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Original poster

Support thread for anyone facing redundancy/made redundant

29 replies

willworkforcake · 21/01/2009 13:26

Anyone...?

DH has been out of work for about 6 months. I have just been informed I'm likely to be made redundant in the next couple of months. I know it's a depressing subject but sometimes I feel as though we're the only people in this situation and I know we're not. Also, the news doesn't seem to be getting any better with 2 million of us expected to be registered as unemployed by next month.

So, anyone else out there want to join in a thread to try and generate some positive vibes. How are you managing the finances? Any signs of the job market improving? How do you explain it to the kids?

OP posts:
saythatagain · 21/01/2009 13:35

Me! Or should I say dh. He was made redundant in December. Got another job but hates it so is working till the end of January. I know it sounds absolute madness but there are mitigating circumstances. He's signed up to all the agencies available. We are just keeping our fingers crossed.
Thankfully we don't have any other debt than the mortgage (which is dropping due to the mortgage type/climate).
Just writing that dh is walking away from a job sounds bloody ridiculous . I'm just hope we all get sorted sooner rather than later. My latest suggestion was a hospital porter or post man.
Its a terrible time for so many of us.

silver73 · 21/01/2009 14:43

Hi

I've just been made redundant and worried about DHs job. I have always worked full-time except when on ML. I am also worried that I'll never work again if I have too long a gap between jobs...

I'm trying to keep to a schedule but finding it hard but have managed not to put tv on in day!

Don't know what I'd do without MN

S

trixymalixy · 21/01/2009 22:16

I'm being made redundant this year. I'm now pregnant and I'm hopefully going to be going off on mat leave before they serve me notice. I'm really stressed out at the thought of having to find another job after being on mat leave for a year. it was bad enough going back to a job I knew never mind a new company. that's if i can find another job that is!!

DH works in IT another not very safe industry and there have been rumours of redundancies at his place which would be disastrous for us.

So you're not alone in all this.

Lazycow · 22/01/2009 11:53

Can't stop as going out but will post more later (more likely toimorrow as won't have access to internet for a while)

I was made redundant in October on 3 months salary so just had my last pay check. It is really hard to think about getting out there again. I was in my last job 11 years so I'm having to get out of my comfort zone somewhat.

saythatagain · 22/01/2009 12:09

Yes Lazy, dh was with the same company for 20 years, so know exactly what you mean about being out of your comfort zone!

Original poster
willworkforcake · 22/01/2009 13:01

Hello again

I've done 10 years with my company - mine was always meant to be the nice stable job while DH chopped and changed every couple of years.

Currently trying to do an application for a public sector job Any tips? I've worked for the public sector years ago and know that I need to really address all the details on the form but I've been at it most of the morning, blimey it's complicated.

At least I'm on 3 months notice so I have a bit of time before things get complicated - fortunately the credit cards are under control and the mortgage is pretty flexible.

OP posts:
Harimad · 22/01/2009 16:45

Hiya,

I've just been served notice for being 'at risk of redundancy', but tbh, the writing's on the wall as it's due to a european restructure and they've given us a list of vacancies they expect and none are things I'm qualified for!

What's really gutting is that we were putting off having a 2nd baby as I had a really busy year ahead and so didn't want to leave in the middle of it, and now I wish I'd just gone ahead and gotten pregnant earlier as then I'd be a bit more protected!

I'm hoping that my package will allow us to scrape by (thank god the mortgage rates have come down!) whilst we do try and have another baby as I don't want to have to look for another job then work the minimum time before trying again...

Gotta keep being positive...

Sunshinemummy · 22/01/2009 16:51

Hi - I'm on maternity leave but am planning to go back on 2nd March. Was called by my boss to advise me that they're restructuring an losing 500 jobs in my division world-wide (out of 6000). He's waiting to find out what his own cost-saving will need to be but they hope to have it all sorted by mid-Feb. I have one of those jobs that's it's easy to ignore the benefits of when times are tough, so I must admit, I'm worried.

Luckily, although DP's company is making a quarter of UK workforce redundant, he's been told he's safe.

saramoon · 22/01/2009 16:56

My DH may be made redundant in the next couple of weeks - if he isn't then his company (Honda warehouse) is shutting down for 4 months anyway and they are not sure of whether they are being paid for the last two months. There are rumours of it being closed til September. We are trying to spend less now so we might have a little extra in the spring when he may not have an income.
I am working and shouldn't lose my job. It doesn't seem like it will be easy for DH to get a new job either as i heard on Radio 4 yesterday that there will soon be 3 million unemployed and only half a million jobs.

idealist · 23/01/2009 16:28

Hi all,
any of you live in London?
will explain later if you do!
bw

MaryBS · 23/01/2009 16:33

We are "in consultancy" at the moment, but my office is closing at the end of March and all the work is moving to Carlisle, and then I'll be made redundant. In a couple of weeks people will be coming to learn my job, before I leave.

I work in Cambridge atm, part time, not megabucks, but it feeds us

LeninGrad · 23/01/2009 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryBS · 23/01/2009 17:27

We were told 2 weeks ago, no rumours at all (our office is actually in profit and has lots of work!). So 2 weeks ago, until the end of March (or earlier if we get sent on "gardening leave")

leakymoss · 23/01/2009 19:20

I'm 'at risk of redundancy' and will find out more on Monday. We've just lost loads of people on a Voluntary Redundancy exercise, we're snowed under with work and yet they are planning more cuts. I'm a Union rep and have been accompanying people to meetings this week where they've been informed they've been selected for redundancy. Some really talented people too. It's hard for everyone and my thoughts are with anyone in the same situation.

Harimad · 23/01/2009 20:21

I'm in London, idealist. Please explain!

Leningrad - our company had an incredibly successful year last year, we're on course to beat our targets this year and it's our predicted biggest year ever this financial.. Trouble is, they've also decided it's the year to restructure...

I knew nothing about it until my MD asked me in for a meeting last week...

callmeovercautious · 23/01/2009 20:29

MaryBS - what line are you in? I will keep an eye out for vacancies for you.

Sexonlegs · 23/01/2009 20:38

I was given the option of cutting my hours by over half, or take redundancy. Have decided to stick with the reduced hours, and look for something else. Part time HR jobs though are soooooo rare.

Good luck all.

CuddlyKelpie · 23/01/2009 20:47

Hi, I was made redundant back in October. I loved my job and redundancy was a complete kick in the guts for more than just the financial factor (I'm sure most can relate). I have found a job which I started earlier this year but I hate it.
Best of luck to all other hunters. x

swingsofglory · 23/01/2009 20:52

I was made redundant last July at the end of my maternity leave. About half my department were made redundant including me.

I've had a few months at home with my DD and I'm just starting to look for work now. It's pretty scary but I'm still hopeful.

I'm in London too - why d'you want to know idealist?

ellenjames · 23/01/2009 20:57

i was made redundant in nov and dh is at risk beg of march! Which is lovely timing as our dc3 is due in march!

Original poster
willworkforcake · 23/01/2009 20:59

I'm in London too.

In terms of timing, we're currently in "consultation" - something they have to do apparently if they're going to make more than 100 people redundant. The consultation period will last 3 months after which those of us affected will effectively get a months notice and then that's it. I may be lucky but given the area I work in, and what has happened in other offices, I'm not hopeful.

The thing that I'm struggling with is both me and DP being out of work. We always thought we had been fairly conservative in that we knew we could cope on one salary but to lose both... Trying to keep positive as I know we are in a much better place than a lot of people but it's a real kick in the guts.

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 24/01/2009 00:46

I think a lot of companies are using the credit crunch as an excuse at the moment to get rid of people.

JoandMax · 24/01/2009 10:10

I am on maternity leave at the moment but am in consultation for my job but 99% sure I'll be made redundant. I'm really upset about it as my job was ideal for a baby, I could of gone down to 3 days a week, it was 10 minutes from home, loads of nice nurseries around.......

I really don't want to end up having to commute into central London for a decent job, would be happy to do anything but childcare is so expensive I need to stay on the same salary or thereabouts to make it worhtwhile.

My husbands job is safe luckily but he didn't get a payrise or xmas bonus (which for the past 5 years has been great) so we really need some extra income.

Idealist - I'm in London, please explain!!

MaryBS · 24/01/2009 12:03

callmeovercautious, I'm currently working in payroll, but would prefer to get back into a more IT/technical sort of role, maybe software testing, that sort of thing (as I seem to have a knack for breaking software! )

Alternatively if I could work in a school with special needs, as I have a good working knowledge of Aspergers.

callmeovercautious · 24/01/2009 20:02

There is a great school for Children with special needs in Ely. I know one of the TAs there. She had no experience when she started. It might be worth contacting the schools locally and asking? She loves the work.

I will keep an eye out for you. Meanwhile try calling Cooper Lomaz, they are recruiters based in Bury but cover Cambridge, Ali is the HR person I have always spoken to and she is good, have used her as a customer as well and can't fault her determination!

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