A chance of losing my job soon

Droolinggimp

Droolinggimp

Droolinggimp

Soldato
Joined
16 May 2004
Posts
7,601
Location
Derby
Hi guys. Current employer is going through a management restructure. I am a manager and have been for 12 out of the 14 years I have been there. We knew about it last year and we were due to start the phasing before Christmas but they decided that was a bad time to go through the process. No **** sherlock :rolleyes:

We have a few different phases we (managers) have to go through from a Written test, Numerical test and a personal questionnaire. Then it's on to the interview. Obviously automatically put forward to apply for the current job and then having to choose 2 others to go for in case you're not successful for the first choice. Also we can opt in for redundancy if we so wish.

During these phases we also have three one-2-ones which are a discussion about how we are all feeling and a bit on an insight to how all the restructuring works etc..

Last week I did my online assessment (tests), Department Phase tests (for the dept I am going to apply for), my actual interview (HORRIBLE, really really was). Now I am waiting on my second one-2-one interview. Then it's onto the third one and the decision.:(

Not really looking forward to it to be honest but saying that, I have ran the figures (I received a letter with the details of redundancy pay at my forst one-2-one) and taking redundancy WILL be more beneficial (providing I manage to get any job that pays £X per month/four weekly within 3 months of losing my job. Basically a full time job on basic wages, not managerial) to me even though I have just had a new baby boy.

I could be fine if I keep the job but loosing it may be the start of a stress free life and a new start elsewhere.:)

Anyone else been through this?
 
Do you like your job?
What is your job doing and can you get another one within the same sector or would you prefer a move?
Are your co-workers/managers easy or hard to get along with..

Few things id be asking if i got posed the option to stay or leave with some redundancy cash
 
Still chance of making the way up within the company but the wage increase is not worth it unless its General Manager/Deputy Manager which is something I will never do. I am on a fairly good wage considering my job.

As for my job, take a look at the Fish thread on La Cuisine;). I love my job, if I stayed/kept it I would be ok but not as happy as I would also be taking on another department as they are joining two together, with no wage increase. Co-workers are awesome. No issues with anyone them.

I think a change of scenery will be good for me and my family right now.
 
One of the best supermarkets I ever went in was morrisons in west kirby - great place.

Sorry to hear of your situation - that's a LOT of loops to jump through. Must be really stressful
 
Yeah pretty stressful but I tend to keep it to my self and carry on working. I can't let my staff see my stressed as it could have an effect on them too. I just come home and moan for 10 mins with my missus to get it out of my system. Carry on as normal after, if there is normal with a 3 week old.. lol

Edit: The redundancy is not guaranteed though. If I am not successful in any application they can offer me a full time/part time job elsewhere in store if there are vacancies. That way they get out of paying for managers redundancy pay by offering a job. If we don't want that job we either quit or work our notice then leave.
 
Last edited:
14 years is a long time to be with a single company. Maybe the change would do you good? Are there plenty of jobs in the industry?
 
I've been through it twice, and at the time it's a horrible position to be in.

Saying that, you've been there a while (as I had) and I looked at it as a kick up the rear I needed to move onwards and upwards. Sometimes we get stuck in the 'comfortable' rut and it stunts our progression.

Both times I moved onto bigger and better things, hopefully you will too. Best scenario would be to walk into another job with a nice big wedge of money in your back pocket :)
 
I wouldn't expect to have to do that after 12 years somewhere.

I'd prob take redundancy and spend the time with the new kid / job searching.
 
Worthy said:
14 years is a long time to be with a single company. Maybe the change would do you good? Are there plenty of jobs in the industry?
Click to expand...

A change will do me and my family good. I am not sure about wanting to stay in retail though. This is where the problem starts. I left school and became a Butcher and when I went to Morrisons I worked in the meat department and became assistant manager there, had a chance of moving up and took the Fish managers job when it came along. Been there ever since.

I do not know anything else apart from meat and fish. I'm good at DIY and that sort of thing and fairly competent in Computers. Maybe use some money to do a course.



McBain said:
I've been through it twice, and at the time it's a horrible position to be in.

Saying that, you've been there a while (as I had) and I looked at it as a kick up the rear I needed to move onwards and upwards. Sometimes we get stuck in the 'comfortable' rut and it stunts our progression.

Both times I moved onto bigger and better things, hopefully you will too. Best scenario would be to walk into another job with a nice big wedge of money in your back pocket :)
Click to expand...

Yeah it is comfortable there. A new outlook on life and like you said, new job, wedge of cash (most will go on clearing debts and paying off my Boiler installation) and new start..
 
Mrjobby said:
I wouldn't expect to have to do that after 12 years somewhere.

I'd prob take redundancy and spend the time with the new kid / job searching.
Click to expand...

Just because someone's been there for twelve years or however long shouldn't mean they're immune to having to justify their position though. I've worked in far too many places where someone inept is still there simply because they always have been. And as a result of being there so long they're often drawing a massive salary!
Note I'm not saying you're anything of the sort gimp!

I'd probably take it as a new opportunity too
 
All the supermarkets are at it at the moment. Makes no odds which of the big four you work for, they are gutting management jobs at the moment. A lot of people are jumping ship, to Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, Ocado or just completely out of the food retail business altogether. The recession was very good to the supermarkets, but the party is over and the hangover is kicking in. Executive wages and bonuses have rocketed over the last decade, paid for by massive food inflation and rip-off tactics. Now that prices are coming down (in part driven by more competition), those executive wages are unaffordable. By cutting low and mid tier managers, the supermarkets can save enough money to be price competitive without compromising executive wages.

I'm in a similar spot to the OP - my employer will be following suit over the coming months, announcement imminent. I've been aware things were heading this way for some time though, so I've spent the past year looking at what to do next. As B@Th*ng said, opportunities for growth are going to really choke up as a result of these moves, and to add to that, pay and benefits are likely to be squeezed. There doesn't seem to be much point in sticking around. I want out of retail, so I'm seriously considering heading back to Uni in September. I haven't had much luck applying for good (non-retail) jobs, so it looks like retraining is essential.
 
Last edited:
Nothing stopping you from applying for other jobs right now, why haven't you got your CV out there already if you've had warnings about this since Christmas? I'd get it out there now, just so you've got options...

Is there a Lidl near you? I don't work in supermarkets but if I did then I'd have been looking at moving to them a couple of years ago - they seem to be expanding while established stores are struggling at the moment.
 
Got Aldi and Lidl down the road. Also Aldi next door to where I work.

I have my CV nearly done. I started it a few weeks ago whilst I was and Paternity leave, not had chance to finish it yet. I have been asking around about jobs and also looking on various websites and also checking local paper whilst on lunch breaks.

I would rather stay away from food retail if I do leave. Any other shop work I could do easily, hell I could even sell BMWs. I am pretty good a sales considering that is all I have done last 29 years.
 
Start looking for a new job now. Jobs arent like women, you can be lining up the next one before you boot the current one.
 
Although in a different industry I've been through 6 restructurings during the last 8 years and initially I found them very stressful and let them take over my life. After the second one, a friend gave me an excellent piece of advice; don't let it get you down, the worst that can happen is someone will give you money to leave.

Obviously it's not fun and it should be taken seriously, but it shouldn't dominate your life. I'm not sure that moving you to a very different role with lower pay is a legally acceptable alternative to redundancy. My belief is that if the role you are offered is >30% different from your current role, your current role is effectively being made redundant and you have the choice. All the consultations I have been involved in are for 100+ employees where the rules change, so that may not be valid in your case.

If redundancy does occur, your length of service means you should receive a reasonable pay out at least. The situation is much harder if you've only been with your employer a short time, as usually you're entitled to little or nothing.

As dowie says, there's no reason you can't look for other jobs. Just be aware that if you are made redundant and resign before working your notice you'll waive any right to redundancy. Unless you are offered payment in lieu of notice that is.
 
Deus Ex said:
Start looking for a new job now. Jobs arent like women, you can be lining up the next one before you boot the current one.
Click to expand...

Surely they are just like women? I mean, you can be lining up the next job before you leave your current one, but you wouldn't want your current employer finding out. Pretty much the same thing with women, no? :D
 
Droolinggimp said:
I would rather stay away from food retail if I do leave. Any other shop work I could do easily, hell I could even sell BMWs. I am pretty good a sales considering that is all I have done last 29 years.
Click to expand...

Well I guess that broadens your options, I think if you were to sell cars then you'd have to start with lesser brands first and there would likely be a bit more pressure in an actual sales role than in a supermarket role where you're doing a bit of customer service/sales etc... You'll have to actually close deals in the latter whereas in the former your customers are already there buying various items.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom