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I don't work there but feel sorry for those who do!
Get this man on the case!!
Call centre to axe up to 300 jobs
By Simon Barrett
Comment | Read Comments (16)
Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost at one of Brighton's largest employers.
Up to 300 workers at the Inkfish call centre have been told their jobs will be transferred to a company in Northern Ireland.
The jobs - on the Post Office campaign - range from call agents and administration staff to team leaders and managers.
advertisementInkfish staff received letters last week explaining their contracts would be transferred to Londonderry-based company Stream.
In a statement to The Argus, the company said staff would be fully consulted about the move and admitted "approximately 250" jobs were under threat.
But angry workers say if they do not move to Northern Ireland to take up the jobs they will effectively be resigning - meaning Inkfish will not have to pay any redundancy package.
One senior call agent at the office in Queen Square in the city centre said: "We are basically being kept in the dark and so there are a lot of rumours flying around.
"People are just very, very worried and the morale in the office is at an all-time low.
"They cannot expect us to move to Northern Ireland, it's completely unreasonable. We also haven't been given a timeframe.
"They just say that when they transfer the contract we will be employed by a company in Northern Ireland - but we all live in Brighton.
"It is a way of not having to pay redundancy. They must know people aren't going to up sticks and move to Londonderry. But there are other factors too.
"If we don't take up the contract we are effectively making ourselves redundant and would therefore not be entitled to benefits. It's no wonder people are scared."
Inkfish say it is prepared to enter consultation with staff and has suggested staff form a 16-strong team for discussions. The letter to workers quotes the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations (TUPE) legislation.
The letter, seen by the The Argus, reads: "Once we have confirmation that TUPE applies and the agreement is terminated, your contract of employment with Inkfish will automatically transfer on the termination date of the agreement to the new provider.....This means the new provider would become your employer. Your continuity of service is preserved."
It has also emerged that, even if Inkfish is forced to pay redundancy packages, the majority of staff will only be given small payouts. Workers who have been with the company for less than two years would only be offered one week's pay, while those under the age of 22 would only be entitled to half a week's pay.
Another call agent, who would not be named, said: "I have worked here for more than four years and I cannot believe this. It is an absolute joke.
"The mood in the office is horrible. People are upset, angry and very negative. There has been talk of a walk-out one day this week in protest.
"For some people this is just a summer job but for others it is our careers. I feel like I've been sent up the creek without a paddle."
A spokeswoman for Inkfish said: "Inkfish has been given notice of termination by the Post Office under its agreement to provide customer support activities on behalf of HomePhone.
"Following further discussions with the Post Office, on Friday July 13 we commenced consultations with our staff, informing them that the services would be provided through a third party, based in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
"Our staff were also provided with full information concerning their statutory rights on a change of supplier, including the right to be consulted through elected employee representatives.
"We continue to look after the best interests of our staff at this difficult time, and we will provide more information to them as we are able to do so. A total of approximately 250 jobs in Brighton are likely to be affected."
What do you think? Are you affected by the decision? Will you follow the firm to Northern Ireland? Leave your comments below.
Quote | Report this postPosted by: graham, bton on 7:52am today
So much for the postive news coverage the argus has given Inkfish over the last few months, making noises over its contribution to the local econonmy. Its clear the only way it was able to win contracts was to sell its workforce down the river. I suspect the senior staff will get bonuses just like they always do...
So much for the postive news coverage the argus has given Inkfish over the last few months, making noises over its contribution to the local econonmy. Its clear the only way it was able to win contracts was to sell its workforce down the river. I suspect the senior staff will get bonuses just like they always do...
Quote | Report this postPosted by: Big Ed, Hove on 9:39am today
A number of ugly L-shaped McRumours were flying about as I approached my office on Hove's notorious Lower East Side. I smiled grimly - I'd seen this sort of offpiste activity before(to be continued)...
A number of ugly L-shaped McRumours were flying about as I approached my office on Hove's notorious Lower East Side. I smiled grimly - I'd seen this sort of offpiste activity before(to be continued)...
Quote | Report this postPosted by: dan, Brighton on 10:30am today
I work for inkfish on the post office homephone campaign. The news about the termination of the contract between inkfish and post office limited was given to us three days before i went on holiday. I have just returned and been advised to look at the website re this story. i knew inkfish wouldn't play fair with the termination of staff contracts. This campaign was the biggest at this site and the cost of paying redundancy would be too great. This whole issue has ruined what should have been a fantastic holiday for me and after reading this article i am now even more worried. Inkfish has never been the best place to work in my opinion, making us work harder for our bonuses and taking more money away for minor things. Everyone is of course now looking for new jobs. This just means however, that with the limited number of jobs that everyone will be applying for friends will be competing with each other to secure employment. Brighton is a very expensive place to live and having to resign without a new job to go to could result in serious financial dificulties for us all. I am really shocked at the lack of sympatghy being shwn to the staff who have dedicated themselves to being the best and the lack of understanding expecting that people wouild transfer to northern ireland. As stated in the article, it would be completely unreasonable to expect people who are settles and have family in brighton to move so far away to keep a job
I work for inkfish on the post office homephone campaign. The news about the termination of the contract between inkfish and post office limited was given to us three days before i went on holiday. I have just returned and been advised to look at the website re this story. i knew inkfish wouldn't play fair with the termination of staff contracts. This campaign was the biggest at this site and the cost of paying redundancy would be too great. This whole issue has ruined what should have been a fantastic holiday for me and after reading this article i am now even more worried. Inkfish has never been the best place to work in my opinion, making us work harder for our bonuses and taking more money away for minor things. Everyone is of course now looking for new jobs. This just means however, that with the limited number of jobs that everyone will be applying for friends will be competing with each other to secure employment. Brighton is a very expensive place to live and having to resign without a new job to go to could result in serious financial dificulties for us all. I am really shocked at the lack of sympatghy being shwn to the staff who have dedicated themselves to being the best and the lack of understanding expecting that people wouild transfer to northern ireland. As stated in the article, it would be completely unreasonable to expect people who are settles and have family in brighton to move so far away to keep a job
Quote | Report this postPosted by: Juno, Brighton on 10:35am today
I worked for this company a while ago and I have to admit I am not surprised. I have not found them to show much concern for their employees and it has always been a joke amongst Inkfishers that the 'company' is out to get them in one way or another. Perhaps it was not the case, but this news only compounds my personal feelings about this company. I am very sympathetic to all those losing their jobs, especially since they will probably be given no help or support, whilst the company does the bare minimum it has to.
I worked for this company a while ago and I have to admit I am not surprised. I have not found them to show much concern for their employees and it has always been a joke amongst Inkfishers that the 'company' is out to get them in one way or another. Perhaps it was not the case, but this news only compounds my personal feelings about this company. I am very sympathetic to all those losing their jobs, especially since they will probably be given no help or support, whilst the company does the bare minimum it has to.
