IBM

Some workers have flexibility, with the ability to work in an office and/or offsite.

If it wasn't for personally valuing more flexibility than many other companies, I probably would have looked elsewhere for a job closer to home with better pay that may be less flexible.

It may be tough to get raises as a contractor. There are no annual raises, but a contractor must be willing to request it.

I probably could have made at least another $10-30k if I worked for a company that didn't offer flexibility, but I value it. I'm sure IBM sees it as a way to save money on office space and pay too. However, flexibility can be a con instead of a pro for some workers, so management must be trained to notice it. Management needs to evaluate who is still doing their work with the flexibility, and who isn't. As I do my work, flexibility allows me to be more efficient and do even more work. I do wonder about a few coworkers/managers though.

Not receiving bonuses. I am a strong believer in all employees having the ability to achieve bonuses if they meet certain criteria, as well as incentives for stock involvement by employees. When employees have a stake in how well a company does, their work is better. Everybody wins.

Sometimes I am involved in meetings I have no business being in, which lowers my focus in getting work done.

• Working with many different people from different countries, some who are on-site and others remote, I think it would help improve teamwork to lightly push workers to use their webcams during Webex meetings. I'd hate for webcams to be required, but an optional, light push for workers to use them occasionally so it doesn't feel like it's just a voice we're talking to from another country.

• Also, our management does team lunches once a year, sometimes twice. While lunches show appreciation, they don't build teamwork. I'm aware of other coworkers who actually go to team-building fun events like "escape the room" puzzles. Perhaps occasionally switch out a lunch for a voluntary team-building event.

• I probably could have made at least another 10-30k if I worked for a company that didn't offer flexibility, but I value it. I'm sure IBM sees it as a way to save money on office space and pay too. However, flexibility can be a con instead of a pro for some workers, so management must be trained to notice it. Management needs to evaluate who is still doing their work with the flexibility, and who isn't. As I do my work, flexibility allows me to be more efficient and do even more work. I do wonder about a few coworkers/managers though.

• Not receiving bonuses. I'm a strong believer in all employees having the ability to achieve bonuses if they meet certain criteria, as well as incentive for stock involvement by employees. When employees have a stake in how well a company does, their work is better. Everybody wins.

• Sometimes involved in meetings I have no business being in, which lowers my focus in getting work done. Evaluate if managers are being efficient and aren't simply taking an easy, one-size-fits-all approach of just delegating work and having the entire team on call unnecessarily.

• As I work with many people from different countries, on-site, remote, etc., it may help to have informal meetings 1-4 times a month, where whoever can join the informal meetings does so. The meeting doesn't need to have any purpose, except for easy access to a team for collaboration/questions as needed.