Company announcement, what could it be?

[bluebag27]

In your experiences, when you have been told there is a company announcement, what has it turned out to be?

I'm currently off work, but have been told there is an announcement tomorrow and that I must attend unless it's absolutely impossible that I can't.

My first thought is redundancies. What else could it be?

That could be good news for you OP. Listen at the meetings would be my advice @bluebag27

May I just add that anyone can join a trade union, your workplace doesn’t have to be unionised. You don’t have to have a workplace union rep ( sometimes called shop stewards).

Your work place doesn’t to need to know you're in a union, but if you have a grievance or disciplinary you can bring your union rep to the meeting. Your employer can’t stop you as an individual being in a union, even if your empy doesn’t recognise one.

As long as you can afford £10- £15 a month you can join ones such as the GMB or Unite. They usually give you access to legal cover too as most unions have solicitors working on their behalf.

I’ve heard in instances where workers have brought in outside union reps and they’ve ripped the employer to shreds because lots of managers don’t understand employment law.

As long as you’re a member, a rep will travel to you for your meeting, even hundreds of miles away.

We have a Tory government, really consider being in a union.

My previous company merged and there was no real change for me on the “shop floor”, other than new branding, email address etc. Jobs in internal depts eg HR, marketing etc were impacted though.

I’ve always been in the position where I hated my job and was hoping for it to be redundancies - it never has been! It’s been either takeovers or obscure changes in company structures

Merger, redundancies. If its anything nice it tends to be an email. They're expecting questions (follow up meetings) maybe a takeover.

Can someone explain why women on maternity leave get preferential treatment when redundancies are announced? I understand not being disadvantaged but not sure why the law has been changed to give them preferential treatment.

I would imagine it's because in practice, they kept getting fucked over for being pregnant and easier to fuck over, and being told it was a real redundancy. It would be nice if we could trust companies to be truly fair about it but we can't. The extra protection shouldn't be needed for a level playing field, but it is.

I guess that’s the only way to guarantee that they don’t get squeezed out in their absence.

OP, is your company the larger or the smaller company in the merger?

FWIW, the airline I worked for in the ‘00s was supposed to merge—we went to all sorts of meetings and trainings, and it never happened. And the energy company I worked for in the ‘10s was supposed to merge—again, loads of meetings and joint initiatives, but it never happened.

Busted! didnt rtft!

Pleased its not redundancies op ;)

Been through two and in both cases my contract just rolled over, including salary, working hours, length of service, benefits etc.

I had a company announcement to discuss a man at the company transitioning to a woman and the name she would be using from now on etc..

Presumably because they're in a worse position than people currently working - they're out of the loop and so more likely to end up forgotten about.

Buy out.

Our last two were being taken over by corporates in the business and then changing our opening hours which affected lots of jobs and contracts

Been there twice - redundancies. I took one, on the other I was on a fixed term contract with an end date anyway, but both times the shockwaves through the organisations were profound.

Log on if you can, if not get a friend to update you during the meeting. The not knowing uncertainty is worse.

There are no mergers, only takeovers.

redundancy certainly is a contender
But I've also had change of CEO, profit warning, big negative news story (with instructions not to talk to the press), "friendly society" selling out and going all corporate (lots of staff were members so meant they got shares), death of a colleague (generally in a nasty way), manager being dismissed for fraud (loud cheers went up) and so on .....

From my experience:

• Restructures that could lead to redundancies and “at risk” roles.
• Redundancies.
• Someone high-up has resigned.
• Moving office locations due to running costs/rents.

Under the TUPE rules (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) you are required to keep the same contract terms.

They can try and renegotiate a new contract with you, but you would have to be in agreement to it.

When my firm merged with another, they wanted us all to sign new contracts and were very pushy, but I refused and said I was happy with my existing contract.

I refused because they were trying to extend my notice period and I'd already started job hunting!

https://www.acas.org.uk/tupe

Take over or going bankrupt.

It wasn't either of these.

Loads of people on this thread confidently stating "redundancy" as an absolute fact - except is wasn't.

Merger , new partners , and yes redundancies are possible

Because if this wasn't in place then people on maternity leave would be too easy to get rid of by unscrupulous companies - and have been for years.

Use the see all function to read at least op’s updates.