Fear of change - Here comes Redundancy

Best of luck clueless1, I hope it works out for you, I'm sure you're saving a printed copy of the e-mail and any other "incriminating evidence" you can get hold of.

 

I wish you luck in whatever path you choose. I haven't checked the job market for a while but I know Surrey and Hampshire used to be about the best region for work, so hopefully you'll do ok.

Do you ever read the Dilbert gags? I'm convinced they were inspired by our senior management/HR. Do you watch the Simpsons? Our top gaffers are modelled on Mr Burns.

HR can't even get people's names right when it is spelt out for them. One lad exercised his right under the Data Protection Act to see all his personal data. He got about 3 pages back from them for all of his 10 years service. They didn't even know the basics of the Data Protection Act, and stated in writing that company policy was one thing, which is completely different to what the law sets down as a legal requirement. When I pointed this out one time in a group meeting with HR, the HR battleaxe tried shouting me down in front of everybody but when that didn't work (I sat patiently waiting for her to finish kicking off before resuming my criticism) she stormed out of the meeting and never came back. We haven't seen or heard from her since and that was a year ago.

 

Thanks folks for your advice and well wishes.

Today, after several weeks of soul searching, I made a big decision. I hope its the right one.

I've formally told my boss that I volunteer to be made redundant.

There is so little work to do here these days that it is a real chore to motivate myself just to drag myself into work in the mornings. I am faced with sitting at my desk staring at my screen with practically nothing to do. Most of those I worked with have already left, and soon the last of the good uns will be going to. The atmosphere is very negative and extremely boring, and those that stay will be leaving in the next round of redundancies anyway because the contract we support is about finished, so not being made redundant this time round is just a stay of execution.

As for what I'll do next, I really don't know yet. Obviously I'll have to get my CV in order and get my website up, and hound the agencies but no definite course of action as yet.

 

Best of luck, Clueless,

Making the decision is half the battle to moving on.
Suggest you get your "ducks in a row" but then relax and enjoy Christmas, not a lot of joy in pursuing jobs at this time of the year.
My best to you.

 

Clueless,

We'll send good vibes down the airwaves to you. I'm sure in the end it'll work out.

I think you should start your own business. I sense you'd do well. It's like jumping in the deep end of a swimming pool when you start but I'd say you're a good swimmer.

KS.

 

Redundancy is more of a "shock" to the system, than anything else, even if you did volunteer for it. I suggest you have a very nice Christmas and start your own company very early in the new year.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Thanks all. Not sure about starting my own company though. I'm not ruling it out but not sure where to start or what to do. I'd like to somehow turn my land into a profitable business, but no idea how I could profit from it without losing sight of the original goal of making it a natural wildlife haven.

 

Good luck with voluntary redundancy. I took an offer from my boss two years ago and it was the best decision I made. I was in a job I wasn't that happy with and fed up with the company. Luckily, we don't have a mortgage and no kids so I was able to take half a year off and devote myself to the garden...and have a think about what I wanted to do.

Two years on, I still haven't decided but I now work part time and while money is tighter, I think I am a lot happier.

And from what I've heard about the company, they aren't doing that well, so I might well have made the right decision, taking voluntary redundancy (and therefore much more money) than being forced to leave and getting a lot less.

Look at it as being paid to leave a job you aren't happy with

 

Funnily enough when this first came up I told the boss I'd be glad to go but they'd have to pay me to do so. My gaffer is a decent chap so he didn't take it personally (it wasn't aimed at him) but he understand where I was coming from and laughed in agreement.

 

What "to do" is up to you. I can't anyone making any profit from land unless you have lots of it, and the money to buy a tractor and the like (or, before anyone else says it, you grow something you shouldn't)

You hear of farmers moaning because they don't get enough money, or like wise if the crop being grown fails, so unless you have acres of land............... (but you may have)

Being your own boss is great, you choose when to work, what jobs you want, and who you want to work for you, its not that simple, but it is what the end result should be.

When you start you will take almost any work just to get some money, but no one said it is going to be easy, but its sure is enjoyable.

Decide what you are good at and like, then take it from there. (and post here for opinions if you like)

One piece of advice I learnt early on, if you want a shop or store, make sure that area needs that shop or store, people will open a "general store" round the corner from a proposed supermarket, then wonder why they get no business. A little bit of research would have told them "Besco" is opening soon, and people will go there instead.

 

Your boss sounds similar to the boss I had. He knew I was not happy with the company and it was he who offered me the voluntary redundancy deal.