IBM

Flexibility in hours. Ability to work from home. Average to a bit above-average salary. RRSP match.

• Only driven by quarter-to-quarter metrics, with no long-term vision (the reason IBM is suffering in every one of the megatrend areas like Cloud).

• Continued cost-cutting has affected every element of the business. The most pressing concern is that lack of funds/headcount has eliminated innovation, even in the 'favored' businesses (Analytics, Cloud, Security...). Development teams are barely able to keep the lights on.

• Senior execs are lifers, 20 or 30 years in the business. They are unable to see the company failing miserably from their place in the bubble.

• Pointless, if not misleading, press releases hide all of the above, which front-line workers must sugarcoat for customers, analysts, and the press.

• 'Span of Control' means that headcount is cut, then managers are demoted, then headcount is cut again, and managers are demoted. This happens annually, if not quarterly.

• Bonuses are nonexistent. Do not expect a bonus. Even top performers (band 9 and below) might see 2% in a good year these days.

• Travel expense policies mean you either eat at McDonald's while you're traveling or you pay out of pocket. By the way, lunch isn't covered in your travel expenses as "you'd have to pay for that at home anyway."

I wouldn't waste my time with advice. Middle managers have no power (Directors and below), and senior management (VPs and above) ignore the market and employees, only listening to each other.