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--- Jane Carnall <jane -dot- carnall -at- digitalbridges -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Okay, I've just been told I'm "at risk of redundancy"... and unless I or the
> company can think up some "cost-cutting measures" by Friday, I'll be
> formally redundant.
Did they give you a target, either explicitly or implicitly? For example, if the
company has announced a goal of reducing costs by 10%, unless they gave you a
different target that you haven't shared with us, I'd look at how I could show them
a 10% cost savings. So, the first thing I think you want is a target. Then you can
consider your options and what you want to do.
> Assuming that they mean it when they say "cost-cutting measures" - my first
> thought is to offer to go part-time. Working two days (or three days) a week
> would give me a safety net plus spare time to try and build-up freelance
> technical writing/copyediting/indexing work, which is something I've been
> thinking of doing for a while.
Second thing might be to offer then a rate or salary reduction equal to the cost
saving target they're trying to hit. I guess you have to consider what you want to
do--that is, do you WANT to go freelance?--and what you can afford to do.
I may be wrong (often am), but aren't there set rules about redundancy in the UK? If
they make you redundant, do that have to pay you so much for so long? Would that be
more beneficial to you than cutting some sort of deal?
Also, what's the employee culture like there? Will everyone go along with a 10% pay
cut to keep their jobs? Or would many people prefer to take their chances of being
in the 90% to keep full pay and benefits?
> (My second thought is, of course, to go home, polish up the CV, start
> URGENTLY sending it out to all and sundry. The two thoughts can, of course,
> be carried out in parallel.)
And should be. Always keep your options open.
=====
Tom Murrell mailto:tmurrell -at- columbus -dot- rr -dot- com http://home.columbus.rr.com/murrell/index.html Last Updated 08/30/02
--Never underestimate the power of the human mind to hear what it wants to hear, read what it wants to read, see what it wants to see, and believe what it wants to believe.--
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