I have worked for a building services in london for about 20 years (although i technically left in 1999ish for another job then went back a year later).
I started of as a CAD draughtsman drawing 2d M&E plans onto building layouts. I ended up helping with creating presentations too in powerpoint
about 15 years ago i was made CAD manager. in charge of the licencing and showing new staff members the way we did things as well as doing cad myself still
As i have always shown more of an interest in computer hardware and fault finding, i ended up first going round to bosses homes and making pc’s or sorting out laptops. then i was also made the IT manager, and was in charge of getting rid of our old in house server and migrating us onto a rented online server. not quite cloud which are usually virtual servers on the main server. we have out own specced up hardware. i also put everyones email onto MS 365. I also setup a VPN with some help (due to firewalls at the hosting company) for a direct link from the office to host. We can all work from home or anywhere else. we are in rented offices and were never allowed our own ISP so have always been lumbered with 5mb (compared to the 50mb i use with VM at home)
anyway back on track, we were informed today projections are very bad for this year, following on from poor work in 2012. We have a meeting next week where we will be told what will be happening to save money or worse. we already had 10% paycuts about 5 years ago. the pay has not been the best either. im 38 soon. I like IT. But i did a CISCO and MSCE course in 08 that went tits up and the company folded and left me and others high and dry with 10k debts to pay without a finished course.
I am petrified about leaving for another job, what happens about all the many monthly bills i pay every month? What rights do i have?
if you have me on FB please do not discuss this there with me. thanks
I would like to stay on preferably where i am as i thought it was secure. maybe there is a deal. just very worried.
All their advice on employment law is up to date as they are a gov.uk subsidiary. Don’t bother with Citizens Advice Bureau. You can phone ACAS with your individual question if it is not clear from their website what applies to you.
Mate hear and feel your pain…
Save everythin now so you’ve got a nest egg in case the worst happens.
Re-examine your outgoings and consider cutting the luxuries like Cable TV subscription, dinner out, etc.
Lean your finances up BEFORE anything happens.
Then get your CV out NOW, start applying. Don’t wait til you actually get the bad news and then spend three months feeling down and lost.
Update your CV, join relevant job agencies that could place you temporarily if the poo goes down, and get your CV out there… your skills are in demand, but the job apply and acquire process takes time… there’s nothing that can be done about that except by luck which you can’t make happen… but all the rest you can…
Good luck fella, hope it doesn’t go down the wrong route.
Don’t worry yourself with wild imaginings about getting another job - sometimes having a job at the same place for 15 - 20 years can convince you that you won’t get a job anywhere else.
Rubbish!
You have 20 years of solid IT skills - most of which are transferable and in demand.
Gear yourself for a rocky few months and even if you have to take a lesser job to survive you can use that as a springboard to a brighter future and move on after 6 months or so.
Be optimistic - you have all the reasons to be so.
one door closes, another one opens mate. when you get a new job you`ll wish you did it years ago. new environment, new people, hopefully more money - sounds brilliant! good luck!
In these situations when people say, “Every cloud…” it has the potential to make you vomit. However, the IT market is pretty good at the moment is so you may end up somewhere better, with better pay and conditions. I’ve been in a similar situation before and the opportunities that presented themselves were great once I got over the shock of not having a job any more.
With regards to redundancies (if this is offered) the first round usually get the best deal and having been there for a while you may get a good payout. Sometimes it’s better to cut and run, see what they are offering. If you get an ok payout consider finishing your Cisco qualification. My sister’s husband is a Cisco tech and works all over the world contracting and paying hardly any tax. There seems to be a strong demand for Cisco people.
As I say though, this is an opportunity although it doesn’t seem like it now. In my office me and 2 others used to all work at a previous firm and we laugh about how sh1t it was and how much better things are now.
+1 for contracting (although I am a greedy bastard and don’t take any bench time).
OK with a bit of luck, you may be made redundant. If the company does the process correctly, they will look atthe company staffing and decide which “positions” (not individual people) theyneed to continue to run their business, and which positions can be trimmed. If your position is considered not necessary after therestructure then your position is “at risk” and they may talk to you aboutredundancy options. Typically companies offer the option of talking voluntaryredundancy and often that can be the best chance of getting a good payout.Legally, if made redundant you will be entitled to statutory redundancy pay (cappedat £450 per week) of 1 week for each full year you have worked continuously. Thecontinuous employment period will be back to the “1999 ish” break in employment –so probably 13 weeks at £450 – i.e. £5850. However, that is just a startingpoint. You may be able to get them to pay you more, i.e. your full wages foreach week you are entitled (13 weeks) and you may even be able to get them torecognise the 20 years service. There may be other payments available too - itis a negotiation. One nice thing is thatthe redundancy pay you get is paid tax free (up to £30k) so that can make thepayout very worthwhile.
Now then. The silver lining bit. It is absolute BS that at your ageand skillset you are being so badly underpaid. However, that is probablybecause you have been then for so long that they know you’ll just sit there andtake it. If they were hiring for your position today they would probably payyour replacement a lot more than they are paying you. New employees OFTEN getbetter deals than those already doing the job (the market wages move on fasterthan the business wants to increase their wage bill). SO - this might be thekick up the arse you need to get yourself out in the job market and the chancesare that you will get a better paid job than you have now. So – if you have theright attitude (selling yourself) and determination, you could soon be sittingon some tax free money from the old job and finding yourself better paid in anew job. I hope that is how it works out for you.
DON’T underestimate or undersell your skills. I have a guy sitting next to me right now doing similar workto me at less than one third of the money I make. Is he one third as good as me, NO– it’s just I know how to play the game better. It’s unfair but that is how itis – so make sure you get what you deserve.
I run a Building Services recruitment agency. Beeby Anderson Recruitment. Sure one of the consultants here may be able to help on the contract or perm side. Send your CV to [email protected].
crap news but you’ve been needing this kick in the butt for a while to move forward with your career.as already advised get your cv up to date and put yourself out and about on the agencies.
I think you will be surprised how much in demand someone as skilled as you are.
fingers crossed for you that you can make a positive from a kick in the balls.
I know it’s easy to say with hindsight but I got made redundant 3 or 4 years ago and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me career-wise.
I’m now enjoying my work more, get paid significantly more and I’m in a position that feels a lot more well respected - plus i bought a new bike & put towards a deposit for my first house with the redundancy pay.
I probably never would have made the step up if I’d been secure in my job back then.
Well Apprentice is renewed for a couple more seasons those jobs must be fun! But seriously, good luck, I’m sure this will be a minor setback. I agree with everybody though, better to cut and run than hang around and see the company slowly collapse.
I know you were probably hoping for a different result (so sorry about that), but this will be a positive thing for you - I’m sure of it! Get the redundancy terms. Argue for the best deal you can get and get your CV out there…
The most important thing is not to panic, you’ve been there 20 years, so should get a decent pay-out, even if it is just the government minimum. PM me your email address and I’ll send you my interview prep notes - most of which can be applied to any job, not just the Political Lobbyists I recruit!
Don’t worry too much at the moment about getting another permanent job. You have a lot of skills and experience which would be valuable to the interim market - will be better paid and will allow you to gain experience in a variety of different environments, before you decide what you eventually want to settle down into. Seize this opportunity John to shake up your life.
Best of luck hun - in a year I am sure you will look back and think this is the best thing that could have happened to you!
But seriously, good luck, I’m sure this will be a minor setback. I agree with everybody though, better to cut and run than hang around and see the company slowly collapse.