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posted by [personal profile] tadorna at 09:18pm on 16/03/2009 under ,
I have been made 'provisionally redundant'.

What this means in reality is that they couldn't decide between me and my friend who sits next to me, who works with me on a lot of the same stuff, and who I've known for years and worked with in two different jobs. So they've invited us both to a meeting on Friday where we will fight for their entertainment. Or something. We're supposed to think of alternative solutions and 'discuss how to decide'.

We are the only designers who've been affected, by the looks of it. I think management wanted to choose four (higher-paid) subeditors, but they threw us to the lions to appease the union (who couldn't give a stuff about us and have resented us for months).

Fuckheads. I can't think how they could have made it worse.
There are 71 comments over 2 pages. (Reply.)
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lazulus: (not quite myself)
posted by [personal profile] lazulus at 09:27pm on 16/03/2009
Fuck. That is a dreadful way to treat you both. It's an utterly untenable position for you to be in and I am so sorry you are having to go through this.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:50pm on 16/03/2009
I know, what wankers, eh? Thanks, Jaq. x
ext_25473: my default default (Bitch Please Hutch)
posted by [identity profile] lauramcewan.livejournal.com at 09:31pm on 16/03/2009
Oh, no. I'm so sorry!! :(
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:50pm on 16/03/2009
Thank you. :) I may have to borrow Hutch's gun there...
 
posted by [identity profile] justwolf.livejournal.com at 09:33pm on 16/03/2009
Fuck. That's absolutely ridiculous. I'm so sorry.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:51pm on 16/03/2009
Thanks, m'lovely. <3
 
posted by [identity profile] almostnever.livejournal.com at 09:36pm on 16/03/2009
That completely blows. I'm sorry!
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:52pm on 16/03/2009
Rubbish, innit? :( Thank you!
 
posted by [identity profile] mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com at 09:40pm on 16/03/2009
I am really sorry -- that is a hideous position to put you in. Really, management should be ashamed.

What about job sharing? Is that at all a possibility? Maybe 5/8ths for each of you? Try for 3/4 for each and then drop to 5/8?

Just brainstorming. I hope something better than this happens.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:55pm on 16/03/2009
Thanks, and yeah - not a bad idea. I'm not sure she'd be able to afford it though - I might be ok, but she's got a mortgage and I think she'd find it difficult. I'll definitely discuss it with her tomorrow though. Cheers - really appreciate the input! :)
ext_230: a tiny green frog on a very red leaf (argh)
posted by [identity profile] anatsuno.livejournal.com at 09:41pm on 16/03/2009
Oh shit. Fuck! What cruel utter dweebs. I'm really sorry. :/
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:55pm on 16/03/2009
Aren't they? Bah! Thank you. x
 
posted by [identity profile] galactic-jack.livejournal.com at 09:42pm on 16/03/2009
Oh shit it Julia. just what the fuckbus are they doing? You'd think they'd have got their shit in order ages ago. Ongoing nightmare doesn't seem to cover it.

We're around for (attempted) comedy relief if so choose you.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:56pm on 16/03/2009
I know - the whole things been a complete circus, and they saved the best for last! Thankee, I may be taking you up on the comic relief! x
 
posted by [identity profile] jonquil.livejournal.com at 09:43pm on 16/03/2009
That's really sadistic. Pfeh.

I think they want one of you to bravely resign so as to save them the pain of actually making the decision.

I'm so sorry.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:58pm on 16/03/2009
Yep, they're too lazy and cowardly even to do that, so they've pushed it back onto us. Unbelievable, really. Well, we won't be making it easy for them...

Thank you.
 
posted by [identity profile] tvillingar.livejournal.com at 09:44pm on 16/03/2009
That's... like going back in time to see which gladiator kills the other one. Bastards. No one can convince me making people go through this shit is necessary.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 09:59pm on 16/03/2009
I know, it's like cock-fighting or something! Awful. They've fucked this whole thing up so badly it's almost funny.
 
posted by [identity profile] sarcasticmissy.livejournal.com at 09:45pm on 16/03/2009
That whole situation really sucks *hugs*
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:00pm on 16/03/2009
It really does! :( Thank you. :)
 
posted by [identity profile] rebism.livejournal.com at 09:51pm on 16/03/2009
We're supposed to think of alternative solutions and 'discuss how to decide'.

Fuck off, that's their job. There is NO WAY hiring and firing decisions can be outsourced from management to the employees affected. That's bullshit. Talk to your friend, agree on how totally inappropriate it is, and go in with a united front saying "it is totally not our job to do your decision making for you. We are not going to resign, if you want to let one of us go, that's your decision".

That's ridiculous. I consider it so ridiculous that I'm also going to recommend calling your ombudsman or legal aid or something and getting some free advice on just how much they're totally not allowed to do that, so you can go in with proper sentences to use against them.

In other news, I am sorry for you both. Shit situation. But god, don't let them push this onto you - this is totally not your decision to make!
x
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:06pm on 16/03/2009
No, you're absolutely right - we won't be making this easy for them. I don't know how it'll play out, but I don't think we'll even consider attempting to help them decide. If they couldn't choose between us, I don't see how we're supposed to! Hopefully we'll be able to challenge the idea that we're the ones who ought to go at all. Hopefully tomorrow we may get some idea of the best way to approach it.

Thank you, this is all very helpful!
ext_15194: floral background with hobbit's journal written diagonally across the front (Default)
posted by [identity profile] hobbituk.livejournal.com at 09:59pm on 16/03/2009
Well, that's just pants. How outrageous! It's bad enough to make people redundant, but to make them decide who is to go themselves... I have no words.

I think you should be a united front, too. But jobs are scarce and someone with a mortgage is not likely to stand fast, so please, watch your back!
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:10pm on 16/03/2009
Yeah, that's true... but if I had to be in this situation, I'm glad it's with this person -- she's got a loyal streak and a stubborn one! I can think of not a few people who I know would throw me under the bus without a second thought. Hopefully, we'll find a way to challenge the idea that we should be the people in this situation at all. It doesn't make much sense really. Either way, we're definitely not playing their game!

Thank you.
 
posted by [identity profile] blythely.livejournal.com at 10:00pm on 16/03/2009
What utter wankers. I hope you both sit there and stubbornly refuse to have any "solutions" for your crap employers.

Am so sorry Duckie.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:11pm on 16/03/2009
Yep, I think that's the plan at the moment!

Thanks, m'dear. x
ext_42507: (Keane)
posted by [identity profile] ia-ne.livejournal.com at 10:04pm on 16/03/2009
I agree with everyone else who said that it's ridiculous and sadistic that they are trying to make you come up with solutions. Fuck them and their total refusal to make any kind of grown-up decision.

*hugs*
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:14pm on 16/03/2009
Yep, it's pretty disgusting, I think. Thank you - it's really great to have everyone's support on here. :)
 
posted by [identity profile] elouisa.livejournal.com at 10:08pm on 16/03/2009
Oh good christ.. *hugs you tight* What a fucking horrible situation they've put you in. What sort of organisation do you work for that has you making that sort of decision about your own jobs? I'm so sorry honey. xx
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:16pm on 16/03/2009
I know, well we were aware they didn't care hugely about us... but this is beyond the pale, really. I dunno...

Thank you.
 
posted by [identity profile] damson.livejournal.com at 10:10pm on 16/03/2009
I'm so sorry m'dear. That's incredibly shitty of them to do.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:17pm on 16/03/2009
I know. :( Thanks, m'love. :)
ext_11796: (<3)
posted by [identity profile] lapin-agile.livejournal.com at 10:18pm on 16/03/2009
Oh, love. That's horrible.

The one thing that strikes me is that they seem to not want to make either of you redundant or they'd have done it.

The very idea that they want to have a meeting with you (both) to discuss ways around it (is UTTERLY APPALLING and the solution is that you ought to have their jobs which they are clear shit at) suggests that they haven't completely made up their minds. I take it that you are paid less than the union staff? So they'd save much more by letting one of those folks go. Of course, I've no idea what rules in the union contract are tying management's hands here.

I'm so sorry. Just ugh!
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:26pm on 16/03/2009
Oh, it's such a convoluted mess!

Basically, first off they were going to put us and the subeditors in one big pool, score us all on the same criteria, and let the lowest scorers go.
Then the subs complained that we have different skills, so should be scored with different criteria. So they they split the pools and said they'd be doing this.

Then management put forward a proposal to take all four jobs from the subs' pool. When they told us, they made it sound like this decision had been reached and we were safe.

The union put forward a counter-proposal on behalf of the subs, saying that the subs were better qualified than us, and all the jobs should go from our pool. Their second proposal was that we should go back to being scored from our seperate pools.

After much fannying about, management said on Thursday that they'd agreed to go with the second proposal, and the scoring took place on Friday. Apparently, A and I were among the lowest scorers, and therefore have to be let go.

I think they felt, for some reason, that they needed to appease the union by not making all the redundancies subs. But they're never going to admit to that...

Argh! Sorry, that was long!
 
posted by [identity profile] lugna-vatten.livejournal.com at 10:20pm on 16/03/2009
And other cockney rhymes.

That's bloody awful.

They'll get their comeuppance eventually.

Hugs.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:27pm on 16/03/2009
Thank you. I know you know how it feels!

We'll see them in hell, I hope, and get to poke them with sticks.
 
posted by [identity profile] clara-posts.livejournal.com at 10:42pm on 16/03/2009
Ugh, no! That absolutely sucks. What a horrible way to do it. Complete crap.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 10:46pm on 16/03/2009
Thank you! Yeah, it really does. :(
 
posted by [identity profile] blimmy.livejournal.com at 11:08pm on 16/03/2009
what the fucking fuck? that's awful! truly awful.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 11:17pm on 16/03/2009
Takes the biscuit, doesn't it? :(
 
posted by [identity profile] bunnysquee.livejournal.com at 11:09pm on 16/03/2009
i would go with what rebism said and try to fight for your job! and don't resign no matter what lines they feed you - i don't know how it works where you are, but here we cannot collect unemployment if we resign, only if we're fired or downsized ...
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 11:20pm on 16/03/2009
Oh, don't worry, we won't be resigning! I don't think they really expect us to, to be honest, they just want us to give them some reason to pick one of us. Or offer to jobshare or something, I dunno... And yeah, same here, we can get Jobseeker's Allowance if we're made redunant etc, not if we resign.
msilverstar: (wtf? billy)
posted by [personal profile] msilverstar at 11:13pm on 16/03/2009
That's outrageous. the word FUCK comes to mind. I mean, THIS IS WRONG. There's even research that shows that flexibility works better than wholesale layoffs: http://www.bus.umich.edu/NewsRoom/ArticleDisplay.asp?news_id=3886

assholes.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 11:24pm on 16/03/2009
Interesting link, thanks. Maybe I'll print it out and take it with me. :) Unfortunately they seem pretty much sold on this redundancy thing - ever since the new MD came in he's been laying people off left right and centre.

I guess we'll just see what we can do to fight it, but I'm not holding out much hope at the moment. :(
vixalicious: (Default)
posted by [personal profile] vixalicious at 11:34pm on 16/03/2009
Oh, Jeebus. That sucks monkeys, sweetie, I'm so sorry.
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 08:23pm on 17/03/2009
I know. Big monkeys, eh? Thanks, vix.
 
posted by [identity profile] shirecreature.livejournal.com at 12:25am on 17/03/2009
What if you both just say nahhthing...
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 08:23pm on 17/03/2009
We're either going to say nahhthing... or everything.
ext_3336: (brak)
posted by [identity profile] vensre.livejournal.com at 01:23am on 17/03/2009
Urgh, horrible. It's like some kind of wretched mind game. May the people whose idea that was get what's coming to them very soon. :<
 
posted by [identity profile] sheldrake.livejournal.com at 08:23pm on 17/03/2009
I hope so! Thanks, dear.
There are 71 comments over 2 pages. (Reply.)
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