Intel Lays Off Hundreds of Tech Admins (oregonlive.com)

Intel has reportedly laid off a number of information technology workers at sites across the company this week. Sources say the layoffs are numbered in the hundreds, but Intel has declined to specify how many people lost their jobs or describe the rationale for the cutbacks. OregonLive reports: The cuts took place at sites across the company, including Oregon, Intel's largest site with 20,000 workers. Cuts also took place at other Intel facilities in the United States and at a large administrative facility in Costa Rica, according to people familiar with the layoffs. Though Intel forecasts flat sales in 2019, people inside the company said this week's layoffs don't appear to be strictly a cost-cutting move. Rather, they said the cuts appeared to reflect a broad change in the way Intel is approaching its internal technical systems.

Information technology (IT) professionals don't usually develop new technology but they play an essential role in managing a company's internal systems. Their work is particularly important at tech companies such as Intel, which depend on IT workers to keep systems secure and running smoothly. This week's layoffs appear to be Intel's biggest cutbacks since 2016, when the company eliminated 15,000 jobs across the company through layoffs, buyouts and early retirement offers. "Changes in our workforce are driven by the needs and priorities of our business, which we continually evaluate. We are committed to treating all impacted employees with professionalism and respect," Intel said in a brief statement acknowledging the cuts to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Intel isn't the only tech company laying off workers right now. A new report from The Mercury News reveals many Bay Area tech firms will be laying off about 1,200 jobs between now and Memorial Day. The layoffs are expected from SAP, Oracle America, PayPal, Instacart, Thin Film Electronics, and others.

Comments

Re:Important lesson here

[GregMmm]

Depends on what you consider the "bottom" 10-20%. I worked for Intel for 15 years and it was always a changing system what the bottom people were. Let me explain:

First anyone who received a "below expectations" or lower on their yearly review, might as well go look for another job. This kind of action would happen every 2-3 years and if you had a low rating in the last 3-5 years, you were gone. No matter if you became the shinning star the next year. If one manager wanted to get rid of you that's all it took. Also you're black listed from Intel. Can't return ever. So this one was understood, but sucked.

Next, During an annual review process, an employee would receive pay increase and stock based off of their performance. Good managers would ask employees what they wanted, more pay or stock and would try and compensate their employees accordingly. Stock was given out in 5 different levels along with 5 levels of rating. (this varies over the years and if you were exempt or not) So a manager might give a lower level of stock to a good performer, and give them better pay bump. UNTIL, they announced a cut action, and it all of a sudden included anyone with stock level 4 or 5 (low end) in the last 3 years. No warning or nothing. Managers railed against this saying they never would have done this to people in their group, but too late. Those people were gone, no questions asked and unless you know the VP of HR or something, it was time to go.

That is one example of "bottom performers". I can't remember the "tools" Intel used to get rid of people, but there was others. Part of your job was to read the tea leaves and figure out where not to be and what not to do.

I personally was part of the 2016 cut backs. My site was shut down, and I had a couple of opportunities to move to JF in Oregon. I took the graceful bow out. I was in IT. I think I made the right call. No job is forever, and Intel will pay you well to go away. I never thought I would retire from Intel. Very few people made it past 20 years, not because of work, but because of stuff like this.

DaFuq is a tech admin?

[Snotnose]

Sounds like a secretary to me, or maybe a glorified secretary.

Been doing this shit for 40 years and have never run across a tech admin.

And why to have have to manually add page breaks to /. submissions? I don't have to anywhere else