Redundancy

[Outoutoutshout]

In a large national organisation (about 1000) people how would you expect to hear about contracts unlikely to be extended? I suppose this isn't technically redundancy if temp contract but would you expect the messaging to come via email or from a more professional route?

Thank you.

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Are contacts ending early or just not being renewed? If the latter the I'd expect an organisational announcement in a town hall followed up with an email to impacted parties. Ha. No . I'd actually expect no communication but the change of policy to become slowly obvious as all renewals are refused, at which point remaining contractors start looking for new roles and leaving early. The earlier they know, the earlier attrition will start.

If contracts are being terminated early and expect in person individual/small group communications.

Good to know it's funny to someone. Not so funny to dozens of people to be informed they'll be jobless in a few months. Not so funny to be told this via an email. Not so funny to an organisation who now has a recruitment and contract extension freeze.

Yes it was a temp contract that that nobody will get renewed. It's not termination of it early but it still hurts to be told in this way. Everything suggested I'd be kept on but clearly that's now not the case. I left a permanent job for this one as all the signs of being made permanent were there. I'm upset and angry to find out in such a generic uncaring way.

But this is always the risk with contracts, it's why they pay so much more than permanent roles, there are no guarantees - when circumstances change contracts can just not be renewed

If they are a big organisation with tons of contractors, I think the way that they have done it is normal

I'm not saying its right, but I think it is normal

How many people are affected? I would probably expect a group email as you've obviously gotten, stating that contract will cease as from the date initially expected.

Sorry I wasn't laughing at the situation, I was bitterly laughing at the idea I'd expect an organisation to do the decent thing. Redundancy is a horrible time, I know, I am in the middle of it. Unfortunately large organisations often don't handle it well.

I see the actual numbers impacted were relatively small, so yes maybe they could have tried a more personal approach. I do, however, think it is worse when the news spreads by rumour which an email avoids.

I'm sorry to hear you were misled, sadly I've seen this happen a lot. Hiring managers tend to talk to their world view, but actually have limited control.

I hope you find something soon.

Would it depend on your contract terms?
if it’s a months notice , then you should be informed one month before termination?

also, if you’re there via an agency, it’ll be the agency that informs you?

@MatureStudentToBeMaybe was obviously being sardonic. You may well be annoyed with yourself for having jacked-in a permanent job for one which wasn't, based on all 'the signs' being there, but that's your lookout.

I'm really sorry but I don't know why you're surprised or even angry at this. Yes losing your job is never nice. But this is the nature of contracts, and if you go in under a contract then you know this full well. It is absolutely the norm, it is totally the normal way that a company would handle it and I wouldn't expect any more or any less than an email - totally acceptable.

Sounds hard, Op. Temporary contracts can be really fraught - I know in my organisation people on them literally get an extension agreed 2 weeks before they are due to finish. One of the reasons why I wouldn't accept a temporary position ever.

My advice is to never believe anything that you are told during the recruitment process that is additional to what is actually being legally and formerly offered.

Formally 😬

Thank you to those who sent supportive comments. I really appreciate it. To those that clearly don't understand how awful this feels, I hope you never have to go through it.

It sounded like a piss take to me but was obviously mistaken. You clearly don't understand how this feels and I hope you'll never have to go through it when you have a mortgage to pay by yourself.

I’d expect an email. No consultation required as it’s not redundancy, so either email or paper letter would be the professional way - a written record is needed.

Unless you all work in the same place at the same time an email is probably fine to ensure all know at once.

I don't think email is professional in this context but maybe it is these days. I suppose technology has taken over. It's going to impact about 100 people which isn't a tiny number.

'You clearly don't understand how this feels and I hope you'll never have to go through it when you have a mortgage to pay by yourself.'

Given that this is Mumsnet, I suppose I oughtn't to be surprised that there are posters prepared to write this sort of shit.

I'm a single mum of three and I've always paid the mortgage on my own. And it's precisely why I'd never give up a permanent role for a temporary contact, no matter how promising the signs. I work 52.5 hrs Monday to Friday, and this weekend I'll be rolling up my sleeves and working in a prep kitchen from 5 am to keep my bills paid. I've never been made redundant but if I were to be, I'd be bringing in cash because I'm a good cleaner and a good waitress. A good fruit picker and care worker on occasion. I'll turn my hand to anything.

@Outoutoutshout my initial response was flippant because I thought from the OP you were the employer asking for advice. I would have been more sensitive in tone if I realised you were the contractor.

My point remains that large corporates invariably handle these things badly, losing sight of the lives behind the numbers on a spreadsheet.

It does sound though like you were misled about the nature of your employment situation, and that is the real issue. Sadly mass emails of non renewals, rate cuts and enforced furlough are pretty common.

Trying to be constructive

• there are usually exemptions to every blanket rule. That may not be you this time but check with the management that there isn't already approved headcount for a perm role that is excluded from the hiring freeze.
• network. Every other contractor there will be going on somewhere new, make connections and they may let you know of new opportunities or recommend you. Do not lose sight of the medium term due to the challenges of the short term
• talk to your old employer. It may not be your first choice, but it's worth checking they have no vacancies
• get on the phone to agents, you have the rest of your contract to find something. Presuming your industry is like mine, in this situation don't worry about doing this during the working day in the office. Those around you will know you have mouths to feed.

I hope it works out for you, if you stay contracting you need to try and build a warchest so you can survive 6 to 12 months on the bench. If you can't earn a rate to save then go back perm as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

I am truly sorry your are in this situation and did not mean to upset you further.