IBM

IBM has a relatively good work-life balance.

IBM removed a lot of benefits and is shrinking its presence in the US. They seem to lay people off twice a year now, and they like to go for their top engineers first.

I think that management could be more transparent.

They give you a performance rating every year using a 15/70/15% style. If you fall into the bottom 15%, you are automatically laid off, pretty much.

This means there will always be a lower performer. I think they could talk to you sooner about your performance during the year so that you can at least try to do something. But many times, since they don't tell you the metrics they use, you're left just wondering what will happen.

I think it's obvious when it's made up versus when it is not.

I think management could also actually do their 1:1s like they used to. I never heard from my manager once in my last year unless I needed something.