Redundancy - two sides of the coin

In spite of my comments in my last blog, decrying the doom merchants in the current economic climate, it is a sad reality that redundancy is a fact of life in business and is likely to be playing a more prominent role in many companies over the next few months. It is crucially important for everyone concerned, that the process is handled with a degree of sensitivity and to ensure that it is transparent, fair and that due respect is afforded to those involved. It is also helpful if staff in the unenviable position (trust me I know from experience, it is not pleasant!) of acquiring the P45 ahead of expectations, can be given information and advice about what they can expect once let loose again in the jungle that is the employment market.

This is a subject that is very close to my heart and so much so that I am soon adding a new page to the website expanding on the theme and outlining practical assistance that I can give to companies and individuals involved in such scenarios. How am I qualified to do this?

When I started establishing a Personnel and Training Department for a major fashion retail chain during the 80's, one of the first jobs I had was to savagely prune staff from shops all over the country where the term 'staff structure' had clearly escaped any notice whatsoever. It was a baptism of fire where commercial necessity had to be tempered with a sensitive though professional approach. I was also, comparatively recently, very closely involved with several redundancy scenarios (they called them 'events' which I always found bizarre!) within Esso Petroleum and although in the latter case, there was some effort to provide a measure of support to the P45 brigade post Esso, nowhere in the process was there any preparation for the realities and practicalities which need to be faced up to. Given the potential scale of redundancies across the region, my belief is that this is ever more important. I went through a learning curve that resembled vertical take off and I can assure you that it is not to be recommended.

So look out for the new page! In the meantime, if it is an issue for you or a potential issue and you would like an informal discussion, please get in touch - I am always pleased to hear from any business in the South West!

Recession! Doom and Gloom! Not!!

A Client of mine asked me a little while ago how I felt about all the talk of recession. He was in the middle of implementing bold expansion plans involving significant investment. Easy to appreciate his concerns. he was a little surprised, I think, at my response! Whilst it is important in any business to keep a firm grasp on reality, I do believe that the gloom mongerers are making bad matters worse. To me, the flip side of the undeniably worrying times we are currently experiencing, is opportunity. It is a sad fact that when things are going well, we are inclined to take certain things for granted and complacency creeps in. It is perhaps no bad thing, then, that concerns over future economic stability are forcing so many companies to address this.

Carefully considered strategies need to be worked out to ensure any potential crisis is survived and the business emerges on the other side. This means some tough questions have to be asked - and answered. This doesn't just mean knee-jerk reactions such as cutting back the workforce or making other false economies. It is a well worn cliche and I have referred to it before on this blog, but there is a need to 'work smarter not harder.' Reducing staff numbers is an option but so is improving effectiveness and productivity through staff training and development. Too often management in companies are too close to the day to day minutiae and the fire fighting so often required to be able to step back and take an objective view of their business - hence the need for people like me.

Sales & Marketing activities are crucial at any time but especially when companies are competing for increasingly elusive business. Don't slash your advertising budget; explore alternative promotional activities (of which, there will be more news here soon - watch this space!) And what of your core business? Can you diversify? Can you expand your market - have you considered exporting? Are you fully exploiting internet opportunities?

There are no quick and easy sure fire solutions and many of the issues are outside of our control anyway - take the price of fuel for example, and its impact on most of our bottom lines. However, whilst we can't control the price of fuel, we can certainly handle the impact of it and take steps to mitigate it.

Flip the coin, I say; ask questions, explore options and turn the doom and gloom of recession into positive opportunity. And if you aren't sure what questions you need to be asking or don't have the time to review your situation, give me a call and we'll take it from there!