Making sacrifices for your company only for them to turn round and make you redundant - there is no loyalty on their part

[speedymama]

Recently heard from my friend who has been made redundant from her job in the city. It was a technical role in one of the city banks and well paid. She has worked long hours and even moved locations to accommodate their latest reorganisation.

Last year she started trying for a family (she is 38yo) and is having trouble conceiving. Now that she has been made redundant, she feels worried that she may have made things more difficult for herself by leaving it late to start a family. She also feels bitter that she was loyal and committed to the organisation but it has not been reciprocated. She wishes she had not delayed trying for a baby.

I personally don't think that she has left it too late because I managed to fall pregnant at 38yo within 3 weeks of trying. What I do know is that sacrificing your personal life for a company who will not think twice about getting rid of you is not worth it.

That is something the constant debate on MN about whether parents, especially women, should put as much energy into their careers as their family sometimes misses. Your family will always be there for you but your employer will quite happily discard of your services if it is economically prudent to do so.

That's why I work part-time.

Agree with Aloha btw - people should always always always put themselves first when it comes to work.

I know that sounds ruthless, but it's not, it's self-preservation.

I beleive that people need to understand that the reward for loyalty is payment NOW ie recognition via salary or bonus. If you choose (as I have done in the past) to work longer hours in order to further your career then that is a calculated risk you take. Do it with your eyes open and accept that it is a risk and they don;t owe you undying gratitude and a job for life.

Also the comments about good payoffs can also be naive - statutory redundancy is one week per year worked capped at £310 per week. So say ten years service would get you £3,100 tax free not a kick in the teeth but hardly enough to start a new life. And it won't last long in London if you have a mortgage and take a couple of months to find a new job. Of course companies can offer more but many many don't.

I agree with Lemonaid, you should make financial decisions with half an eye to this kind of thing happening if you possibly can.

One of my colleagues came into work today when he suppose to be on leave. He has booked the last two weeks for leave but only taken 6 days because of urgent work. He is a widower with two school age children. He still has 21 days leave to take by the end of July or else he will lose them. His annual entitlement is 30 days. He said that he has so much work to do that he is going to lose them. The man worked on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. I know the work he does because I use to do it before I downsized my career. The work can wait - he does not need to break his holiday for it.

What if your company directly helps people though?

I find this really hard because the NHS fucks you over IME and I am planning a career in it because of what working for it allows me to do.