Vague Redundancy Announcement

kwikksilva

On behalf of a friend who asked me to post... what do ye make of this?

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I work as an accountant in this company they called 10 of us in there and said that they were making "reductions" (absolutely no mention of the word redundancy) and that they hoped people would re-evaluate any opportunities which had crossed their paths in the last year...

They suggested that some people might go back to college, or go travelling until things settled down in the industry and then come back?

Today they called in 2 of us and said that they would know for sure in 3 weeks what was going to happen to employees, but in the meantime, that we should think about the above options. No mention of voluntary redundancy either.

Doesn't this sound a bit odd?

The company is making us redundant!? I'm not going travelling / back to college, and there is not alot of jobs going! Just let us know one way or the other!

?Is this normal?

ircoha

its a sign of the times and at least there is a bit of notice been given: the one thing to remember is that it is always easier to get a job from a job than from the dole queue unless the whole entity goes bang..

Do-more

More or less same thing happened to me earlier this year. The company just told a few of us one Friday that things were slow and that if any of us got job offers in the next few weeks that we should take them as the company couldn't guarantee our employment beyond the following two weeks!

Basically they were trying to make some of us jump before we were pushed. Nobody budged and after two months the company made me redundant with just statutory pay out. (A large portion of which the Government funds anyway!)

I don't think it's unusual for companies to try this sort of thing, they usually dress it up as if they are doing you a favour when they are just trying to save themselves a lousy few bob. The really miserable ones will use "temporary layoffs" to get rid of people on the cheap.

There is lots of information on the Government's website about redundancy entitlements and unfair dismissals etc. now might be a good time to educate yourself about your rights.

kwikksilva

Thanks alot for the replies lads, especially yours Do-More, that is pretty much the situation, so i will be sure to relay the info on....

How Strange

I agree with Do-More, it's a very clever ploy to scare people into getting their cv's out there and start looking for jobs so they don't have to pay them redundancy. No doubt the employer hired a consultancy firm who advised them that this is the first step - it fools the employees into thinking 'oh aren't they great for giving us some warning' when in fact they are saving themselves money.

IMO, if you're in a position to get a chunk of statutory redundancy then sit tight and consider your options very carefully. If you're not so fortunate then yes you should update your cv and contact agencies.

kwikksilva

Thanks How Strange... to be honest what you are saying will probably be the plan, sit it out and see how long it takes for them to pay up, they are there over 2 years so stat redundancy would be an option.

chump

How Strange wrote: »

I agree with Do-More, it's a very clever ploy to scare people into getting their cv's out there and start looking for jobs so they don't have to pay them redundancy. No doubt the employer hired a consultancy firm who advised them that this is the first step - it fools the employees into thinking 'oh aren't they great for giving us some warning' when in fact they are saving themselves money.

IMO, if you're in a position to get a chunk of statutory redundancy then sit tight and consider your options very carefully. If you're not so fortunate then yes you should update your cv and contact agencies.

Is that a bit harsh?

Some things can be mutually beneficial surely?

I'd like to know one way or another sooner than later that I may be out of the job.

It gives everyone an opportunity to evaluate where they are at.

kwikksilva

I see your point chump, obviously if the company lets you know early, it can actually help the employee, but to be honest, in this case, i think they definitely are trying to make people jump, as i reckon they are as tight as a camels arse in a sandstorm. Thanks for the replies :-)