Work/redundancy

[blinkey501]

When employees ask the question "Will there be any redundacies" the management keep saying " there will be jobs for every body".
It seems that the big multi national company i work for owned by a massive company from america is trying to hold on to those that have been working for the company for a long time and thus not have to pay out to those that want to leave.
The company i work for has merged with a french company and to keep the monopolys commision happy they have had to split down the middle the bussiness and sell off half.
Those that come under Group "a" go with the new bussiness, the one that is been sold off.
Those that are in Group "b" go with the joint venture.
Those in Group "c" are the ones that have supplied resource to a and b
I come into group c.
I found out the other day that between the two companys there are 1600 personel in group "c" which have no fixed abode.
600 jobs are to go out of this group but has the management says "There will be jobs for everybody"
The earliest i could be out of a job is last week in january.
Those that are in band "c" will have to re apply for there jobs..WTF ...
Does this mean they can offer you a job on different terms and money..
To me i have a job, or am i redundant if so give me my money and let me go.. but has i say the company does not want to pay out.
Every thing is very secretive, i seem to think they don't want anybody to leave just at the moment has it will make it harder for them to run the bussiness.
I have heard that they will offer jobs in "Other area's" Mmmm

TBH honest i am fed up with working under this dark cloud, what is upsetting i like the job, the lads i work with and my management team are quite a decent bunch too.

Any thoughts on the above anybody?

[Aladinsaneuk]

well

first off, sorry mate

transference to any new company is covered by TUPE - so you keep your existing terms and conditions

BUt - reapplying means new terms and conditions and starting employment again - this allows a new date of employment commencement so allowing different employment measures inside the first year....

in your case, it may be that your specific site has full jobs, but elsewhere in the group, some sites will close..... therefore your section has full employment but others will have redundancies

and in this market - screw redundancy - keep working.....

[HisNibbs]

Sorry to hear that Jay. I went through one of these consultative processes where people had to re apply or seek alternative positions within the same company. I can't advise on how its likely to work out in your case but I do understand the uncertainty and frustration with what appears as manipulation by the business, to achieve their desired outcome.

In my case a couple of years on, it has probably worked out for the best. I hope you'll find that if you are forced into a change, it works out for you too. Good luck.

[flatlander]

One of the things with this is that they have to make the position redundant not the person. So they theoretically can't make 50 left hand belt wrappers redundant and then advertise for the same job. Some firms use redundancy to get rid of people then get someone else to do the job. Sounds like these don't want to risk getting caught out on that and this way don't make the positions redundant.

Then as Pete says by getting you to reapply they sidestep payouts and potential claims if they make positions redundant. It also means that they get the chance to set new conditions which might not be as favourable.

[Gio]

I'd also query the fact that if its seen as a new job then pension rights/length of service could be affected.

I'd want that clarified in black and white.

[BikerGran]

One of the things with this is that they have to make the position redundant not the person. .

But they get round this by making small changes to the jobs and giving them new job titles. Best to hang in there if you can, in the current climate, but nothing to stop you looking around for something else.

[fatboy]

Sorry to hear this mate

[HowardQ]

Very sorry to hear the bad news Jay, and can really understand how you must be seriously pissed off.
Sadly this sort of thing is going on everywhere at the moment for the reasons already covered.
However, I would agree with Pete and others in this case.
Don't jump too quick, you might as well wait and see how it pans out, it could be that your area comes out better than others.
Are there any hints to give you a clue?
Does work seem to be going well with lots of new jobs?

Good luck!

[randomsquid]

I don't understand the ins and outs of employment law, just hope it works out ok for you.

[BikerGran]

Like all laws, if you can afford expensive lawyers they will find ways round them!

[blinkey501]

Are there any hints to give you a clue?


Good luck!

None at all howard they are keeping their cards close to their chest

[DavShill]

Sorry to hear this Jay - you mentioned the likelihood of a shake up when we were together in September. Hope it works out the way you want it to.

On a similar note - I was told last week that our department is being restructured again (3rd time in 4 years) and we were given our "Notice of potential redundancy". 64 roles removed from a curent head count of about 200. Only about 100 people have been blue printed, the rest (including me) have to complete a profile and express a preference in up to 3 jobs in the new world. Profiles have to be in on Friday and we don't find out until January 17th !!!!.

It's been a shit year really - survived the job cuts back in December, dad diagnosed as terminal in January and died in May (just found out the inquest is next Wednesday) and now more job uncertainty.

Bugger eh - but chin up, there are lots of people much worse off than me. I know you've got a young family so fingers crossed for you mate.

[D-Rider]

Best wishes to both of you Dave and Jay - the stress these things cause is huge - let alone the financial issues for those that are chopped - and maybe those who stay if the terms are less favourable.

Hope things work out. Not much I can advise - it's quite a while since I was made redundant.

[slickliner6]

sometimes it can be for the best........

in my case,i was very lucky,i was laid off 8 years ago,managed to get straight into another job(a competitor of my last firm) and with a 15% pay rise to boot.

I had been with my previous firm for 13 years,so walked away with a nice pay off.

it was the kick up the arse that i needed.

lets hope it works the same way for you (if the worse happens)....

[lazarus]

Any thoughts on the above anybody?

Yes. And lots of experience of it too.

Problem is that companies have to announce changes and then consult on them and this takes time. Not only that but if you are re-organising across three different countries you cannot expect them to have worked out who does what down to the lowest levels of the company.

And it all takes way longer than anyone planning the deal in the first place thinks that it will. For example, until you have decided who the managers are, you cant decide who will be in their teams.

So your concerns and frustrations are typical. It's easy to spend endless wasted hours at work just talking about all the possibilities and achieving nothing but worrying more. Best advice is to forget the whole thing and just wait. Employers cannot avoid statutory redundancy payments and they cant force you into a lower paid job 100 miles away from where you now work.