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Original poster

Being Ignored - Redundancy

25 replies

ramblingsonthego · 12/01/2021 02:09

I have been "at risk" since the beginning of December. The "consultation" closed on Friday. The whole process has been a farce as the boss knew exactly who they wanted gone, they don't fit with the new structure that they want. We were told back in the middle of October that redundancies were coming so its been a very drawn out process with a hell of a lot of stress and my mental health is at an all time low.

Since the group who were "at risk" (approx 8 of us) had been announced to the whole company not one of us has had any contact with any of the people who are staying. Not a single email, text or anything. No words of kindness forthcoming, literally nothing since the beginning of December. All those "at risk" were put on furlough since that date, but a lot of who we thought were work colleagues have our personal numbers so no excuses really.

What makes people act like that? Is it purely they don't want to be tainted by contact with us? Is it "survivors guilt"? All of the people I have spoken to have said how hurtful it has been. Some staff have been there over 30 years and we are all being just thrown under the bus without anyone even saying anything to us. If it was just 1 or 2 of us you would think it could be no one liked us, or a personality clash or something but literally all 8 of us have been ignored.

Can I ask others if this happens in a work situation a few words of kindness really do go a long way. Even if it was a text or email that said "I'm so sorry, I can't believe this is happening" would be better than the deafening silence we have all had. It has made a horrible process all the worse from thinking that you must have been so crap at your job or you are so disliked that not one person has reached out to you.

OP posts:

ivfbeenbusy · 12/01/2021 03:57

My company went through redundancy back in August - fortunately I was in the "safe" group but we were never officially told who was at risk so it made it very difficult to support anyone because we weren't supposed to know and also it was a stipulation from HR that bosses didn't tell employees who was at risk or not
Until the whole process was concluded? I believe this is very common when companies are going through redundancy. In fact I don't think there was even an official statement from the bosses even when it was over regarding who was working notice and when they would leave

It felt awkward to just ring colleagues (especially as we were all working from home) out of the blue to "fish" for information as to whether they were safe or not to be able to offer comfort/support as I felt it risked coming across as nosy and a gossip?

My colleagues in the at risk group had also been with the company 20 years plus and I know afterwards they felt very let down by the company afterwards

PrankedByLife · 12/01/2021 04:04

Have they got rid of the older workers?
More women?
What do the 8 have in common?

PhilCornwall1 · 12/01/2021 04:33

Since the group who were "at risk" (approx 8 of us) had been announced to the whole company

Whilst others would have known there were redundancies coming, surely the announcement didn't give a list of names of the eight people at risk?

There were redundancies a few months ago in the business area I work in, not directly in my team, but I knew exactly who was at risk, as I'm at a management level. Whilst the whole unit knew there were people at risk, they didn't know who was going until the process was over and the inevitable goodbye emails came from them.

Original poster

ramblingsonthego · 12/01/2021 07:48

Everyone knew exactly who was at risk as our boss sent out a new company structure with only the new job roles on them, when the 8 people had been told they were at risk. So everyone knew from just looking at it.

Have they got rid of the older workers?
More women?
What do the 8 have in common?

5 women and 3 men. All over 40 when the average age of our workforce is probably about 30-32. The 8 have nothing in common at all. All different departments and different job roles. Including some (like me) who are the only people to do that role in the whole company.

OP posts:

ArosGartref · 12/01/2021 15:06

In the last financial crisis, my company went through a series of restructures. There definitely was a culture of secrecy and also fear of retribution. Everyone wanted to pretend it wasn't happening and were worried they'd be next. It wasn't until I was in the "redundant" group I realised how hurtful it was but I don't blame my colleagues as it was a strange and uncertain time.

If there's only 8 of you, do you know why the process is taking so long?

Original poster

ramblingsonthego · 12/01/2021 16:24

@ArosGartref incompetence I can only assume. We were told middle of October redundancies may be coming. Then a month later told they were definitely coming. And then beginning of December those "at risk" were sent an email telling us. So for a month and a half everyone was paranoid. It did make me laugh how the lazy ones suddenly had to make themselves look so busy and the emails that they would send cc'ing in everyone the possibly could. I carried on doing my work, got praised in an external certification audit as having best practice and still get thrown out.

After we had the email it was then the consultation period. But it was purely an exercise to look good. The decision had been made who was going. There was no alternative jobs offered, no one had to reapply for their jobs, it was purely a we don't want you anymore exercise but we have to look good to outside sources so we will do a massive long consultation period because of Christmas etc......

I'm not complaining about the long time, it has meant we have got paid for longer, I am just very very disappointed that work colleagues have ignored everyone. We haven't got cooties! It really, really hurts and just makes you realise what a selfish world we now live in. I would never ever treat a colleague like that.

OP posts:

Teacaketotty · 12/01/2021 16:36

I was made redundant last year and nobody from my team said a word, not an email/phone call nothing!

Definitely changes your perspective!

Original poster

ramblingsonthego · 12/01/2021 16:45

@Teacaketotty

I was made redundant last year and nobody from my team said a word, not an email/phone call nothing!

Definitely changes your perspective!

I'm so sorry you have been through this as well. It is obviously very common. I just don't know why people do it!

I reached out to all those at risk and we have a WhatsApp group so we can all stick together, but they have all said how disappointed and sad they have been that no one else has contacted them. I have even been removed from my departments WhatsApp group lol. I dont know what secrets I am likely to steal but hey that's on them. If more redundancies come (which I think they will) maybe they will see what it's like from the other side.

OP posts:

EuroTrashed · 12/01/2021 16:47

I don't think it's just redundancy. The last time I left a job (after 15 years), people who I thought were my friends just vanished overnight. F*ckers. Short sighted of them perhaps based on where we've all ended up. Tant pis.

Theunamedcat · 12/01/2021 16:50

Your the only person doing that job in the entire company?

Parky04 · 12/01/2021 16:52

I was made redundant along with 14 others in December. Throughout the process no one really spoke to each other as no one knew who would be going. It was only on the day I left when I sent out an email saying goodbye, that people responded. I wish you well.

snowliving · 12/01/2021 16:55

Often management discourage communication about potential redundancies which won't help people reach out.
I also think people are often embarrassed and don't know what to say.
I once worked in a team where the whole team was shut down and we had a similar experience with the rest of the office.
The consultation is a legal requirement although it rarely changes anything in terms of the redundancy, although I did get another job in the same company during mine.

ArosGartref · 12/01/2021 17:00

I've now been made redundant 6 times and the process you've described sounds pretty standard. Try not to take it personally but I know it's hard when you're in the midst of it, I'm not trying to minimise your feelings.

It sounds like they haven't figured out who's going to do your work either but remember not to make that your problem.

Original poster

ramblingsonthego · 12/01/2021 17:00

@Theunamedcat

Your the only person doing that job in the entire company?

Yes I genuinely am the only one in the entire business doing that role. It is quite specialist and they have decided in times of covid that it is not on their agenda moving forward. Much to most peoples surprise as it is only going to get bigger and bigger on the agenda as we move towards 2030. I guarantee in 2 years they will be recruiting for that role again. It is too big on the national agenda for them not to. I won't be applying if they do

OP posts:

Original poster

ramblingsonthego · 12/01/2021 17:03

@ArosGartref

It sounds like they haven't figured out who's going to do your work either but remember not to make that your problem.

6 times????? Omg how awful. I am so sorry.

I have had some very dark days over this. It has never happened to me before and I have felt like an absolute failure. I know brighter and better days will be coming, just wish it wasn't happening during a pandemic and a worldwide recession!

OP posts:

ArosGartref · 12/01/2021 17:39

Well it worked out for me eventually so hopefully that reassures somewhat.

Galliano · 12/01/2021 17:43

To add another perspective I work for a corporate with a constant churn of redundancies. We’re really strongly discouraged from speaking to colleagues who have been made redundant for sensitivity reasons but once they speak to us we can discuss with them. You should reach out to the people you value both on a personal level and get anyone valuable to your network and future prospects added on Linked In.

Xiaoxiong · 12/01/2021 18:07

I was about to say the same as Galliano - my previous corporate jobs always said the same, you shouldn't contact leavers unless they contact you first. I'd contact people directly with your future contact details and expressing the hope you'll stay in touch on linked in - this will give them an excuse to reply, and moves it off company email accounts.

Rockbird · 12/01/2021 18:15

Funnily enough we were talking about this today at work. School office, 3 jobs changing into one and three other jobs gone completely. Those of us affected are very supportive of each other as we're a very close team, but those outside the group haven't said one solitary word. It's very upsetting. Not a word of sympathy or support, nothing. It doesn't help an already shit situation.

burnoutbabe · 12/01/2021 18:19

i always waited until the person had left and then reached out on linked in to say hi and let me know if anything they needed (i did payroll then but not the redunancy process)

Its awkward to speak to people at risk as you don't know what to say and don't want to sound like fishing for gossip nor that its clear who is going (as its not always obvious)

Original poster

ramblingsonthego · 12/01/2021 19:10

@Rockbird

I am so sorry you are going through this as well. It really sucks doesn't it? Maybe we all need to start a redundancy support group.

OP posts:

Rockbird · 12/01/2021 19:14

That's a good idea. I've never been made redundant before, had no idea what it was like to have to leave a job that I love. It's heartbreaking.

PrankedByLife · 12/01/2021 22:15

It seems like they have got rid of the so called older workers then.

Malibu295 · 12/01/2021 22:30

OP it is awful but it's also often people don't care or feel awkward in these situations.
I got told in a 5 minute phone call last May that they were considering redundancies to by the end of it, this is your offer you can decline but we don't have to give you this much so you won't get any better.
I called round my colleagues when it happened and I thought we were all close, 2 of them still check up on me now which is lovely as I was the young one in the team and the others haven't said a word to me since and I'm sure they wouldn't have done if I didn't call them!
The point of me telling you this is, it doesn't feel like it now but you are better off without all of them, they have treated you like crap the company have dragged this out and if they can't get over the awkwardness and send a simple text they're not worth thinking about. I'm sorry you're going through this OP but it will get better, stay strong and focus on yourself

WeAllHaveWings · 12/01/2021 23:45

Been there when I was made redundant after 24 years in same job.

People don't know what to say, how to open the conversation, are scared where it might lead, or not sure you want to talk about it . I found once I had broken the ice all was well again, but you need to be respectful they will have a different relationship /feeling towards the company /management than you now have.

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