My Redundancy Diary

MissMuppet

SlopingBird wrote: »

MissMuppet, how exciting (and how envious I am). We're hoping to move to Europe in about three years but have to get youngest to university first (other two are in their mid twenties and have careers/homes). Keep in touch and let us all know how you're getting on, won't you?

I have so much to do, but yes I will keep you updated... will be without internet for a couple of weeks, don't know how I'll cope! :rotfl:

The_Saver_2

I'm having to decide in December whether or not to take voluntary redundancy. I've gained some invaluable information from this site, including website links etc to try and help with my decision, including the prospect of setting up my own business.

My question is, do any of you who have already gone through this (redundancy or setting up a new business) have any tips for me? Is there anything, with hindsight, that you'd have done differently?

Many thanks

daisyf_2

Hi Saver

If you can link into business link - think they are doing on line courses now and get as many free business advice as possible or courses. I personally didnt take a break - some of the people who went for redundancy at the same time as me did and unfortunately not got work yet. I used my time from being made redundant and the notice to plan everything - do the website and get everythign organised so I hit the ground running. What sort of business are you setting up

Andyboy

daisyf wrote: »

Hi Saver

If you can link into business link - think they are doing on line courses now and get as many free business advice as possible or courses. I personally didnt take a break - some of the people who went for redundancy at the same time as me did and unfortunately not got work yet. I used my time from being made redundant and the notice to plan everything - do the website and get everythign organised so I hit the ground running. What sort of business are you setting up

I couldn't agree more. I wanted to take time out with family and don't regret it. i am still off and just starting to look seriously at what I want to be doing.

It has to be right for you and your family.

I have been away from this for a while and will look back at all the posts I have missed. The one thing I am really pleased about is that what I started has continued and I thank you all for your input.

I will try and be a bit more attentive but must confess to being embroilled in a bit of an environmental issue here in the Southwest.

No_more_usernames

Hi I just discovered this thread and, although not certain yet whether I am facing redundancy, it is looking distinctly likely. My section has to make savings of £100k by the end of the financial year and this has been split unevenly between two teams of about 20 staff and 8 staff respectively as £55/45k. I am in the team of eight.

We have been asked to volunteer for redundancy, reduced hours etc and, failing that, if the required savings are not met there will be compulsory severance.

Setting aside all the political issues and the machinations going on behind the scenes where people are taking very good care to protect their own interests, I was wondering how people who have experienced the threat to their livelihood (and also the loss of a routine and just the daily contact with colleagues) coped with the turmoil that this can cause.

I have been experincing bad dreams and waking up in the small hours unable to get the future out of my head. It is a horrible feeling and I want to come out of this being positive and taking something good from this -even though at the moment I just get a sick feeling when I think of it and the sheer slog of finding another job at nearly 50 years of age.

So any initial thoughts from people as to how to change my outlook and get positive would be very welcome!

daisyf_2

I think people tend to get institutionalise in a job - I've been made or gone for voluntary redundancy three times and it never gets any easier. Start planning now and see what is out there - and what you want to do - write a list of the skills you have and even get some adult careers advice. I had a terrible situation with people stabbing each other in the back but I ignore that and made the jump and held my head up high..

Don't forget to let anything get you down - there is a life outside your job and you are a great person - hold your head up and remember that this experience will be the best thing that has happened as new avenues are around the corner....

How else can we help - the worst time is if you have to do the 90 day notice but that can be your planning stages - it took me 6 months to be released but even that went quickly towards the end and plan plan plan reaady to roll onto the next exciting chalenge..

No_more_usernames

Thanks for that daisyf. I am already feeling more positive after reading through this thread. This evening I said to myself that I won't let it get to me because that is just letting the employers have all the control. If I am one of the ones to go then so be it.

I will, however, be taking a long hard look at my job description as at the moment jds are being manipulated quite a bit to suit other peoples' purposes. I have not worked to my job description for years and I have been doing a lot more tasks with no extra pay and all that has happened with this latest round of cuts looming is that much of the work I have been doing has been re-allocated to someone else who is neither particularly good at it nor wants it, but is of the correct (higher) grade . Which of course makes me very bitter that I should have been re-graded but was refused two years ago due to the recession.

Anyway, the other thing I will need to get over is the fact that I am naturally a very thorough person - I don't half do a job neither do I take days off sick. The thought of working three months notice and then having to hand it over is not at all appealing. I know some companies give you pay in lieu but we are talking public sector here so that won't be happening - they will squeeze every last minute of work out of us. And people say public sector staff have it easy - if only they knew how it is for some of us lower paid workers.

Will do a list of transferable skills and start looking at options - best to be prepared early as you say. I have a good work record and have had quite a variety of jobs over the years.

Andyboy

no more Usernames

We feel for you at this time and I personally am glad that you have found us. Daisy has covered this very well. At the moment you are faced with a monumental hill and don't even know if you have to go over it.

When I was in that position I went head long up that hill (18 Months of uncertainty, fear, worry and feeling useless) and am so glad i did. If nothing else you will get all your affairs in order and may even realise that the people you rely on day by day are not the sort of people you would normally associate with. I do expect there are few who will go through this with you and you can support each other.

First question I asked was how much money do I really need month to month to survive. As Daisy said what skills do you have and what difference do you think you can make to another company if you were to work for them?

Skills lists help you to sort out any areas of weakness and also highlight any areas you really don't enjoy.

But guess what? The best thing you have done so far is to start to ask why you are having sleepless nights and how you can reduce the anxiety to a minimum.

if you wnat to look into the feelings side of this more you may wish to look at the "bereavement curve". It's ok I am not plugging a book or anything but the 5 stages of grief are almost identical to the rollercoaster of emotions that you are experiencing. This will hopefully help you to realise that you are no different than the next person and hopefully help you to understand why you feel so bad.

i found it really important to look at what was important to me..Family, friends, life and living it etc. It may sound simple but it should help you make those decisions later on.

Keep going and keep us posted. Be positive, this could be the break you needed but were to afraid to take alone.

No_more_usernames

Thanks Andyboy that is such a kind and helpful post. I agree that the uncertainty is in many ways the worst feeling of all. Our department has sat and watched for two years while others go through the same kind of turmoil - knowing that it would inevitably hit us at some point. We hoped we would secure a little more time as we are due to move building and be restructured in a year or so anyway, but sadly these spending cuts wait for no man.

When I took this job on it was for exactly the reasons you suggest: on the basis of what do I need to earn to survive and pay my bills, is it close enough to home not to involve hours of commuting, and will it basically serve me rather than me serve it. That was nine years ago following resignation from a nightmare job involving long hours, lots of stress and the feeling of hating Sunday nights because i knew what loomed on Monday morning.

So, in many ways, this job (albeit low paid) has been a kind of refuge for me. I am well aware that I am capable of so much more, and my work colleagues knowthis as well . In many ways this can make some of them a little uneasy around me, and of course I have gradually taken on more of the organisational side of things - introducing new procedures to improve the running of the office because I can't just sit and follow pointless timewasting rules. My systems have worked so well and now they are nearly all going to be taken away as much of my job is being centralised. It really feels like a blow to the stomach.

What I suppose I need to do is to try and detach myself from this emotion because I know it is not personal - it is just part of a much bigger cash saving plan to streamline. I personally don't agree with it as a system as local autonomy and knowledge can often be more efficient and I know our systems work extremely well.

Anyway, I will probably know by early-mid November what the score is and in the meantime I will start giving some serious thought to what I could offer another company. Thanks again.

SlopingBird

I know some companies give you pay in lieu but we are talking public sector here so that won't be happening - they will squeeze every last minute of work out of us. And people say public sector staff have it easy - if only they knew how it is for some of us lower paid workers.[/QUOTE]

No more user names, I know exactly what you mean. I took voluntary redundancy from a local council at the end of May and I not only worked flat out until the very last minute - I carried on working for nothing long after my flexi-clock showed I should be gone. I just didn't want to leave a muddle behind me. Now, looking back, and knowing what's happened since I left, I know that I was a complete mug.

Since May, I've had my ups and downs. I 'wobbled' a lot at the end of June when it really hit home that there was no longer a monthly salary coming in (OH works part-time), but I'm now working again in a temporary capacity and I have the opportunity of a much better paid fixed term contract just six miles away. I'm also much happier, fitter (thanks to months of running) and have set up a small online business. Best of all, I escaped a job/environment I hated.

Overall, things are working out well. Better still, I've been sensible money-wise (resisting a big spending spree with my redundancy money!) and now I have no debts except my mortgage and some money in the bank for a rainy day.

Things will work out okay for you too, just believe in yourself and look forward, not backwards.

Good luck - and be brave.