Redundancy

[Soton Seagull]

My company has announced that there will be at least 850 job losses in Management & Support roles. I fulfil both criteria there! They are not telling anyone where the cuts will be, so we just have to plod along in uncertainty.

What a great atmosphere to work in. All in the name of maximising 'shareholder value'. This comes a week after we completed a major piece of work demonstrating that unless we recruit, we will miss all of our service targets!

Don't you just love the shortermism of major companies?

 

[Artois]

That's shit news Wayne.

 

[Curious Orange]

You have my sypathies. It's just over a year and a half ago since my former employers closed my entire office making everyone redundant, and moved all the services there up to Hitchin. They thought a lot of people would relocate thus ensuring that skills/knowledge weren't lost - they didn't. They ended up employing temps to do a job it takes new-starters a year to learn!!

I took a secondment to help the transition north, but ended up more hands on than I would have liked. Still, can't complain, the redundancy money was good and allowed me to loaf about for a couple of months last summer.

 

[SK1NT]

think of the redundancy pay, gotta focus on the good side and apply for a new better job

 

[METALMICKY]

According to Ceefax last night the staff at Amex in Burgess Hill are effectively being asked to train the Indian Call Centre staff who will eventually take their jobs leading to redundancy. Amex are actually fllying key personnel from Inidia.

How fecking nice is that The official line is that staff are being employed to "ease through the transitional period".

This move to employ Indian Call Centres by so many companies is a fecking outrage. The shite arguement is that the cost savings are then passed on to the customer. What they neglect to mention are the UK worker redundancies and that quality of service is sacrificed. A recent study indicated that you are twice as likely to have to call back to resolve a problem if you have spoken to an Indian call centre. The other bullshit by the companies is that that all their Indian call centre staff are educated to graduate level. I thiunk that's bull shit as surely a graduate student in ANY country would aspire to something higher than a call centre operative. The reality is that the companies can pay low wages by UK standards but great by Indian.

Oh and as part of the training they show staff videos of Eastenders to "enhance cultural understanding".

I'll rememeber that if Abbey National bugger up my credit card payment again!!!!

RANT OVER

 

[Soton Seagull]

The team sitting on the desks behind me have just been told a Director is coming to see them this afternon. Sounds ominous.

I'm still employed so far, so that's nice!

 

[zefarelly]

thats shit . . .Ive been made redundant a few times, I subsequently dont like working for large companies.

I also wont deal with companies who use Indian call centres, or at least do my best not to.

 

[GUNTER]

The shareholders are the main concern not the staff when it comes to large companies. The be all and end all.

As for being asked to train Indian Call Centre staff, tell them to answer the phone by saying f*** off!

 

[METALMICKY]

I also wont deal with companies who use Indian call centres, or at least do my best not to.

Nationwide are one of the big players who have debunked the trend for off shore call centres.

Recent research by ContactBabel showed that while Indian call centre agents work faster than their UK peers, UK workers deal with 25 per cent more calls each hour and resolve 17 per cent more first time. Shove that in your chappati!

 

[Lammy]

Like me though you may be made redundant at the right time of the year! Enjoy a long hot summer of drinking and fishing and then get a new job in September.

Marvellous scenes!

My advice is enjoy the time off. Keep applying for jobs and something will turn up. I had to take a hefty pay cut but my work is only 15mins from my house and the work I'm doing is far better for my CV!

Chin up mate, it's not all bad.

 

[elbowpatches]

Friend of mine just been made redundant after relocating to Bristol from London. The reason? The company are relocating to London!! He's happy where he is, hopefully he will get redundancy money as will you. Good luck.

 

[zefarelly]

I'm pleased to hear that Nationwide are sticking in the UK, we have our mortgage with them.

the banks are probably the worst offenders . . .I have my doubts about my bank (HSBC) but whats the alternative ?

Lammy . . .nice idea . . .but most of us get made redundant and have to work ASAP . . .things like mortgages and bills to pay . . .and beer, bait, etc!

 

[GUNTER]

The reason Nationwide is staying loyal is THEY DONT HAVE SHAREHOLDERS TO ANSWER TO!

 

[Lammy]

I'm pleased to hear that Nationwide are sticking in the UK, we have our mortgage with them.

the banks are probably the worst offenders . . .I have my doubts about my bank (HSBC) but whats the alternative ?

Lammy . . .nice idea . . .but most of us get made redundant and have to work ASAP . . .things like mortgages and bills to pay . . .and beer, bait, etc!

Get yourself mortgage protection. Pays up for 6 months!! Your redundancy pay off should tied you over the summer!

Wo Hoo! Incedentally I was looking for work the whole time so the fact I had the whole summer (and some) off was not planned. However, rather than let it get me down (and it still did from time to time) I choose to enjoy all the free time I had been handed and refused to feel guilty about it. I still look back at my time out of work with fond memories. I still wouldn't want to ever be made redundant again (unless I was about to retire) but use the time wisely. You may never have this opportunity to totally relax again!

 

[Mr Popkins]

graduate jobs in india are less paid than call centres!!!
thats why altough not the best job in the world, there going there in their droves!!

dont worry it wont wont be long b4 they all see the error of their ways and re-locate over here!

we need people power to boycott these companies that go abroad, so much for joining europe, we might as well join asia!!!

 

[Curious Orange]

I had to take a hefty pay cut but my work is only 15mins from my house and the work I'm doing is far better for my CV!

That's pretty much what happened with me, although the pay has rapidly over-taken what I was on before since I've been here.

 

[zefarelly]

sounds good lammy but you must have worked for a generous company . . .the best I ever got was less than a grand . . .and that was for over 5 years service . . . .

but believe you me, If I got 6 months money I wouldnt be looking for work until the end of September ! in fact I'd probably start up on my own . . . . .oh the joy of getting a decent redundancy pay out !!!

 

[Simster]

I agree with Zef - self employment is the way forward (where possible). The only thing I miss out on is a reduncy cheque although I do have to deal with paperwork which I hate doing.

None of those politics, job worries, and better pay. Marvellous scenes.

 

[shingle]

Go self employed, you cant whack it

Fcuk bosses
Fcuk shareholders
Fcuk Bombay (sorry mumbai) call centres
Fcuk redundancy

Fcuk all that shit

People see you having fun
just a lying in the sun
tell them that you like it that way

 

[Yorkie]

I was made redundant after 25 with Yorkshire Electricity. They were taken over by NPower who relocated the accounts office (which they had turned into a call centre) to Peterlee
In Leeds and Bradford we were earning £17K The staff they were setting on in Peterlee were being set on at £10K.

I was very relieved to be made redundant because call centre work was abysmal. I could answer any question on meters, accounts, direct debits,economy 7 etc but was told by a snotty nosed kid in her 20's who was my supervisor that I knew too much
I was told I had to get 10 calls an hour in.

Redundancy was the best thing that happened to me. At 54 I was unemployed for a grand total of 4 weeks and drew the dole in that time. The first time ever in my life.
That was two years ago. I have moved since then and still working as a temp down here.