A little help here...?

Days #4,5,6,7 - Thoughts

2012-02-05T23:27:00.002Z

What's really sad about the whole redundancy thing is that it's meant to be a consultation. It isn't. It's a merry dance you are expected to take part in. You are only told in the vaguest terms what the steps are. And you do not lead.

What they do not tell you is that your hands and feet are tied. The dance is a sham. Their tunes, their moves.

Even being a non-elected representative of the "at risk" group is a move by them to fool you that you have influence. You do not. It's their tune; they have the instruments and the conductor.

You are like the triangle player in an orchestra with only one note to play in the whole symphony. You are prodded when it's your turn.

But by law we have to have this dance. Because after the dance, you're given a tiny piece of cake and shown the door, with a hand firmly in the small of your back. Pushing.

Day #3

2012-01-27T18:08:00.003Z

I've been selected to represent the redundancees (is that even a word?) for the IT department. This is part of the ECF (Employee Consultation Forum) required by law for those deemed "at risk" of redundancy. The process is expected to last 30 days. The purpose of consultation is to provide as early an opportunity as practicable for all concerned to share the problem and explore the options. It can stimulate [sic] better cooperation between managers and employees, reduce uncertainty and lead to better decision-making. The ECF employee representatives facilitate this somehow. The scope of the role is not yet apparent.

Then several things will happen:

There are a small number of new roles. Those on the "at risk£ register will have the opportunity to apply for them.
The people in roles that will NOT be outsourced will be made officially redundant and let go with two weeks of the ECF process ending.
The people whose roles ARE being outsourced will be expected to remain in their roles and facilitate a handover to the outsource partner [sic]. This is expected to take four months. Once handover is complete, those "at risk" people will be made redundant and let go immediately.
ALL staff made redundant will be given the opportunity to access outplacement services such as interview techniques, CV & covering letter writing skills and how to best flatter potential employers. Seriously. This does not include offering sexual favours.

I'll be sent on training at ACAS some time next week.

Day #2

2012-01-27T17:27:00.003Z

We've been told there's a consultation and outplacement process that needs to take place. It's called the ECF. We're currently balloting for ECF representation. Here are the things we don't know:

How the pension will be managed after we leave
Will senior management be refusing their bonus payments in light of current market conditions and associated cost saving exercise?
What's happening with any purchased flexible benefits (e.g dental, additional health cover)
Will senior management stop buying new shiny toys (iPads, iPhones) in light of current conditions, etc...?

Here are the things we *do* know:

If we find a job during either the consultation process or during the extended knowledge transfer process, we will not get the redundancy pay, as we will have resigned.
All benefits will terminate on my final day, even if I had paid for a full year.
No option of voluntary redundancy
Redundancy amount will be statutory (i.e. bugger all)
A "Restrictive Covenant" applies: This means that we cannot apply for any role in any company that is either a competitor or is a client (or prospective client) of our current employer (for a period of 6 months)
There will be no "garden leave" unless it is deemed that we may at risk of passing on confidential company information.
If we stay the course, we will be entitled to the full annual bonus (if they don't decide to stop it at the last minute)

Conclusions:

I have a choice to make: I can either look for work and forgo redundancy payment and full bonus or I can wait and run the risk of not finding gainful employment in time and sign on.

Given what Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith are currently hacking away at, I'm nor sure if there'll be any unemployment benefit left.

I somehow think my choice will be made for me.

Start panicking now, fool

2012-01-25T15:28:00.002Z

Today I found out that my role, as it currently exists, will be shipped off to India. Sadly I'm not the only one; as (approximately) thirty percent of my colleagues in the IT department will also be let go. That's TWENTY ONE people.

I have spoken to them. So here's some stats I have collected:

Redundancies: 21

Average age: 36 years 7 months
Average age in rented accommodation: 28 years 7 months
Average age with mortgage: 45 years 6 months
Average age with Family and in rented accommodation: 34 years 4 months
Average age with family and with a mortgage: 47 years

More Stats:

Three people cried after they were told. Of those:

Two were over 40 and both had mortgages and family and both were male.
One was 27 and female.

So.....

I'll be regularly blogging how my life is going, what my thoughts are and other things - as they occur to me.

I'm not particularly verbose, so do not expect long posts. I'll also be using pseudonyms to mitigate potentially libellous comments. Hope that's enough.

Cheers.

Bob