Wait or Go?

PlutoinCapricorn

Many consultants offer a freelance service on a work from home basis, perhaps with regular office visits. I understand about commuting being a pain, but if you are good and the work is suitable clients - or employers - will be flexible, especially if you can show them that this improves your productivity.

patman99

Did you apply for the job you mentioned? and if so, have you heard anything back ?.

prunesquallor

They got back to me quickly - just yesterday. The job being advertised was for half my salary so they discounted me on that basis, must have been a junior role. I did reply to thank them and they suggested I was a decent candidate and to continue checking their vacancies. Might just be a standard response, although I'd have thought they wouldn't say anything if I wasn't suitable. For now I'll stay put on the off chance that redundancy is forced upon me after the consultation period. If not, guess I'll have to start looking properly - depends on whether my role advances in the next few months.

getmore4less

prunesquallor wrote: »

I'd say I'm better than the other permanents in the immediate team and maybe even a few of the contractors, although most of the contractors are of course better than me because they've been exposed to a much greater variety of work.

The only reason I've shied away from contracting is it will invariably mean commuting across london. I moved close to work a few years ago to escape the cross london commute and I hate the commute so much that I can't bear the thought of going back to it.

If I am picked for redundancy I will look at contracting as it's the only way I can really develop. But, judging by previous rounds of redundancies, they often try to redeploy people internally in order to save paying out.

Network with these guys big time NOW. They are potentialy your future.
If in the same line they will have the info you need on jobs, agencies, accountents etc.

They will be able to pass onto you the jobs they don't want, references from insiders count a lot

Unless you have commitments there are ways round the travel part of commutes.

getmore4less

prunesquallor wrote: »

depends on whether my role advances in the next few months.

That is as much in your hands as your employer.

greenbee

What's your contractual notice period? I was going through a redundancy process a few years ago and applied for another job as it was something that rarely comes and I felt I had nothing to lose (I'd been planning a move, but delayed it to support my staff through the restructuring process). I was offered the job, but the US-based manager was horrified by my 3-month notice period, so I suggested that I could 'negotiate' with my current employer if they held off asking for a reference...

Given where we were in the redundancy process, I knew I was unlikely to be redeployed and had a date at which we would be getting letters. So I got my redundancy payment, and then accepted the new job with an immediate start. Everyone was happy (with the possible exception of my ex-employer) and my team all survived the restructuring either in their own roles or as redeployees and have all gone on to do well in their careers.

prunesquallor

getmore4less wrote: »

Unless you have commitments there are ways round the travel part of commutes.

Thanks, what are the ways around? I'm guessing you mean rent a room local to whatever the location of the office? I don't have a family so I could potentially do that, although I've heard that's not the nicest way to live.

getmore4less wrote: »

That is as much in your hands as your employer.

Agreed - there are a few areas where I can drive my professional development with new applications they're taking on.

greenbee wrote: »

What's your contractual notice period?
I got my redundancy payment, and then accepted the new job with an immediate start ... my team all survived the restructuring either in their own roles or as redeployees and have all gone on to do well in their careers.

Thanks, re-assuring to know everyone did well, whether they stayed or left. I believe my notice period is something like 2 months as I've been here almost 10 years but given that they want to cut jobs or move them offshore they may even be open to very little notice. But for now I'll wait to see if I end up with compulsory redundancy.

getmore4less

prunesquallor wrote: »

Thanks, what are the ways around? I'm guessing you mean rent a room local to whatever the location of the office? I don't have a family so I could potentially do that, although I've heard that's not the nicest way to live.

Depends where the work is, for one contract job I had which was in a new to me city, I did the rent a room and became a tourist when not working I was lucky loads of places to eat so just ate out(from gross wages, all claimable), my OH came up and did the tourist thing as well.

Not everywhere works for that.

Where the place is just about commutable, then to cut back the travel do the odd overnight, look for things to do in the evening local to the place or a shorter distance. SOmetimes you can do late/early starts/finish to avoid the rush hours.

You just keep an eye out for deals in places to stay

If you look within a time radius of your commute from the work place you may be surprised what else there is besides going home.

prunesquallor

A few people were out of the office when they announced the redundancies and I recently learned that some one was called and, despite being off sick, the manager calling insisted on continuing with the call. The person being called even asked if they could talk later but no it had to happen now.

Sorry, but this is ridiculous at best. I understand they want to tell everyone at the same time, but surely one should apply a bit of common sense here? If some one is off sick they should really be left alone, especially if they are politely asking to be left alone. They can be informed as soon as they've recovered.

This is where office politics is a disadvantage - if the callee had terminated the call, then they would have been in the manager's bad books - either deliberately or subconsciously.

Don't people agree that they should have waited to inform this person? I understand this is a small point but to me it just goes towards showing there are managers who have no place being one.

NewShadow

prunesquallor wrote: »

If some one is off sick they should really be left alone, especially if they are politely asking to be left alone. They can be informed as soon as they've recovered.

Assuming the person was one of my direct reports, I'd probably plan the conversation along the lines a general chat to check how 'Bob' was, and ask if he wanted to talk, or would prefer me sending over an email/letter and calling me back at a better time.

It would kind of depend why they were off sick - If Bob had a bad case of work related stress, I think that's a little different from Bob's skiing accident and resultant broken ankle.