The company also makes other awards or recognizes achievements unique to individual job types, business units, and countries, such as our global awards recognizing technical contributions that have value to IBM and our portfolio of intellectual property. — compensation and benefits — page ffe ct iv e 05 /3 1/ 20 05 As with other innovations in the life and work of employees, IBM sought a leadership position on workplace safety even before Thomas J. Watson, Jr., issued our first formal policy in 1967.