Society & Culture

What to do when faced with redundancy

Society & Culture

Posted by: Jayney63

24th Sep 2011 04:07am

You are a sole office administrator in a small company. Your employers wife informs you that she is going to "outsource" the accounts and therefore your services will no longer be required. Formal notice has not yet been given but will be. Your job involves much more then just the accounts and you are alone in the shop 60% of the time, sometimes all day. You suspect that the "outsource" is going to be the employers daughter or daughter-in-law. What would be your next step?

DeNiro
  • 19th Oct 2011 10:46pm

This has happened to me a few times and I've always found it best to focus on fixing the problem by finding a new position asap rather than brooding on the perceived injustice. Speculation about who will be taking over from you is pointless and irrelevant after all, as your employer has every right to replace you so long as you are given sufficient notice and appropriate redundancy pay. If they do give you a reason that pertains to your performance then the first question you should ask yourself is 'Could they be right?' First off, visit Centrelink to see if you may be eligible for any assistance. I found the job agency to which they referred me very helpful in providing practical advice and the free use of their phones and office equipment. Then update your resume and send it to every conceivable future employer with an appropriate covering letter. Take the trouble to ring each of these firms first however, to ascertain to whom the letter should be addressed and that person's exact job title. (It may not be precisely the same in each firm). If you can't afford professional help in composing and presentation of these documents then ask around family and friends for constructive criticism and advice. And whilst you're on the subject of jobs, ask if anyone knows of any positions which may be available. Always aim to arrive for interviews at least 30 minutes in advance to allow for traffic holdups/getting lost/car breakdown/whatever. And, of course, dress immaculately in smart business style (ie a suit) in colors that suit you but aren't too flashy. And if you do wear jewellery make it just one or 2 understated pieces. Last of all, don't get downhearted if you don't get a new job soon. It took me several months to find my last position (being 55 didn't help) but I was happy there and stayed till I retired about 6 years later. If you need to slash your spending in the interim (I certainly had to!) here are a few tips:

1. Unplug all electrical devices when not in use, except of course the fridge/freezer and clock radios. Don't worry if the clock on the microwave gets confused - check your watch instead. Also, turn off all lights when you leave the room and use a fan instead of air conditioning. Keep all your blinds and curtains drawn when it's very hot.

2. Pay your rent/mortgage first, then the bills due before your next Centrelink payment, then use what's left for food.

3. Buy only basic ingredients and cook everything from scratch - eg no cakes/biscuits/prepared sauces or flavorings/frozen or dehydrated meals.

4, Rice, pasta and bread are filling and cheap but supplement with at least a little fresh fruit and vegetables every day to keep healthy.

5, Tap water is still the cheapest way to slake your thirst.

6, Stop buying meat, or at least stick to only sausages and the cheapest mince.

7. Cut out icecream and sweets.

8. Every time you shop buy 1 extra pack of rice or pasta if you can - there may be some fortnights when what's already in the kitchen is all you'll have to eat for the next 2 weeks.

8. Finally, best of luck. Stay dogged and KEEP YOUR CHIN UP! Bad times never last for ever.


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