IBM axes 130+ Lotus positions

In the final dissolving of Lotus in parent company IBM, Big Blue has got rid of at least 130 staff. Oddly, it hasn't felt it necessary to tell anyone else about it.

The staff were told on Friday that their positions no longer existed, but this does not constitute sacking - merely a restructure - according to a spokesman for the company. He told us that all staff would have the chance to find other job opportunities within IBM.

They were not told to leave, we were told adamantly, because IBM doesn't do that sort of thing. "If a position is eliminated, they will be given 30 days to find another position within the company."

Unfortunately, IBM was unwilling to acknowledge that anyone had been unable to grab one of these opportunities, so no numbers are available.

You shouldn't be surprised though because IBM has taken a similar low-key approach to the entire consumption of Lotus, which it bought in 1995. We only found out that the company was to be dissolved in the bigger company when, back in July, emails from Lotus staff started ending in @uk.ibm.com.

It took IBM until eight days ago (10 September) to officially tell the world about it (and only then on the Lotus site). Lotus now exists in name only - and that is Lotus Software from IBM as opposed to the previous Lotus Development Corporation. It does have its own sales and marketing teams though. ®

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