On everyone’s definition but the company’s, many of the cuts made already by IBM Corp have been lay-offs, so the shock of the first formally acknowledged lay-offs is somewhat dulled. The company says that it will have to hand out pink slips to some of the 500 people it wants to shed at its corporate headquarters in Armonk, New York. The latest reductions include about 150 corporate staff positions, about 15% of the central corporate work force, and about 350 service operations jobs. The company will start with selective voluntary retirement and internal job placements, but sadly admits that some lay-offs will be necessary.
