IBM

Nothing good about the company.

Internal politics heavily influence the work environment.

The foreign manager shows bias against Indian employees.

PIPs are used as retaliation, with no real action taken on complaints.

HR behaves with unchecked authority.

Not a great place for sincere, high-performing professionals.

Unknowledgeable architects.

Address Internal Politics: Build a more transparent and merit-based culture. Politics erodes trust and drives away good talent. Leadership should lead by example and discourage favoritism.

Promote Inclusive Leadership: Any form of bias—cultural, racial, or national—must be addressed immediately. All managers, especially expats, should undergo cultural sensitivity and diversity training to ensure fair treatment of employees.

Use PIPs Responsibly: Performance Improvement Plans should be developmental tools, not punitive ones. Misusing them demoralizes teams and damages the company’s credibility.

Reform HR Practices: HR should act as a neutral and supportive bridge between employees and leadership—not as an unchecked authority. Their credibility is critical for building trust across the organization.

Support and Retain Top Talent: High performers thrive in environments where they are respected, heard, and recognized. If your best employees are unhappy or leaving, it's a sign the system—not the people—needs fixing.