General Chat

Rollo, have you done this before?

Would you pass the buck up the chain of command?

I would, simply by giving them a table (old name there - database now) similar to this:

Column 1 down: names of staff

Top headings along:

Verbal warnings;
written warnings;
languages spoken;
passports held;
redundancy payments 1k-10k;
RD 10k- 20k;
RD 20k-30k;
RD 30k+
(and so on, if necessary)

They did not mention age so they are being careful as far as they, themselves are concerned. - broken laws, as you mentioned!

Let them see how difficult it can be and ask them what they value more - money saved or ability saved?

DO NOT ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST! :-0 ;-)

Although you'll need to play a part, the formalities should be handled by HR. They'll be aware of the legalities which might also include a letter to a number of people putting them on notice that they may be made redundant.

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1611

If your employers intend to continue a UK presence, then for goodness sake don't let them send out notices by text or email. They'll only get a bad reputation which could put off any candidates for future job applications.
Treat your staff like Sh**, and that the reputation the company will get

Shouldn't this be a separate thread? :-S

Give it a go - you know you want to :-D

Oh.....by the way, Sharron, I'm not off to Bethlehem, I'm thinking more dead donkey :-D

I agree Island, but hey ho here we go again.

thank you +++DetEcTive+++, JoyLouise
no, I have not done this before, your hints were very helpful
decided not to be railroaded into anything

all this panic is due to the tier one guys getting the frits about their capital base should sterling collapse and controls be imposed. I have been quite unable to get any info about where we could be headed and am being asked to sign a contract blind! We just provide services so like the pilot fish with whales just have to go with the flow - destinations unknown. Maybe it will blow over.

I have dsicovered that HR are being kept out of the loop 'cos (a) they will be cut the most and (b) seen as "unhelpful".

"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!"

R.K.

My mother-in-law's favourite poem, Rollo.

And, boy, could she keep her head. A real lady. <3

So you are not one of the Virgin Islands then?

My son is in a similar position Rollo. His powers that be have gone into panic mode over something that may or may not happen, but he is the one who has to tell people they are out of a job. At the moment he is fighting his board over it. Good luck to you both.