IBM sacks employee on its centenary day
The entire IBM community across the globe celebrated its 100th anniversary in style on June 16, 2011. But the office of IBM at Manyata tech park witnessed a highvoltage drama, albeit of a different kind, between a 23-year-old employee and his manager who allegedly forced him to resign.
Abhishek Jha was allegedly told to leave the premises, or be thrown out by the security staff. IBM says the allegations are unfounded.
Jha was earlier employed with SLK software, located on New BEL road. But the condition was a bond for three years. Jha said, “Last year, I requested them to relieve me. Citing the bond, they asked me to pay Rs 60,000. It was not affordable. Later, I got a job offer from IBM. When their HR officials asked for my relieving letter, I told them that it was a bit difficult. But still they employed me. But things started changing after my 1st line manager got changed. The new manager, Partha Dutta, was not cooperative. When I asked to work from home due to personal reasons, he refused though IBM allows employees to work from home. I had to look after my mother who was ill, as my father was staying outside,” Jha alleged. “Then I wrote a mail to my boss’ senior requesting to ‘work from home’. This didn’t go well and from that day, Partha used to find some or other reason to find fault with me. When he came to know about my relieving letter, he influenced the HR department and, finally, I was served a notice to submit my relieving letter from my former employer.”
On the anniversary day, Jha alleged, “I was called to a meeting room where Partha told me to resign or else security would throw me out. When I declined, he went out to call security. I was online and immediately sought help from Rona Collins, VP, GTS Service Delivery.”
His message read: “Ma’am I am pleading for your help as injustice is going on. My 2nd line manager has asked me to meet him tomorrow at EGL, but Mr Partha says I am being terminated from today itself... If I am to be terminated, it should be in a proper process...”
THE COMPANY'S VERSION
BANGALORE MIRROR mailed Ronna Collins, Partha Dutta and 2nd line manager Issac Thambi. None of them got back to us. But we got a mail from IBM’s spokesperson that read, “As this is a confidential personnel matter, we are unable to provide any further details. However, allegations made about HR procedures are unfounded and false.”
This article was first published by the BangaloreMirror.