http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml en-gb 30 Thu 07 Jan 2010 18:53:46 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml?page=16#comment5 I was made redundant from a well paid bank job in my 50s,and suddenly became unpopular.?But Im the same person.So I bought some old plates and opened a shop on ebay.Now Im popular again,and the same person,and I can listen to the radio at work / I work from home.Thanks,bank. Sat 24 Jan 2009 12:00:51 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml?page=13#comment4 I was made redundant 11 months ago from a highly paid retail manager position. At home, we cut our cloth accordingly and made a number of changes.I have been looking for a local job (minimum wage even) just to make the shortfall in household income, but have been unable to find a thing.It appears that at 41 i am now on the scrap heap. Sat 24 Jan 2009 10:08:10 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml?page=10#comment3 My husband was unemployment for 3 very long years, but I always think you can make your own destiny, a job its just a way to make a living.If something shock you, you must use your head and soul to find something about it.We create a business, was not easy but necessary if you have 3 little girls. Sat 24 Jan 2009 02:51:58 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml?page=6#comment2 Chris:I know, it is like a bereavement session that will continuing playing for a long time...~Dennis Junior~ Fri 23 Jan 2009 22:03:49 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml?page=3#comment1 Further thoughts from a retired personnel spcialist on the stigma associated with unemployment ... ... I guess it's not really unemployment we're talking about, but dismissal, and what that means to an individual. For example ....If you have been in a job for a year and have been warned repeatedly about your poor timekeeping, or bad language, your dismissal (on the grounds of conduct) will not be a great surprise, and will hopefully be a spur to improving your behaviour.In stark contrast to this is the concientious employee who has been continuously employed with the same employer for, say, 5 to 20 years, who without prior warning, is dismissed on grounds of redundancy.Dimissal on the grounds of redundancy can be devesatating because it is so unexpected and seems so unfair.The irony is that dismissal is on the grounds of conduct or capability is, in large part, within the control of the employee. Whilst dismissal on the grounds of redundancy is totally outside the employees control and is (or certainly should be) unrelated to any issues of capability or conduct.And yet so many concientious people, are left feeling inadequate and guilty as a result of job redundancy.I guess one of the downsides of continuous secure employment, is that we can come to believe that only incompetent or badly behaved employees are dismissed ... and as a result we assume we have failed in some way when we are dismissed, because of redundancy.One little known legal issue, is that if a job is made redundant, and business improves within twelve months, to the point that the job is needed again, the original employee must be offered the opportunity to be reinstated. Failure to do this could lead to an Industrial Tribunal hearing where the employer might be forced to reinstate the employee or pay significant compensation.I suppose my point is, that an awful lot of the stigma and prejudice could be overcome if empoyers and employees were better informed. This applies particularly to potential new employers who might have mishaprehensions about what it means when a job applicant has previously been dismissed, on grounds of redundancy. Fri 23 Jan 2009 14:21:05 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/01/its_like_a_bereavement.shtml?page=0#comment0 I am retired personnel specialist and I believe some of the stigma associated with "redundancy" is generated by the way the word "redundancy" is used.The habit of describing people as redundant or as "being made redundant" is technicaly incorrect and can have a very demoralising effect on the those concerned.Put simply, Employment law describes redundancy as the situation that develops when a "particular job" no longer exists because of specified changes in a busineses' operation ie reorganisation, or a significant drop in demand for services or products.A job holder is then dismissed due to, redundancy of the job.Suggesting that people are redundant, implies that they have somehow become a lesser person. Repeated often enough, it can have a subtle but detrimental affect on an individuals self esteem at a time when what they really need is reassurance and encouragement.I would like to suggest that the media stop talking about "jobs being lost and people being made redundant". It would be more helpful (and more accurate) to talk about .... jobs becoming redundant ... and people seeking work. Thu 22 Jan 2009 19:34:45 GMT+1