Wish me luck.

[Deleted]

Hi folks

We've all been told at work to prepare for a "huge" announcement on Thursday. We don't know what the announcement is but we've been told that the board of HM Revenue & Customs had had to seek ministerial approval to make it ! Anyone who has holiday booked for that day has been told to come in, we've all been told to cancel any proposed meetings and my colleague who works part-time has been told that he will be phoned with details of the announcement as soon as it's made.

It's been well known for some time that they are looking to lose 12500 staff (about 10% of the current workforce) by March 2008. The strong rumour is that this announcement will be setting out the plans as to how that's going to happen.

The most likely scenario is that to save money and to get rid of staff, all local Tax Offices will close. The work will be moved to large centres and some of the staff will go with it. Other staff won't be so lucky and will lose their jobs although at this stage, they have said in the past that they hope to avoid any compulsory redundancies.

For me, obviously the worst case scenario is that my job will be cut. Almost as bad would be if my work was to move but I wasn't moved with it. I'd then be left fighting over few other jobs at my grade with umpteen others who are all in the same position.

Not quite as bad would be if my job was moved and I moved with it, although there is some suggestion that the work that I do might be moved to Norwich, which would mean a 120 mile round trip each day. I only hope that it's not quite as bad as that and it gets moved to Ipswich (a 50 mile round trip every day).

I know this is not of much interest to most of you but these are worrying times for me and I just wanted to share them with someone !

Thank you for listening

FA x

[lottielady]

I will have everything crossed for you on Thursday Hunny! I hope it works out that your job and you stay where you are now.



LL X

[Barbara]

poor you, my hubby had to go and work in the lake district all this year, 140 miles at 6 in the morning was no fun.
i hope its not as bad as you think,
maybe it's some other poor bu**er.
fingers crossed for you.

[Cheerypeabrain]

Goodness me Andy how worrying for you.
I really hope that all will be OK for you medear, everything's crossed.
<greatbighugsmiley>
CPBxxx

[Deleted]

Thanks ! The prospect of staying where I am now is slim to non-existant I'm afraid. There have been rumblings about saving money and "5 year plans" for a while and there is just no hope whatsoever that they will keep open an office of 40-odd people (that's "in the region of 40 people" not "40 weirdo's". Although......

The Department has got to make savings of £507m per year. The cheapest way to do it is to close those offices that cost a lot of money and sack lots of staff.

FA x

[4pygmies]

Um, how about you get made redundant with a HUGE cheque so you can retrain as a ranger and spend your days communing with nature? (Not being flippant FA but trying to be positive!) Good luck sugar plum. REALLY hope it works out well for you. X

[Chuckles]

Sounds similar to what I went through, Re org announced in March 2005 re head cuts and a deal for voluntary redundancy etc, if you applied for the deal you had wait to see if they would let you go. Took 13 months from start to April 2006 when I left, dreadfully stressful. Glad I'm out of it now

Will there be a deal FA. Lots of people took the deal and got other jobs or started up on their own, so they were quids in if they had long service.

You have my sympathy

[Deleted]

4pygmies said:

How about you get made redundant with a HUGE cheque so you can retrain as a ranger and spend your days communing with nature?

Hmmmm - it's a lovely thought 4P but it's about as likely as Plocket digging up all the clems in her garden because she's "gone off them" !

Being made redundant is a possibility. It's the HUGE cheque that's about as likely as Wayne Rooney winning Mastermind.....

FA x

[isabella]

I hope you get the news you want to hear FA - I will be thinking about you

Best Wishes Pam x

[Deleted]

FA

Sorry to hear what's going on at work, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it all turns out OK for you.
Who knows they might offer you a good deal and you could try your hand at something else - as 4P's says, I'm not being flippant.
Keep your chin Up

GH X

[Deleted]

Hi Andy
I agree with Isabella - and always remember as one door closes another opens although I know we dont always think so at the time.

My brother with 3 young kids went through the same experience recently and it's all worked out in the end.

Px

[Susie Snowdrop]

Oh FA.......I'm so, so sorry. I will keep every single thing crossed for you and will be thinking about you on Thursday.

S xx

[Jonah]

Yes good luck Andy, worrying times for you. Let us know how it goes on thursday.

[magrich]

good luck. hope things turn out better than you are expecting.

[anneliesje]

I will be thinking of you FA! <hug>

But as someone said : it might be possible that completely new doors open for you.

I hope you don't have to commute to Norwich. Driving long distances and coping with Traffic Jams every day, can make one grumpy and unhappy!

I even have my ears crossed (strange sight )

Good Luck FA!!

[JennyWrenn]

Whatever happens F-A I hope it is in your favour

Dont forget tho that some things are meant to happen for a very good reason

Jenny Wrenn <hug>

[Plocket]

Hia Andy!

It sounds very very worrying, but you really must try and think on the positive side. They can't kick you out without some sort of compensation, which will keep you going while you look for a new job. And let's face it you weren't happy and wanted a change anyway - this might just be the shove you need. It's tough when you are forewarned that something is going to be announced, especially when you know that job cuts are imminent, because it makes you worry all the more. But at the same time you now have a chance to take stock of things and be more accepting if they are going to make you redundant.

Stay cheerful, and you know we are here for you - don't forget to tell us what is said on Thursday!

Px

[piggingardener]

Hello Andy

I know exactly what your going through but please believe me, it may not be as bad as you think.

Last March I turned up for work as usual. I used to work on the other side of Birmingham which meant a train and a bus to get to work and 1.5 hours travelling time each way. I had been there for 7 years and thought I'd be there until I retired. I worked in the library of a well known charity and loved my job. Anyway, I was called into a meeting at 10:00 and told that my post was being made redundant as from April 6th. They told me how much I would be getting and then booked a taxi to take me home. I was absolutely devastated.

I appealed against the decision because I was the most experienced person in the role but it made no difference. I did however gain an extra payment for unfair selection via ACAS.

Things looked very black for me, I'm in my 50's and library jobs are now as rare as hens teeth. I struggled for 6 months to try and find a job but nothing came up and those that I did apply for were unsuccessful. Then a job was advertised in the local paper for an administrative role with a construction company. I applied and heard nothing for over a month. I had virtually forgotten about it. Then, out of the blue I was called for an interview. Another three weeks went by and then a letter arrived offering me the job. I have been here for just over a year now and work with some terrific people. I am only 2.5 miles away from my home and am able to go home for lunch. Admittedly, I don't earn as much as I did but the compensations far outweigh the shortfall. Also 2 months ago they gave me a substantial pay rise. My health is improved because I no longer have to use public transport, I have far more leisure time now, and all in all things have worked out very well.

As someone else has already said, sometimes things happen for a reason, and quite often things turn out much better than you expected. Maybe this is the "push" you need.

Good luck Andy, we will all be thinking of you.

PG

[mickthecactus]

Andy, I would like to reiterate everything everybody has said and more.

Really, really good luck.

[skarloey]

Err..... forgive me for stating the bleedin' obvious Andy but isn't this the kick in the @rse you have wanted?
You must be scared stiff BUT how exciting too? I definitely think things happen for a reason and you have told us a couple of times that you are unhappy in your work. Go on! Grab this opportunity with both hands and just think what you could be doing this time next year!
Whatever happens, I wish you the best of luck!

Skarloey. X

[borderbabe]

I sympathise with you FA - back in the early 90's when the housing market crashed I was made redundant 3 times in a year with various legal firms, but it worked out in the end. Like Piggingardener I now work a short distance from home and feel better for it. Fingers crossed that things work out for you.

[Deleted]

Hope everything works out for you, FA ... cheers ...

[Deleted]

Good luck FA

[Deleted]

Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement. They are very much appreciated.

The worst bit is knowing that there is something major about to happen but not knowing what it is. Oh well, only about 12 hours until I find out.......

I'll let you all know what's what as soon as I know any details but if it's as "major" an announcement as we're led to believe, it'll possibly be on the news anyway (especially if all local Tax Offices are to shut, which I think is a distinct possibility).

Cheers
FA x

[Cheerypeabrain]

Good luck sweetie. We'll all be thinking of you and hoping that everything works out for the best...<hug> for Mrs FA as well...she must be worried too.

CPBxxx

[Deleted]

Sorry to hear your news FA will be thinking of you tomorrow.
Everything crossed.

Regards Karen

[sweetleaf]

Good Luck FA
I cant say anything new, after reading all the comments I can only agree with them, you`ve known for some time that you deserve more, nows the time to reach out and grab it!
Ill be thinking of you tommorrow, post the news quickly, wont you?

[grannyjanny]

Thinking of you FA & hoping it's not as bad it could be.
Janet.

[Deleted]

Hi Andy,

Thinking of you today, Hope it is not as bad as you think!

Sara

[Plocket]

I doubt you'll read this before you go to work Andy, but I'm thinking of you!

<hug> Px