IT Layoffs - Page 2 - Brown Cafe

jehardrock · 07-29-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storm4

Managers usually take care of their own.

Any news of packages being offered to any? I have heard some "resigned" but under what terms?

Many rumors. Packages in terms of a severance are likely if there is a surplus of employees and they can't be reassigned to other areas. Will be based on years of service is my guess. However, it won't be much. I am not aware of any resignations.

Dfigtree · 07-30-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehardrock

Many rumors. Packages in terms of a severance are likely if there is a surplus of employees and they can't be reassigned to other areas. Will be based on years of service is my guess. However, it won't be much. I am not aware of any resignations.

From the revered yet often maligned JC (Jim Casey) "“The basic principle that I believe has contributed more than any other to the building of our business is the ownership of our company by the people employed in it.”
Casey 1955" I suppose in tofay's global economic climaate thaat the JC Legacy has to be update to something like this:
“The basic principle that I believe has contributed more than any other to the building of our business is the replacement of the people employed in it with cheap outside labor.” And for anyone who thinks that UPS Ballywood is any less talented than UPS Dollywood, guess again.
Casey revised 2009

peacock71 · 07-30-2009, 05:58 PM

Dfig:

I think in this economic climate, with business off 16%, UPS has to consider every option to maintain sustainability. Maybe outsourcing has come of age and can help. I do not think you will see UPS cuttng 16% of the IT work force, that would be competitive suicide. IT has to have the skills and technology to keep UPS competitive. I think you will see projects deferred, certainly few new hires, and an IT budget that takes into account current economic conditions. That is only reasonable and prudent management. Nothing made me more upset during my career than to have a piece of technically obsolete dead wood in the middle of the river of progress, damming it up.

Go UPS!
P71

virtualpro · 07-31-2009, 08:47 AM

"Maybe outsourcing has come of age and can help."

Don't you think that is part of what got this country into the mess we are in? Maybe right now they are only consultants being replaced but they are still US jobs. US people out of work means less they have to spend. The less people have - the less they buy - the less stores sell and companies need to ship... see a pattern here?

Hoaxster · 07-31-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virtualpro

"Maybe outsourcing has come of age and can help."

Don't you think that is part of what got this country into the mess we are in? Maybe right now they are only consultants being replaced but they are still US jobs. US people out of work means less they have to spend. The less people have - the less they buy - the less stores sell and companies need to ship... see a pattern here?

I see your point and agree with your logic. Companies have to do what is needed to be competitive and profitable.

However, who were you quoting?

peacock71 · 08-01-2009, 03:20 AM

UPS is a global company. Does it matter where IT professionals come from? I mean they could even be 'virtualpros' ( I couldn't resist). How many times have we saved staff resources through new development products and methodologies...'Improves development productivity 9,000 percent!!!!). Never happened of course.

And here we are now in 2009 and its still 'The times they are a changin.' The issue isn't layoffs or outsourcing, its trust. At UPS one must always be ready for a new assignment. If the business can be made to grow again, and I think it can, there will always be opportunity for good people, but it may not be what you are doing now.

Go UPS!
P71

Dfigtree · 08-01-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peacock71

UPS is a global company. Does it matter where IT professionals come from? I mean they could even be 'virtualpros' ( I couldn't resist). How many times have we saved staff resources through new development products and methodologies...'Improves development productivity 9,000 percent!!!!). Never happened of course.

And here we are now in 2009 and its still 'The times they are a changin.' The issue isn't layoffs or outsourcing, its trust. At UPS one must always be ready for a new assignment. If the business can be made to grow again, and I think it can, there will always be opportunity for good people, but it may not be what you are doing now.

Go UPS!
P71

"You can't handle the truth!"--Col. Jessup

The truth is that the US of A is no longer the dominant force in what is actually is fairly simple discipline of writing code. What happened to the workers in Detroit, when their arrogance allowed them to think that no one else could do their jobs? It wasn't and isn't pretty. If you want to talk about
emerging technology such as the Semantic Web you might find yourself US based but don't go telling me that you are the only one who can write code. Others can do it as well and cheaper.

gimmeabreak · 08-01-2009, 04:41 PM

so nice that you feel this way now that you are retired....

Dfigtree · 08-01-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimmeabreak

so nice that you feel this way now that you are retired....

There are plenty of people out there who can do your job. It has always been that way but the competition used to be American (trained) and there used to be more jobs than job seekers keeping the salaries up there. Remember when UPS had a shortage of data base professionals and had to change the salary matrix to pay DBA's out of the box in order to attract and keep them? It's supply and demand. Simple as that.

Anybody could have done my job. I was never naive enough to think otherwise but few could have matched my performance as report back emcee.

I am retired and in retirement I am volunteering my time to JFCS and the Liberty Science Center. In retirement I miss most of the people I knew at IS but not the management. And as I am approaching 60 I miss my friends and acquaintances who did not get this far in life.

nervIS · 08-05-2009, 02:42 PM

Has everyone had the meeting about job cuts starting in the next two weeks. NJ and Maryland had their meetings over the past two days.

The intent of globalization was not to impact UPSers. Oh, how the times have changed.

gimmeabreak · 08-05-2009, 05:38 PM

RUMOR has it that 20 people got their walking papers today....

nervIS · 08-05-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimmeabreak

RUMOR has it that 20 people got their walking papers today....

Getting let go sucks. But what sucks worse; getting let go on a Wednesday, Friday, or the worst (IMO)....... a Monday?

Someone poised a question/observation in this thread earlier about management types (for my purposes lets consider these management types Project Lead and above) getting cut. It would make sense that since IBM is placing "coordinators" for the new contractors in the buildings (at least at ISMD), some PL's and PM's may not be necessary.

Is is unreasonable to assume that any 2-unit (and possible Options level) position is unstable at this moment?

I love using ()'s

Hoaxster · 08-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nervIS

Getting let go sucks. But what sucks worse; getting let go on a Wednesday, Friday, or the worst (IMO)....... a Monday?

I agree, if I'm let go, I hope it is on a Tuesday ... that will help a lot.

whocarestoyo · 08-05-2009, 08:47 PM

Does anyone know what groups affected. We had our meeting in Mahwah yesterday. I heard rumors that two UPSers were let go yesterday and as much as 4 today. i am in shared services and wondering specifically what groups are affected here in ISNJ?

rooster · 08-05-2009, 08:57 PM

The layoffs have started! Many more to come. Management trying to secure their huge bonuses again. ISNJ, security is coming your way to escort you out.

MIPMASTER · 08-06-2009, 02:33 AM

Hoaxster, I don't get on here much but your responses USUALLY have the wit I enjoy. Thanks. I work in IT in Louisville.

I have not had "the talk to determine if I am in/out" but I assume it is coming. Any details on who is being talked to first? The people who are out or the people who are in? I think I am safe but you never know.

The rumors / facts should be flying today if layoffs did ACTUALLY take place in ISNJ. Best of luck to anyone who does go this path.

Hoaxster · 08-06-2009, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIPMASTER

Hoaxster, I don't get on here much but your responses USUALLY have the wit I enjoy. Thanks. I work in IT in Louisville.

I have not had "the talk to determine if I am in/out" but I assume it is coming. Any details on who is being talked to first? The people who are out or the people who are in? I think I am safe but you never know.

The rumors / facts should be flying today if layoffs did ACTUALLY take place in ISNJ. Best of luck to anyone who does go this path.

Even Chapelle is not perfect but he usually is funny!

Honestly, nothing but consistent rumors.
Word is that it was to start next Monday but that seems to have been moved up a week or so.

Louisville never came up in discussions ... I think because Transportation is not normally in our area of experience, other than TradeAbility.

zzeee · 08-06-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoaxster

Even Chapelle is not perfect but he usually is funny!

Honestly, nothing but consistent rumors.
Word is that it was to start next Monday but that seems to have been moved up a week or so.
Most impacted location for UPSers is in New Jersey.
Supplemental contractors will be moved to IBM or Accenture or let go.
Louisville never came up in discussions ... I think because Transportation is not normally in our area of experience, other than TradeAbility.

It's started. Yesterday some were asked to leave in Paramus NJ

Dfigtree · 08-06-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzeee

It's started. Yesterday some were asked to leave in Paramus NJ

Asked? They had a choice?

Under what conditions were they asked to leave? Buy-out, PIP-ed, fired or what?

They don't realize it but their lives have just gotten a whole lot better.

peacock71 · 08-06-2009, 02:54 PM

Dfig:

Quoting Bruce now? I kno wthem all. The lyrics call out to you like a long lost friend.

You should let this all play, because it is not negative in any way. Especially if you are still a shareholder. There is more to it than what you are see and hear, its good business.

Go UPS!
P71

gimmeabreak · 08-06-2009, 03:24 PM

It's all good, especially the way they are treating the folks on the way out.

You get to leave all your crap in your cube and are escorted to a conference room where HR finishes up your severance paperwork and gives you some parting gifts, before showing you the door.

Oh, and if your lucky day was today, and you're in Mahwah, you even get to buy some cookies and make a donation to United Way on your last trip down Main Street.

UPS - people are our greatest asset.

minibrings · 08-06-2009, 04:16 PM

A friend of mine was laid off today. He was brought his briefcase and lunchbox. Was given his severance package and told he is not allowed to speak about the terms of layoff otherwise he will not be eligible for it His phone was turned off already and he was walked to the door after 18 years as a UPSer.

Thanks Dave Barnes!

nervIS · 08-06-2009, 04:54 PM

I hate to be part of the rumor mill, but here we are. The word is that 25........no 30...........no 35 people were given notice today in either Paramus or Mahwah. With yesterdays totals that must be about 50 people by now. Of course this is all unconfirmed.

Invasion of the bodysnatchers? One day you are in your cube, the next day you're an Indian contractor (this in no way is meant to insult Indian contractors; without them we wouldn't get much done).

I am convinced that by the end of next week DB will be doing all the coding and QA for the Jan 10 ER all by himself.

Hoaxster · 08-06-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nervIS

I am convinced that by the end of next week DB will be doing all the coding and QA for the Jan 10 ER all by himself.

Dan Burke or Dave Barnes?

Any activity in Maryland?

nervIS · 08-06-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoaxster

Dan Burke or Dave Barnes?

Well played.

Nothing much at ISMD. Just rumors and nervISousness since the ill-planned/scripted/delivered meetings on Monday. But the IBM employees are showing up in a steady stream. People are actually eating in the cafeteria.