I felt fine until...

I've just been to a small seminar for people who are about to be made redundant.

I didn't know I had a problem, but after listening to the CD they gave me I can now see that I should be depressed, I'm unemployable without their help and I should be feeling that I'm on the srcapheap. (it won't let me say s****heap) All this because I'm over 45.

BUT, I shouldn't worry because they are here to help. They give stirring examples like the 86 year old man with no legs who wanted to take up bungee jumping. So I'm in that category now; am I? I haven't noticed myself dribbling.

Bloody hell these people don't have a clue. The Manic Street Preachers could learn a thing or two from this miserable lot.

 

I've been there recently Rich, after 36yrs I was told last year ( by Kier) that they didn't need me any more.
Must admit that I wasn't told all that **** or given a CD, in fact I was told ****** all, it was just "push off we dont want you".
Supprising how many employers tend to like the "older" workers though.

As long as you dont dribble too much that is. :D

 

Hi, guys.Sheesh, I'm jumping in with both feet here.

I worked in this business for more years than I care to say. I had to make myself redundant once and I was 47 at the time ... I'll name Hozelock, familiar name? ... and I stayed on after doing everyone's pensions and they did not know that I was redundant also. I could have gone to Birmingham from Haddenham but chose not to and and went onto bigger and better things. Some years later I chose to become a Receptionist in the airline industry, which was the best thing I ever did. By the way, this was NOT the only time I was made redundant.

I have to say several things in favour of Hozelock ...

1) All the Secretaries / PAs were "older" and although it was "illegal" it was a factor in hiring and,

2) Most of the the factory workers were "older" ... experience is always better.

Rich, you have to decide yourself what you want to do ... no one can decide that for you and being angry with organisations does not help one iota, believe me.

You have to believe in you and what you can and WANT to do. You're holding the deck of cards, not them, believe me. I worked on the other side of it for 18 years in the UK and specialised in Contract Law.

You can always PM / e-mail me if you wish or tell me to mind my own business!

 

I'm with LOL on this Rich, forget the "caring" cd, with its implications - prolly shown for the best of intentions, but sounds patronising as hell. You were fine before the CD, don't let such an inconsequential thing spoil it.

Engage brain, study your terms and conditions and make sure that you get all that you are due As well taking a good long look at what you want to do and the opportunities to do it. I hope your payoff takes care of any immediate financial problems and gives you time to find what you want or don't want to do.

 

I'm totally cool about it. I've been in the computer industry for 37 years and told them that I don't want a job with the new company, not that they were going to offer one to me anyway. Just give me the redundancy money and I'll skip out of the door a happy man.

Believe me Fran and LoL I have spent many happy hours planning our future. We have too many plans to be bitter or angry about it, in fact I already have a contract to renovate an overgrown garden, and a plan for other jobs which will run alongside the gardening. This time next year we'll be millionaires.

It was simply the ineptitude displayed in the CD that made me sad, it is symptomatic of this awful caring, health and safety conscious, equality ridden society that Blair created deliberately that really saddens me.

OK, rant over.

 

Morning Rich ... you certainly sound more positive this morning, pleased to hear it!

Good luck with the gardening contract. You've got some beautiful plants and you enjoy them so maybe this is your new niche in life.