AIBU to go to the press about my company and their conduct?

[LegallyComplicated]

Am a regular and have name-changed for obvious reasons.

My company (a multi-national company, well known in this country) are in the process of 'restructuring' their staffing system. However, it's not restructuring, they are re-writing contracts and if staff cannot fit in with those new contracts or are not willing to take the alternative employment offered, they are being more or less forced to hand in their notices so that they don't have to pay redundancy.

There are a lot of employees talking of going to tribunal. Several at management level have walked out. The jobs vacancies list for our company is 5 A4 sheets worth of print-outs, whereas there is normally half a page. So many people have walked out because they cannot cope with the intimidation tactics that the company is using. They are getting away with treating so many people in a very unprofessional manner. We have been told that we are not to discuss the matter with ANYONE, including other colleagues going through this 'consultation' process, family members etc. I am very, very surprised that it hasn't come out in the press already, to be honest.

A few of us are keen to expose the company. I may not have explained all of this very well, so am more than happy to expand on anything I have written here. I am sorely tempted to whistleblow on this. AIBU?

W..mart?

That's what my asterisk fail post was suggesting, PP! Most likely contender I can think of.

None of those either... think more clothing than frozen joints of beef.

allis

arehouse

Op that sounds shocking! Has anyone been to see an employment lawyer? If you are protected I would definitely whistle blow

catgirl I thinks it's allis too been rumours of administration for a while

Catgirl has it, but not Wannabe.

It's presumably Waterstones who are re-structuring.

Wannabe, a few of them have been talking to ACAS.

Where is your House, grovel?

I am the world's wrost riddle-writer.

Ah.....

that one.

My phone is in the car.

The most frustrating thing is all that they are bothered about is keeping up appearances for the customers that they ritually rip off (£42 for a viscose jumper, anyone?) They've also just spent £500,000 on a stupid knit-bombing window campaign. Nice.

That explains the fantastic sales!

Are you having much luck finding something else?

Yes, I've found a job, thanks for asking Wannabe. :)

Just feel very sad for the managers and others who've been loyal to the company for years, only to be shat on from a great height. Many of those who've walked out have nothing else to go to. That says a lot about how horrible it is to be at work at the moment...

If your down south quiz clothing are doing quite a bit of recruiting. I worked for them and their ethos was very different to warehouse, their manager was always doing conference calls and paperwork and my main job was providing a personal shopping experience

Ahhh. Thanks Wannabe.

I'm actually not retail based, or else I would have looked into that. I will definitely pass that on though.

I was thinking Walmart.

Do it, create an email account and email newspapers and radio, choose national and local to head office.

I don't shop there anyway but I would definitely boycott them if I did.

Maybe we should start a new thread? Power of Mumsnet and all that...

Gosh, for a minute there I thought you were talking about my old employer (large airline, multiple strikes anyone?). Honestly, this stuff seems to go on everywhere behind closed doors, however 'ethical' and 'family friendly' they may appear to be on the surface. Grrr. Glad you have found a better job OP - though it still grates that they can get away with this kind of behaviour. Whistleblow if you can - though definitely anonymously.

Oh, I would definitely do it anonymously. Would any newspaper take me seriously, though? I could just be an ex-employee with sour grapes for all they know.

I'm afraid to say that this is now pretty standard procedure and I doubt you'd get any press interest.

The only reason I can think that the national press might be interested is if it was a company that pride themselves on their ethics and fair play.

Worth a shot but don't hold your breath.

This happen to me last year, as long as they hold the consulation process, appear as if the are looking to offer you an alternative role, they are able to do this.

They won't offer redundancy as the roles will presumably still exist, they will just involve a different shift pattern/weekends.

All I received was 12 weeks pay in lieu of notice, which apparently is the max allowed.

Not much Helping Eau to love her home with no bloody income

I'd do it.