Imagine you are an IBMer reading this in a form letter: “I understand the challenges that this decision brings as well as the potential for anxiety and disruption in your personal life during this period.”

Big Blue workers across the U.S. and Canada are receiving layoff notices today in a variety of ways – face-to-face conversations, phone calls, emails. But at the root of each is a form letter that spells out what is happening as part of the company-wide “resource action,” i.e. layoffs.

WRALTechWire received a copy.

This one goes to members of the Storage and Technology Group’s Storage Systems organization, which has a presence in RTP.

The letter is titled as a “Memorandum” to be delivered to “identified employee” and is labeled “Personal and Confidential.”

A “personal” form letter?

“I am writing to provide you with important information. As we recently discussed, IBM is conducting a resource action in STG Storage Systems Development, excluding employees participating in the Transition to Retirement program that will affect you,” the letter begins. ‘The resource action is being implemented in an effort to streamline operations and increase business productivity.”

The recipient has been “identified for permanent layoff as part of the STG Storage Systems Development Resource Action (SYSR). Your IBM employment will end permanently on (INSERT DATE), unless you are offered and accept a new position within IBM before that date.”

If the IBMer involved can’t find another job, his or her employment ends as soon as July 12 and no later than Oct. 31.

Affected workers also received an RA packet of some 30 pages that spells out benefits and other services as part of their transition out of the company as well as a number of forms that must be signed in order to receive severance.

“Please review the package thoroughly, note any deadlines and retain it for future use,” the letter says of what it calls a “transition period.”

The ending paragraph certainly captures the gravity of the situation – even if coldly.

“I understand the challenges that this decision brings as well as the potential for anxiety and disruption in your personal life during this period. I will also appreciate your professionalism in the weeks ahead as we work through this timeframe. Please make use of the resources available to you as they are designed to help you through this process.”

Then to personalize the form letter the manager delivering the coupe de grace is asked to:

“Insert MANAGER NAME”
“Insert MANAGER TITLE”

 [IBM ARCHIVE: Check out more than a decade of IBM stories as reported in WRAL Tech Wire.]