IBM scraps rewards program for staff inventions, wipes away cash points
- Reference: 1705522053
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/01/17/ibm_inventor_reward_program/
- Source link:
By cancelling the scheme, a source told The Register , IBM has eliminated a financial liability by voiding the accrued, unredeemed credits issued to program participants which could have been converted into potential cash awards.
For years, IBM has sponsored an "Invention Achievement Award Plan" to incentivize employee innovation. In exchange for filing patents, or for publishing articles that served as defense against rival patents, IBM staff were awarded points that led to recognition and potentially cash bonuses.
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According to documentation seen by The Register , "Invention points are awarded to all inventors listed on a successful disclosure submission."
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One point was awarded for publishing. Three points were awarded for filing a patent or four if the filing was deemed high value. For accruing 12 points, program participants would get a payout.
"Inventors reach an invention plateau for every 12 points they achieve – which must include at least one file decision," the rules state. And for each plateau achieved, IBM would pay its inventors $1,200 in recognition of their efforts.
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No longer, it seems. IBM canceled the program at the end of 2023 and replaced it with a new one that uses a different, incompatible point system called BluePoints.
"The previous Invention Achievement Award Plan will be sunset at midnight (eastern time) on December 31st, 2023," company FAQs explain. "Since Plateau awards are one of the items being sunset, plateau levels must be obtained on or before December 31, 2023 to be eligible for the award. Any existing plateau points that have not been applied will not be converted to BluePoints."
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We're told that IBM's invention review process could take months, meaning that employees just didn't have time between the announcement and the program sunset to pursue the next plateau and cash out.
Those involved in the program evidently were none too pleased by the points grab. And they sought answers from corporate brass through an internal Slack channel.
Citing the revised award scheme, one question read, "Do we allow customers to unilaterally cancel the payment schedule after work has been delivered?"
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Another read, "Is it reasonable to do this to employees, many of whom worked outside of their regular job to develop IP?"
We're told these represented the most upvoted questions submitted to the CEO's recent monthly Office Hours meeting, but the response was evasive.
IBM did not respond to a request for comment.
A former IBMer reports that a colleague still with Big Blue said, "My opinion...the invention award program was buggered a long time [ago]. It rewarded words on a page instead of true innovation. [Former CEO] Ginni [Rometty] made it worse by advocating the program to fluff up young egos." ®
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Re: start your own business
Yeah, sure. Great idea. And, as you soon as you start garnering success and accolades, get targeted by Big Tech in lawsuits and lose everything.
Great perspective.
It's the IBM of the 21st century, what do you expect?
Not an engineering excellence-led company any more. Between this and their shoddy treatment of their so-called "dinobabies" - employees over the age of about 24 to you and me - I honestly don't know why anyone with any pride would still work there, much less work outside their day-job to develop IP for the company. Even the old rewards scheme sounds frankly insulting - "you developed and patented a new algorithm that'll make $millions for IBM - here's $1200, you clever little chap." What's the new one? Accrue enough BluePoints™ and get a set of lead-crystal glasses or a souvenir pen?
I feel really sorry for people who've put their heart and soul and careers into IBM. The company doesn't deserve you.
Re: It's the IBM of the 21st century, what do you expect?
Well at least IBM are *explicitly* deprecating both innovation and employees "to remove all doubt" as the saying goes.
Do 'Ratners' have fractional measures? As in, "this is a one-quarter Ratner" ?
"potential bonuses"
The keyword is "potential".
As in, you keep on working, one day, you might see something.
Unless you're fired for being too old first . . .
IBM. It has hit bedrock, now it's digging.
Not a Complete Loss ...
... as I'm sure somebody in management was promoted for inventing the revised "incentives" plan.
Policy innovation for the win! /s
Re: Not a Complete Loss ...
Falling upwards!
Antidisincentivization
Such moolah being derealitized at the stroke of a pen ... it’s top management like you wot cause unrest.
Glad I don't work for them anymore.
Those years I spent there were the most stressful of my career. Mind you, I was assimilated, and their primary goal was to get rid of all the 'expensive' people (usual IBM practice of low-balling the support costs and make up for the shortfall by charging lots for project delivery).
Months???
"We're told that IBM's invention review process could take months,"
You have been misled. It can take years. And (as happened to me) if a patent is issued after you leave the company, your name is on it all right (imagine the glory!!) but you don't get a penny.
Anyway, this is all part of the decline of a once great company that has been hijacked by glorified accountants.
Service award
Worked for a company which was bought by IBM. After 5 yrs service, I received a pen. We joked that, after 10 yrs, you got a refill. I left long before then.
Best reward
A certificate of appreciation in a handsome plastic frame [Dilbert]
Why why oh why
For years, IBM has sponsored an "Invention Achievement Award Plan" to incentivize employee innovation. In exchange for filing patents, or for publishing articles that served as defense against rival patents, IBM staff were awarded points that led to recognition and potentially cash bonuses.
And for each plateau achieved, IBM would pay its inventors $1,200 in recognition of their efforts.
Shame they didn't include a bag of crisps and a voucher for haircut.
But in seriousness, why would anyone agree to that? Seems like so many engineers are smart in their narrow field, but otherwise extremely gullible and naïve.
I could understand if corporation had to contribute a substantial capital that led to discovery, but still without proper royalty split and company shares, it's not even worth to think about it.
I am generally against patents as they are no longer fit for purpose, but if you have some good ideas, start your own business.