Re: Take the money
First let me say I have no love left for IBM, having been a customer for 25+ years and an employee for 14+. But on the resignation vs retirement point, it becomes a matter of age and years fo service. I was deemed "retired" from both my first position where I spent 28 years, and my previous one at IBM, both because I hit the magic age+service numbers. So I don't think there's any confusion between resigned and retired, it's just a benefit.
On the other hand, IBM's practice of turning in a layoff/firing into a resignation, and of trumping up negative performance ratings on employees with long positive work histories is transparent and unforgivable. Shame on IBM upper management for doing what they have done to a company I once respected and was so honored to have joined at one time.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
