And so.....it has come to this.

Jon

Don't worry, I went through the same thing 3 years ago complete with small child, heavily pregnant wife and house move!!!

Now we have a much better life in the country with lots more toys for all of us.

Keep plugging away at the jobs and don't take the first one out of desparation.

Jono

Dom - thanks! Yes it seems when it comes to banks, where one goes the others follow

Jono - I envy you - not necessarily the whole wife-and-kids thing but the livingin-the-country thing - that definitely appeals!



Cheers,

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by Jonathan Gorse:
JohnR,

SNIP
Redundancy can be a blessing in disguise in many ways, maybe it doesn't feel like it now but I'm sure it will once you plan a course of action. If I can help at all give me a shout. I'm not big on self-help books myself but one I read made a big impression on me - 'What should I do with my life' by Po Bronson - a set of around 30 stories of people who went off and did something radically different in their middle years because they felt unfulfilled. It doesn't actually offer any suggestions for how to work out what to do next (which I like) but it does make you realise that you are not alone in perhaps wanting more out of life.

With very best wishes for a bright new future!

Jonathan

Another vote for Po Bronson's book. Really useful and has helped me in a similar situation. The section where people's new futures were already under their noses, so to speak, provided the key.

Good luck.

regards
Richard S

Jon,

I can only echo what others have said here; best of luck with your new endeavors, when and if! "Lance Allott" would be a good name for a budding (cough) pornstar.

Just out of curiosity, what sort of help, £ or otherwise, does HMG give one in these circumstances? Here in the US you get about 6 months of subsistence ("Unemployment"), then you're on your own.

Hi bhazen,

We used to have employment benefit here but the Labour government under Blair has replaced this with something called the 'job-seekers allowance'. Don't know much about it to be honest but I believe like your allowance it's only available for six months.

Cheers,

Jon

Jon,
Don't worry, the job market is in great shape at the moment and plenty of banks are hiring. If you don't have any contacts with recruitment agents I know loads...
John

Commiserations, Jon.

I was having a fairly torrid time a year or so ago and decided to sort it. Had a job offer and I'm in a much better situation now.

Keep a good heart - things usually have a way of working out in the end.

Steve

Hi Jon,

Shit happens doesn't it. As others have said, don't let it get you down - it's not personal (though a dartboard with a photo of your boss on it can help at times).

It's happened to me three times in my career so far.

The first time was on pay day - the firm went bust, I had no pay, no job, my company car was taken from me and it was the middle of the recession in the early 90s and a month before Christmas. I was out of work for about 6 weeks.

The second time was less than a year later, they just beat me to it, I was working again within a week.

Last time was 18 months ago. Fortunately I had a good payout, Three months tax free plus three months in leiu of notice. It would have been enough to live on for 10 months or to survive on for over a year with careful budgeting. As it happened I picked up a short contract within a few weeks and am now on my 4th different contract (not including extensions) with the longest gap between them being about 10 days. The list of jobs Mrs S drew up for me last time are still untouched

Use your gardening leave to polish the CV and getting to know the market place. Do not rule anything out. Try permie (if that's what you still want) or contracting - it's not too scary you can use an umbrella company that will do all the tax things for you for a small percentage of your rate. Or get a good accountant and you'll be fine - you've met mine! A three month contract would tide you over nicely and give you time to think about what you really want to do. Are your present employers offering any help with finding another job (e.g. paying for your CV to be professionally tarted up, or any contacts they may have with agencies. Is there anyone in HR you can talk to? They deal with agencies, they should be able to point you in the direction of any good ones they deal with.

Best of luck.

seagull

Many of us on this forum know how you feel, Jon. As has been said it's not personal, it's business, 1s and 0s. Capitalism in its most brutal form - only the bottom line counts. Human beings to be used and disposed of just like any other raw material.

I know it's nicer to resign, but this way you at least get a redundancy package.

Take your time deciding what you really want to do.

Enjoy the summer.

Andy

Thanks again guys, some more really great contributions there

quote:

John Channing wrote:
Don't worry, the job market is in great shape at the moment and plenty of banks are hiring. If you don't have any contacts with recruitment agents I know loads...

John that sounds like a great idea, if you could pass a few on I would really appreciate that. Please email me at the address:- jonr292 AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk. Thanks!

quote:

seagull wrote:
Use your gardening leave to polish the CV and getting to know the market place. Do not rule anything out. Try permie (if that's what you still want) or contracting - it's not too scary you can use an umbrella company that will do all the tax things for you for a small percentage of your rate. Or get a good accountant and you'll be fine - you've met mine! A three month contract would tide you over nicely and give you time to think about what you really want to do. Are your present employers offering any help with finding another job (e.g. paying for your CV to be professionally tarted up, or any contacts they may have with agencies. Is there anyone in HR you can talk to? They deal with agencies, they should be able to point you in the direction of any good ones they deal with.

Hi seagull. I've kind of half-considered contracting but it seems to me like a lot of fuss and bother (and expense) to set up. If you could put me straight on that then please do! As regards the HR department providing job-finding assistance, I've got this formal meeting next week where a member of HR will be present and I will be given the two most recent issues of the bank's internal vacancies bulleting to see what other positions are available. To be honest though, I'm not really counting on HR to be all that helpful I'm afraid. No harm in asking though I suppose.

Btw, so ag is your accountant is he.....??

Cheers,

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by AndyFelin:
Many of us on this forum know how you feel, Jon. As has been said it's not personal, it's business, 1s and 0s. Capitalism in its most brutal form - only the bottom line counts. Human beings to be used and disposed of just like any other raw material.

I know it's nicer to resign, but this way you at least get a redundancy package.

Take your time deciding what you really want to do.

Enjoy the summer.

Hi Andy,

Thanks for putting it all into perspective! Unfortunately it's true I have taken it pretty personally but like you say as far as the bank's concerned it's the bottom line that comes first and, in any case, they've actually done me a favour because to be honest I've been wanting to leave for some time but haven't had the guts to take that final leap!

It's the uncertainty I really hate - it can be a very difficult thing to get used to after nigh on a decade of continuous employment. It is an opportunity though - I guess I will just have to keep reminding myself of that!

Cheers,

Jon

Sorry to hear your news Jon, but im hoping that in the months to come that ill will be congratulating you!
I know its hard but try to enjoy your time out, but dont forget that you can always put the odd week of temping in just to keep the finances going whilst you plan a more permanent solution.

Best of luck..

Hawk

Oh one other thing, enjoy your music loud whilst the neighbours are at work!!!

Thanks Hawk! That I will and certainly am!

Cheers,

Jon

Jon

This happened to me and my colleagues in the team I was in last September, after 6 years with the firm, and out of the blue. We were shocked - like you - and things looked grim. We got our notice in a telephone meeting (!!) - I can laugh about it now. Furthermore I'd been thinking of leaving for ages but had never got round to doing anything about it, so I just stayed and moaned (I even got the letters QUITJOB on my scrabble rack while I was playing Scrabble with my wife and pondering on what to do next!). I sympathise with your wishing to tell them when you wanted to leave rather than the other way around. However it's the job that's being made redundant not you and I'd be surprised if it's personal. Your days in IT at that firm may be over but unless you want them to be it is far too early to say 'whatever happens my days in IT are over'. Everyone's on notice and no-one has to be kept on, either side can give notice and often they do, it's just the way things work.

Keep your head together, and see it as an opportunity and there will be every chance that it will be one - it has been very positive for me, and now we (me and my fellow ex colleauges)look in from the sidelines and have a gossip - unfortunately for him, the MD of the firm that made my job redundant lost his own job the other day.

By the way - a word of warning. If the redundancy actually happens, and there is no other job for you within the organisation, you may begin to deal with it and be OK by the time you get to the end of your period of employment. I was quite confident a couple of weeks into the process. Just be aware - the bit right at the end (last couple of days) may well be the worst, as you might get a bit panicky, question your feelings etc. This happened to me and at that time I got a text from a friend with whom I hadn't spoken for a few weeks. It said 'Believe me, it gets much better'. She knew what was coming as she'd been through it 2 years before. It was a timely text and made me feel much more positive - it wasn't just me then. If you feel shit around this time, bear in mind that things do get much better! Good luck.

quote:

and expense

It costs just over £100 to set up a company, and that is with your own choice of name etc. all it takes is a few minutes filling in some details on a web-site. No worse than applying for car insurance. There are plenty of lawyers firms who do that sort of thing for you as a package. The cost can be offset against tax so its not too prohibitive.

Its the accountancee fees you have to watch out for...

Jon

Last year I was made redundant and I had a terrible 6 or 7 months, scraping by (just) on my redundancy money while being turned down for jobs and going through that whole dispiriting interview routine.

After a while I decided to give up looking for a permanant job and become self-employed. So, a year after getting the push,
I am better off than I have ever been; have loads of time to myself; I control my own life, no little creep can tell me what to do.

I still do a bit of journalism, but also some consultancy work for publishers and work at one of the world's biggest advertising agencies two days a week, helping them with their charity work and helping them with various stregic projects. I get to work with my best mate, get paid handsomely, get to work with some lovely people, and to enjoy the amazing facilities said company offers.

It's not something I would have thought about a year ago, but I enjoy it. I got it through talking to people, by someone saying, "Why don't you come in for a day, see if you like it"

What I'm saying is: talk to your friends, colleagues, family, basically network like crazy. Take any opportunity you can. Most importantly, think seriously about working for yourself - I'm sure you have talents that plenty of people would pay to make use of (even if your current employers don't want to). Don't panic, but don't be afraid to try something new.

Good luck - and feel free to ask any questions, I'm here to help, I've been there myself...

K

Hi Kevin,

Really inspiring post - sounds like you've landed on your feet big time! I guess the message is network, talk to people, and be open to other opportunities.

I hope I can be since I had a bit of a setback when an agency yesterday said they didn't think they could place me because I last worked in the back office 9 years ago! I resumed my driving instructor training today so at least that could lead to something which will be a useful wage-earner.

In the meantime I have that meeting with the bank tomorrow at which I will be officially notified that I am at risk of redundancy. Then the 4 week 'consultation period' begins.....

Cheers,

Jon

Is 'stregic' Journo speak please ?

Hi there,

Just thought I'd report back on the meeting I had the other day. It was attended by the head of our IT department who had given me the news the week before and a member of the HR department. The head of IT just re-iterated his reasons why my job has been put at risk and the HR person told me about the consultation period which now ensues for the next 4 weeks. During this time I have to liaise with her over possible alternative positions within the bank but if nothing comes of this then redundancy would of course be confirmed at the end of the consultation period.

What surprised me most was the amount that would be paid in the event of redundancy. It basically equates to roughly 6 months take-home pay, which is much more than I ever expected. I'm clear, though, that if it gets this far then it's certainly NOT a license to spend money and any non-essential spending will be kept to a minimum until another job is found.

I have to say, though, that it's helped to take the 'sting' out of the situation for me and I'm now more relaxed about it. If the worst comes to the worst then the severance will be enough to tide me over for a few months until I can find another job.

Thanks again for all your support and good wishes.

Cheers,

Jon

Jon

Sorry to hear about your situation.

Just think though, if you can line up a better job in four weeks time, then you can take the 6 months layoff pay and that is certainly something worth thinking about. Also you could try and find an employer that is not so obsessed on keeping up short term profits by laying people off. Alas if you find a job like that then let me know.

Best Regards
Mark

Jon,

It does ease the blow when they give you a decent payoff.

If I recall rightly there used to be some tax break on these severence payments. I'm sure someone on this forum will know the current status of that.

cheers


Ian

When it comes to money there'll always be lots of innocent advice given on this forum !



Fritz Von £20 for a cup of tea Guvnor

quote:

Originally posted by IanGtoo:
Jon,

It does ease the blow when they give you a decent payoff.

If I recall rightly there used to be some tax break on these severence payments. I'm sure someone on this forum will know the current status of that.

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your comments.

I'm given to understand that redundancy pay is tax-free up to around £30k, so if true then my severance would be tax-free.

Cheers,

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by mtuttleb:
Also you could try and find an employer that is not so obsessed on keeping up short term profits by laying people off. Alas if you find a job like that then let me know.

I think you're talking about the holy grail of jobs there, Mark!

Cheers,

Jon