I think I'm getting the axe

keenlearner

My company has recently informed us about their plans to offshore a number of support roles - not a big surprise as they've done this in the past.

However in this instance I feel we are being treated unfairly, let me explain in a bit more detail ...

Up until 5 months ago we supplied IT Services to a number of clients through a single department. However our biggest client decided they wanted to split off and have some of us dedicated to supporting just them (as a side note this client didn't like our company's fondness for offshoring).

As a result the company split the department into two, those that support all our other clients, and those that support this one particular client.

At the time our company looked at everyone and decided where people would be placed. I'm not sure of their criteria but one thing was clear from the pick - they kept all the best staff to look after their other clients and put those they didn't want into the dedicated support group. I was new and unproven so I was also placed into this group.

An important thing to know is that we are completely seperate, different floors of the building, different management etc...

Now that the split has taken place and we are almost 4 months into the new working environment the company has decided it will offshore some of the support roles in the department looking after their other clients (we saw this coming as non of the other clients seemed to have an issue with offshoring).

My problem is that they have said despite the spilt all roles up for redundancy will be pooled (ie even though it's the roles in the other group being sent offshore we could lose our jobs and have people from that group replace us in our positions).

I suspect the 30 days consultation will start shortly.

Is this legal? What can I do?

Thanks for taking the time to read.

LittleVoice

They are acting legally as far as I can see from what you say.

Make sure your CV is ready just in case you are selected for redundancy.

twiki

My thoughts are that this is illegal.

They are not making the job redundant, they are making people redundant and this is entirely illegal.

If you are a member of a union, or have union representation, I would get onto them as soon as possible.

I would check out more on government / TUC website mentioned in redundancy guide for more details on unfair dismissals.

CFC

Twiki is incorrect. Please Twiki, do not join the ranks of posters who mean well but give incorrect opinions on these very sensitive and painful matters.

Littlevoice is correct.