IBM

Good work environment.

When problems pop up or developing strategies for processes, it's all hands on deck, involving operators, engineers, and management. Standard work, 8-steps, and Lean have helped the process run a lot smoother. Vacation and benefits are fairly good.

With talks of layoffs and being sold to Global, morale could be better. This is because our division has not turned a profit. Pay raises and bonuses have been fewer and far between.

The stress level is way down from what it was for the main reason of a smoother running process. All employees are more confident and mature in their work process. Nevertheless, the evaluation is rated against peers in the department, and the manager must come up with a low-end employee who gets put on probation and either quits or is let go.

If a department or work project is firing on all cylinders, meaning all are contributing and the lower ranks are not a drag on the top contributors, a manager should be giving the option of not putting the low-end employee through the probation program.