Protecting myself...

DaniGirl_2

So I started a new job nearly 5 months ago at a large media company. The interview process was gruelling (around 5 interviews) and then the training lasted 4 weeks.

My probationary period is for 6 months which the current employees think is a bit strange, but given the current economic climate it's not surprising.

Before we started they laid off an entire department and said to us they were "restructuring and we were part of the new influx".

Since then there have been rumours flying to and fro, people getting disciplinaries for no reason and us new people haven't felt particularly secure. It has been suggested by other people I started with that we were brought in for a short sharp burst of revenue (we're in advertising sales) before our probation is up and they drop us.

Today an email was circulated that a further 6 jobs were being cut in another area of the building. Our manager has been told he's being put on a "special project", the week before his boss was sent off on a "special project" and when another manager today was told he was going on one of these "special projects" he went mental, put in his resignation and walked out. We've basically gathered that this Gardening Leave, pure and simple.

Another three people have left this week and instead of refilling the jobs they have taken people from various sections and spread them really thinly. This has included my section where the work of three people has been divided between 2 of us and they've given us a target about £5k more than last month (When we had several special things going on that brought in money we won't get this month).

The company isn't going bust, I know that for sure but in the last two/three weeks but in two departments of 35 people around 12 or so have gone with no seen immediate replacements.

What can I do to protect myself? I don't think I'm going to get let off as I've been working my ar*e off but getting a job as good as this one, in my area and in this climate seems impossible.

Debt_Free_Chick

DaniGirl wrote: »

What can I do to protect myself? I don't think I'm going to get let off as I've been working my ar*e off but getting a job as good as this one, in my area and in this climate seems impossible.

You can't really do anything other than do your job and be "a model employee". You can be dismissed without reason within the first 12 months.

It's interesting that they are letting other staff go. If they simply wanted to cut headcount, I would have expected those with less than 12 months service to be first on the list!

Try not to worry and simply do your job.

Rockporkchop

If you haven't already, get yourself some income protection insurance (preferably a policy that kicks in after 30 days) so you know you can pay the bills if the worst happens.

Apart from that, unfortunately there's nothing you can do apart from work hard, as Debt Free Chick says. I hope it all works out for you.

epsilondraconis

One way to protect yourself is not to disclose too much information about your role in your posts, otherwise someone may be able to identify you.

I'm not wishing to overly concern you.

Keep working hard as you have been and hopefully you will be fine.

Good luck anyway.