the music stopped- they were the last ones into the boat of our old culture.

Anyone left below that level- good luck every climbing in them- because- "we now view the workforce as easily exchangeable". Case in point- that fella from the outside who walked right into the App Mgr slot last year.

Well- time to see if the badge still works. Then again- should it not- perhaps there really is a golden ticket in my wonka bar...

Disposable - Expendable - Replaceable - Laughable - The fleecing of UPS has begun.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

I hate that this happened and you know it doesnt help anyone for speculation to occur. Look around you not just UPS the entire market, rumors hurt people cause un-needed worry. UPS isnt any different than any other company out there, accept that move along do a good job and dont give anyone a reason to think is this person doing a good job. Explain to me how this is any different than what say for example Humana does? When we went public it started the cycle of coporate america in what was a unique company. Maybe instead of speculating what the compensation package is and the next round maybe we can help the departed by helping them network, this market sucks right now everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. I wished this BLOG stated facts and not speculation.

That is pretty naive if the real goal is to outsource ALL IT to IBM/Accenture like it appears.

 

[Brown_No_More]

Let me put this one issue to rest. Part of the severance package was one week for every year. How do I know this, I was the recipient of it last week. That’s how Partners treat Partners after 20+ years of service. By the way BrownBlood SDF, it had nothing to do with performance. Did you hear that? Nothing to do with performance, but everything to do with IBM India and the bottom line.

 

[BrownBlood SDF]

That is pretty naive if the real goal is to outsource ALL IT to IBM/Accenture like it appears.

Do yourself a favor look up on google or reputable newspapers and see if you can find anything that says IBM is taking over the UPS IT department. I tried and the only thing I could find was speculation, again not facts dont think I am the one being naive if you are willing to read everything you hear on blog that has no control what so ever and you can write what ever you want. I could say that UPS has laid off 100+ in Louisville alone and it would cause such a stir and people would believe it. Do your homework.

 

[TechGrrl]

Do yourself a favor look up on google or reputable newspapers and see if you can find anything that says IBM is taking over the UPS IT department. I tried and the only thing I could find was speculation, again not facts dont think I am the one being naive if you are willing to read everything you hear on blog that has no control what so ever and you can write what ever you want. I could say that UPS has laid off 100+ in Louisville alone and it would cause such a stir and people would believe it. Do your homework.

The IBM/Accenture deal has been in place for months. What part of 'global sourcing' is unclear? There have been at least 10 people fired today. They can't hide the empty cubicles. The IT goal is to reduce the IT workforce by 10% to make room for the IBM/Accenture consultants. This is not the same as 'taking over UPS IT'. You are either so far into dreamland that it is hopeless, or you are not even a UPS employee, simply trolling the board. If you don't believe that people were fired in Louisville today, talk to people in each of the buildings, and get the names. Management wants you to be good little sheeple, quietly chewing your cud while they clip you.

For what it is worth, LE's or not, I seriously doubt that ANY of the local IT management thinks this was a good idea. They had no choice. This was the CIO and CEO falling for a good sales pitch, in the face of repeated failures in the past, at this company, and other companies, that clearly make it plain that complex business computer systems cannot be developed or maintained from 12,500 miles away. This will not only FAIL to save money, it will COST us money as critical business systems are maintained by the hired guns of IBM/Accenture. As a shareowner, I consider this an indictment.

Folks: for all current and past employees, owners of A shares or B shares, if you don't like it, send a message. VOTE NO across the board next year when they send you the shareowner proxy material. If enough people start doing it, maybe they will pay attention.

 

[TechGrrl]

While I was leaving my building there were some managers gathering around a terminated employees spot seperating what was personal from UPS property and putting it into a box. It was kind of disgusting to hear them making jokes with one another and laughing at each others jokes

That's called 'gallows humor'; when you're standing on the trap door, wondering when they are going to pull the handle? If you plan to dump 10% of the group, logic says you need 10% fewer PL's, 10% fewer Project Managers, and 10% fewer Systems Managers. Then you could flatten the org chart even more by dumping the AppMgr layer, and probably increase productivity to boot. Shorter communication chain and less random noise, you know?

 

[MIPMASTER]

I work at Linn Station and I saw the whole thing unravel yesterday. Most of the cuts were the "fat" but one was definitely a mistake. They definitely missed cutting people in the QA/BA group. That group's boss will even admit they have "a LOT of work to get their skills to where they need to be".......JR's management team was very well orchestrated yesterday and the PCM communication was handled well, based on the conditions at hand. A little surprised no LPA and above cuts took place but I still believe additional information will come out. The communication I heard was the displacements under NW were complete as of the early afternoon. No confirmed numbers are known but I would assume, 25+. I am sure someone will do the math today.

So here we are..............put it behind you the best you can if you survived and let's move on. For those of you who are no longer Brown, I hope this is a minor bump in the road on your journey through life.

 

[LilBrownBear]

People of retirement age were allowed to retire, party and all. I hope as this sad and heavy brown door closes, a bright new door opens for all. It hasn't been Jim Casey's company for a long time now.

 

[bigguy57]

The IBM/Accenture deal has been in place for months. What part of 'global sourcing' is unclear? There have been at least 10 people fired today. They can't hide the empty cubicles. The IT goal is to reduce the IT workforce by 10% to make room for the IBM/Accenture consultants. This is not the same as 'taking over UPS IT'. You are either so far into dreamland that it is hopeless, or you are not even a UPS employee, simply trolling the board. If you don't believe that people were fired in Louisville today, talk to people in each of the buildings, and get the names. Management wants you to be good little sheeple, quietly chewing your cud while they clip you.

For what it is worth, LE's or not, I seriously doubt that ANY of the local IT management thinks this was a good idea. They had no choice. This was the CIO and CEO falling for a good sales pitch, in the face of repeated failures in the past, at this company, and other companies, that clearly make it plain that complex business computer systems cannot be developed or maintained from 12,500 miles away. This will not only FAIL to save money, it will COST us money as critical business systems are maintained by the hired guns of IBM/Accenture. As a shareowner, I consider this an indictment.

Folks: for all current and past employees, owners of A shares or B shares, if you don't like it, send a message. VOTE NO across the board next year when they send you the shareowner proxy material. If enough people start doing it, maybe they will pay attention.

Wow... That about says it all. All of you still in the employ of UPS, don't kid yourselves. You're next! Not today maybe not tomorrow and maybe not until the LAST cuts are complete, but rest assured it will happen. How do i know this? It makes sense once you understand the goal; the bottom line cost of doing business! and if any of you is naive enough to believe that you offer a skill thats worth 10 additional workers in India (and i assure you that the 10 to 1 ratio is conservative). Think again.
Believe me when I tell you that as a PL I did everything that was expected of me in facilitating the list of LE's for consideration and even that distasteful exercise couldn't save my job. Don't lull yourself into believing that the "doing the right thing by the partners" and "treating it like it is your own company" BS will save you, it won't. I did and it didn't. all it got me was a new role at Mahwah... I learned that I am one of the names that when the "if they can let (insert my name) go, they'll do it anyone" line is spoken, which I hear is pretty often. Cold Comfort for losing a 2-unit job after 12 years of recognized and consistent performance!

 

[bigguy57]

Bridging to Retirement: When laid-off employees are close to early or normal retirement ages, a company will often add years of age and/or service in order to qualify them for retirement benefits. This benefit is usually offered to longtime employees whose age makes their re-employment problematic. A common threshold is that an employee must be within three years of retirement eligibility to qualify for bridging.

WISHFUL THINKING

Buyouts can vary. "Two weeks for every year is as bad as [it's] going to get," says Bennett. "That's what someone at the lowest level of [the] company will get.

Interesting stuff... can you supply the source? think it may be useful

 

[air_upser]

So TTG is "done for now." But what happens when Accenture India is up to speed and applications are fully supported there? More layoffs? What happens when there is new "least best" next year? The culture is becoming one of fear, mistrust of management, and general unhappiness. I can't wait to take the new ERI. I haven't seen any comments from folks outside of IT. Generally speaking, I don't think we were ever considered BROWN, but we are now facing some of the same mgmt philosophy. Don't disagree, share an opinion, or have a life outside of UPS(ie-see a son's baseball game at 5:30). Partners???? Laughable these days.

 

[NeverSayNever]

As I was leaving today I saw they replaced the white paper over the windows in 2a-021 with blue draps! Sort of like you would see in a funeral parlor...... Imagine that.....