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Original poster

Do I warn of redundancies?

19 replies

takingtheP45 · 06/01/2011 20:16

OK, name change as some posters know where I work.

I have been taken to one side and told that my job is secure but 30 of my colleagues will be made redundant (out of a staff of 37) in the next three months. This is because work has been planning to outsource and will announce in 3 weeks time.

Some of them have families and mortgages and financial commitments and could do with making sure they are properly insured before the redundancies are announced. Some of them I have worked with for years.

If I tell them and its traced to me I will most probably lose my job. If I don't warn them, I am not sure how I will live with myself.

I've not slept properly for the last three nights and I feel constantly sick in my stomach. When people at work talk to me I feel like crap as they haven't a clue what is about to happen to them.

WWYD?

OP posts:
CaptainKirksNipples · 06/01/2011 20:18

Don't think they could take out mortgage insurance 3weeks before losing there job. Most policies will pay out after 6 months if that makes you feel better. Tough position you are in though

oneortwo · 06/01/2011 20:21

I would be suspicious - why did they tell you? you starting a rumour about redundencies might be part of a plan. That sort of thing has gone on where I work - moral goes down, people jump ship rather than wait to be made redundant so no redundency payments

whomovedmychocolate · 06/01/2011 20:21

You can't warn them. They will rat you out. Sorry but even if you are friends they will let it slip. It's bloody unfair of your employer to saddle you with this knowledge frankly if the same level of employees are going to get the push.

Original poster
takingtheP45 · 06/01/2011 20:25

AFAIK can take out mortgage insurance as long as you have not been told you have been made redundant- they don't know yet, so could take it out now and be covered when the redunacies happen in 3 months. I could be wrong though. I don't even know who has it and who doesn't.

My understanding is that I am being retained as I have experience managing external contracts, which is what I will be doing. Having said that, I just don't know what to think.

It all came about because I wasn't being allowed to recruit and they sceduled a meeting to explain why. I have been stressed out to hell ever since.

OP posts:
Original poster
takingtheP45 · 06/01/2011 20:26

I think they probably will rat me out :(

Bollocks :( :( :(

OP posts:
Pantofino · 06/01/2011 20:30

Keep schtumm! That is the only professional way to behave. In a previous incarnation, I had to actually work on the outsourcing/redundancy support provision. It was part of my job. Bloody hard but I was NOT allowed to discuss details with anyone.

It IS horrible, but they have told you this because they see you as part of the future plans. You have an obligation to your employer to remain discrete and professional.

llareggub · 06/01/2011 20:35

This probably won't help but your reaction to this is normal. It is quite common to experience negative feelings if you survive a redundancy process.

You can help when the shit hits the fan by being supportive to your colleagues. Do you have any influence over the process that might be followed? Could you suggest that some thought be given sooner rather than later to finding some outplacement support? Our organisation has various agencies providing seminars for at-risk employees on things like CV building, interview technique, setting-up businesses etc.

I agree that to say something would be unprofessional, but you can shape the process and make it better from within.

fairtradefloozy · 06/01/2011 20:41

as everyone says, you can't say anything you'll be ratted out or they may be testing you and looking for leaks. When it is all announced, no-one needs to know that you knew.
Its part of this new horrid dog eat dog world. You also presumably have a mortgage etc etc. Its time to make sure you are insured etc too, just because thats the world we live in.

Its a tough position to be in, I am sorry.

orangepoo · 06/01/2011 20:49

You can't warn anyone. You are kind and decent to be upset for them and you are in a difficult position - but you were told in a professional capacity (presumably) and so you can't really repeat anything.

I don't think insurances could be taken out at this stage because if a claim is made 3 weeks after the policy is taken out, the insurance company will be very suspicious. It would also be fraud for someone to take out a policy knowing that they were going to be made redundant and being convicted of that would actually be worse than being made redundant in the first place. It's a can of worms.

Original poster
takingtheP45 · 06/01/2011 20:57

I know you're all right. Its just so crap.

I do have a mortgage and have insurance that I took out a couple of years ago when the banking crisis started. I know I have to put my own interests first and be professional, but its bloody hard.

We went through a round of redundancies a year ago. The cuts were made by reducing posts then making everyone apply for their own jobs. It was really traumatic for everyone involved. The thing is that the people who got through that think the worst is over and their jobs are safe and they're not.

Don't get me wrong I am so, so grateful that I am OK, but I feel really shitty too.

OP posts:
Pantofino · 06/01/2011 21:46

But YOU were responsible for YOUR family and took out insurance. I know it is hard, but you are not responsible for everyone else's financial situation. Even your bosses aren't to THAT degree.

I totally understand that you feel bad. Any lovely person would. But this is business. It can be shitty. It is not YOUR fault though.

whomovedmychocolate · 06/01/2011 22:23

and don't be pointing out job vacancies to them or anything, that gives the game away too.

Similarly commit consistently to meetings in the future which you know they will not be there to attend.

You just really need to park the information and remember things do change and it might not happen.

MadamDeathstare · 13/01/2011 13:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChickensFlyingUnderTheRadar · 13/01/2011 13:39

DH is in the same boat. You have to keep quiet. Rubbish and stressful, though :(

montmartre · 13/01/2011 13:48

It doesn't sound like you're their manager- it isn't your respinsibility to tell them.
I hope you can feel more at ease soon.

LatteLady · 19/01/2011 16:15

I was in the same boat a short while ago. You can say nothing.

As to mortgage cover, it will not kick in until six months after it has started so all you would be doing is worrying them before they need to know.

Cheggerspartypopper · 19/01/2011 16:23

I was in the same position once, only for a few days, but it played on my mind terribly. You have to maintain confidentiality though.

crystalglasses · 22/01/2011 14:56

And once it is out in the open, don't, for heavens sake, tell them that you knew all along. That would seem like an act of betrayal.

Earlybird · 22/01/2011 15:10

Agree with other posters that you can't say anything, and understand how it feels a huge moral/ethical dilemma for you.

Is it likely that many/all of the people in question would (or could) be the same people the work would be outsourced to?

Being made redundant will be a shock, but perhaps they/you could feel some consolation if outsourcing works in their favour.

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