IBM has begun layoffs that have so far affected more than 1,600 people, the employee group Alliance@IBM told FOX Business News.
IBM didn't comment on the layoffs, but the site for Alliance@IBM contains dozens of anonymous posts that indicate layoffs occurred across a wide variety of regions and departments. The cuts include at least 222 people that work in marketing at the software company and an additional 165 that work in semiconductor research and development. On top of that, there were more than 100 layoffs in STG Storage Systems Development, GBS AMS IBM Global Account, the Software Group Information Management and the Software group Industry Solutions.
A total of 1,643 people lost their jobs, according to Alliance@IBM. The group is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America union.
"I work is STG in 3D Edram Development and was informed of permanent layoff today," an anonymous poster wrote on the site.
"Atlanta POS Group hit hard," write another. Storage and other groups too. Typical package.
"I am one of 83 Marketing & Communications employees being permanently laid off today," said another employee. "Separation date is 7/12.
"I work from home," the poster continued.
IBM, based in Armonk, New York, said it would increase the pace of job cuts this quarter after a poor quarterly earnings report in April where sales fell sharply below what analysts expected. Since that announcement, employees have been waiting for the layoffs to begin.
The company didn't say how many people they would be laying off, but the Chief Financial Officer, Mark Loughridge, said the company expected to be able to report close to $1 billion of accounting charges this year from getting rid of a significant portion of its workforce. There are additional reductions aimed at departments outside the U.S.
Currently, shares of IBM stock are trading flat, with a four percent increase for the year.
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