IBM

You get to meet people outside of the CIC and work on really cool projects with IBM Core.

Everything about the Baton Rouge CIC is a CON. It’s a cult environment, and if you don’t have a specific clique or don’t kiss behind, you’ll never make it.

When you start, they will tell you it’s an “open door policy” workplace and that it’s okay to share your concerns with your peers. Well, that was a lie.

Your salary is super low! I finished the apprenticeship at $42,500, and when I switched over to a band 6g (associate), I never received a raise. Mangers hate talking about raises too! I was at $42,500 for almost two years and got a not-so-great end-of-year review in 2022, despite me doing everything in the GBS progression chart for a raise to band 7a! The center and managers do what they want to keep your salary low. It’ll take you 3-4 years to get to $55,000, when the Monroe center starts at $55,000. Cost of living is higher in Baton Rouge. The people who work at the center as associates can barely afford to pay for rent anywhere in a safe neighborhood in Baton Rouge.

I have ADHD, anxiety, and depression and was put on a PIP to “give me structure.” Mind you, I never agreed or signed this PIP. July, I was fired because of non-completion of the PIP, but on May 26, my managers congratulated me for completing the PIP, and the evidence of completion was posted in a box folder for my managers and Delivery Managers to see.

There needs to be more management, disability, and diversity training.

In June, there was a new hire. She was my onboard buddy I was assigned. Well, little did I know, she was replacing my spot on the team, lol.

My two years at IBM, I had over 1,500 learning hours. I knew my role as a data engineer, but my managers failed me. How can I be a data engineer when my managers are project managers that have only used SQL or no technical languages at all?

I created training for my team so that we learn together. I participated in hackathons on behalf of IBM. I participated in Service Corps twice!

During Hurricane Ida last year, I was homeless for 2 weeks! But I was still expected to show up for work and keep in touch with my client for the project I was on. I had no basic needs to even focus on my project.

If you’re neurodiverse, please reach out to someone in HR—not BR HR—and get accommodations. My managers joked about my having ADHD in my checkpoint goals. When I asked my manager about reasonable accommodations, her response was, “idk anything [about] reasonable accommodations.”

Also, if you’re traveling, please get your manager to help you to expense your charges. I asked my managers over 10 times, and they never helped me to expense. This was my first corporate job, and we were never shown how to expense our credit card charges. I now have an Amex bill for $3k because I traveled for IBM for a client project and no one helped me to expense it.

Also, the apprenticeship is a waste of time. It’s just a way for IBM CIC to get FREE or CHEAP labor because they don’t teach you anything technical while in the apprenticeship! You have to fight to learn yourself. IBM CIC is backwards, and I wouldn’t send my dog to them.

Before I was terminated, my manager asked me to resign. I was told by my manager that I would get 4 weeks’ pay, benefits, vacation days, and sick days paid out (110 hours). He told me, “I don’t write checks I can’t cash.” Apparently, the check bounced.

The next week, I went on vacation because I had not had an actual vacation since December 2020. My first vacation in July 2022 really made everyone upset.

When I came back from vacation, my managers had a problem with every single thing I was doing. I spoke with my therapist, and she asked me to take an FMLA mental health leave, so I did, because the CIC had me in a dark place. I told my managers, and she was upset and had an attitude, so I told her I would cancel my leave. My manager responded and told me to get documentation from my doctor that I was able to return to work.

The next day, the first day of FMLA leave (because I hadn’t canceled yet, due to me getting a doctor's note), I was fired due to “non-completion of PIP,” which is a lie because I have documentation of every conversation held between my managers and I.

Worst of all, when I was terminated, my manager said I would get 4 weeks’ pay and package. By Friday of that week, my benefits had been canceled, and my final paycheck was July 15. I was given a payment for vacation, but they cut me short. I received $300, which doesn’t add up because I had 15 vacation days; I only used 5 days of vacation. I was never paid for the 10 unused days.

Also, stop sending associates into the office when it’s not necessary! Just to say you have bodies in the building. Stop using your people as goods and trades! Jesus Christ.

There is so much more I can go on about, but I've typed the gist of things.

Please stay away from this center! Please! It’s not good for anyone’s health unless you’re a white male! I don’t ever want anyone to experience what I did. I was gaslighted and put on a strict military-type workflow, micromanaged, and targeted. My mental health went from cheery to having second guesses about my life. I was mentally beaten, even after being a top performer. This center doesn’t care if you’re on your deathbed. Please stay away.

This is my truth, and I don't want anyone to go through it. Please be safe if you do decide to accept a position here.

Take management/diversity training and admit when you’ve messed up.