Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock

[Digital Fanatic]

The last remaining staff this morning at Albert Dock have been told it's closing a month earlier, the 30th March.

good luck for the future to all the remaining staff You'll never look back

[Peter_]

The Albert Dock call centre will close on the 30th March 2012, I wish all colleagues still working there all the best for the future. :-)

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Peter_

The Albert Dock call centre will close on the 30th March 2012, I wish all colleagues still working there all the best for the future. :-)

agreed

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Peter_

Well if I worked for a local authority and it did that then I would not be working for it for long as that is taking money from people and in all likelihood causing hardships and the employees having to claim from the state.

If the was a local authority doing this somehow I think it would have made the national news as that would be scandalous and the chief executive and his complete team should lose their jobs, I also doubt they are giving up 5 weeks wages but them again on the kind of wages they are on it would hardly be noticed.

Most people don't have the luxury of being able to walk out of a job if they aren't happy. It is now so common that the national TV news would probably not find it noteworthy. Can you have imagined staff/unions putting up with this, even a short time ago? I suggest not, but both parties know they have little other option. I am pleased that, in the main, it appears that employees are putting loyalty to their employer and the needs of their service users before their own personal interest- these people are worth their weight in gold.

If you examine your new contract of employment, there is a strong possibility that it will be a zero hours contract.

Now you are a new employee, you will not have mainstream protection from unfair dismissal for the first year, it has now been confirmed that this will be increased to two years in the near future. These changes, many unprecedented, are coming in thick and fast.

Do I personally like this- no. But it has become necessary due to events outside the control of employers, employees and Governments. Mainly recession, the greedy irresponsible bankers (don't get me started on that, but the Government could never allow banks to fail, so had little choice in the matter) and other worldwide events.

You make a valid point about these changes meaning that some people will become eligible for state assistance. All of the employees under my direct control have been offered a "benefits check up". Reduced hours etc mean that some may now be eligible for Housing Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Tax Credits etc.

Originally Posted by Hugh

Google doesn't show anything on this topic (local authority five weeks unpaid leave).....

I heard this on Radio 4, which I normally have on whilst working in the office.

Originally Posted by Peter_

As above it would have been national news and the chief executive would have probably stepped down and be suing the government by now for loss of earnings.

How on earth could they sue for loss of earnings!!!!!!!!!!!!! They agreed to it

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Well there's this and this too. Just the first few google results. Don't claim to have read them. I'm sure you'll find it if you dig deeper (providing it's true of course).

There's nothing illegal about unpaid leave or working only part of the year. For some jobs it's already pretty standard. Using it as a cost cutting tool isn't new either.

Indeed, rather than getting bogged down in figures, the salient point is that this is actually happening right now.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

How on earth could they sue for loss of earnings!!!!!!!!!!!!! They agreed to it
.

They'd have a case for constructive dismissal for sure. Just because an employer gets you to agree to it, doesn't make it legal.

[RichardCoulter]

Yes, that's a fair point, if an employee believes that there has been an incident of Constructive Dismissal, they are entitled to take this to an Employment Tribunal (ET)*.

To be honest though, I doubt that the ET would rule in favour of the employee if evidence was produced to show that this was a decision to keep the business viable, rather than anything personal towards an individual.

*Changes are afoot by the Government to reduce the number of cases actually going before an ET and to prevent spurious and/or malicious complaints. Many, including the increase to a two year qualifying period, begin on 6 April 2012.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Yes, that's a fair point, if an employee believes that there has been an incident of Constructive Dismissal, they are entitled to take this to an Employment Tribunal (ET)*.

To be honest though, I doubt that the ET would rule in favour of the employee if evidence was produced to show that this was a decision to keep the business viable, rather than anything personal towards an individual.

*Changes are afoot by the Government to reduce the number of cases actually going before an ET and to prevent spurious and/or malicious complaints. Many, including the increase to a two year qualifying period, begin on 6 April 2012.

Yes, this Con-Dem government is eroding employees rights

[Hugh]

Has the draft legislation been passed yet?

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

How on earth could they sue for loss of earnings!!!!!!!!!!!!! They agreed to it

You misread that comment, it was aimed at the Chief Executive not the staff.

---------- Post added at 17:35 ---------- Previous post was at 17:31 ----------

I also believe that this thread can now be closed now that we know the date of the closure as it has been taken totally off track on more than one occasion and as we now know the fate of the workforce still employed on the 30th March we can safely condone this thread to the wilderness as we do not want more silly comments on the loss of 435 jobs with the closure of the Albert Dock.

I am now looking to the future in my new position in what seems to be a good place to work.

I am unsubscribing from this thread as it no longer has any relevance and is being used for ulterior purposes.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Has the draft legislation been passed yet?

Not yet, Hugh. I really hope it doesn't either

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Yes, this Con-Dem government is eroding employees rights

Yes, but it's not a bed of roses for employers either. Employers found to have unfairly dismissed someone face higher fines.

In my opinion, once the malicious/spurious complaints have been weeded out (at the moment, some employees make a complaint that they know will fail just to spite their former employer) there will be a higher success rate, especially as fees are being introduced in order to ensure only serious and legitimate complaints are heard.

Originally Posted by Hugh

Has the draft legislation been passed yet?

I assume it must have done, as it's going ahead. I'll know more after a training course later this month.

Originally Posted by Peter_

You misread that comment, it was aimed at the Chief Executive not the staff.

---------- Post added at 17:35 ---------- Previous post was at 17:31 ----------

I also believe that this thread can now be closed now that we know the date of the closure as it has been taken totally off track on more than one occasion and as we now know the fate of the workforce still employed on the 30th March we can safely condone this thread to the wilderness as we do not want more silly comments on the loss of 435 jobs with the closure of the Albert Dock.

I am now looking to the future in my new position in what seems to be a good place to work.

I haven't a clue what you're talking about Re: Chief Exec.

Re: "Silly comments" A little knowledge is worse than none at all.

I believe that whether this and/or the free gift thread is closed (or even "condoned") is a matter for the Cable Forum Team.

Are you in post with your new job yet? If not, you (and other former VM staff) may find this thread useful: [mod edit: Link to closed thread removed]

[Kymmy]

No need for a new thread, this thread can be used to cover the small point you wished to make. New thread closed

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

No need for a new thread, this thread can be used to cover the small point you wished to make. New thread closed

May i also refer you Kymmy to this post i made earlier

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35394966-post108.html

quoted below for clarity

Originally Posted by Sirius

Gets my vote but what will be the next reason for the continued questioning of VM staff on here about there employer employee relationship

Anyway i am out of this thread now there is nothing further that can be said or asked.

[RichardCoulter]

This post makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[RichardCoulter]

For any staff that may have missed an important piece of advice relating to their future employment protection rights at work, it is reproduced below:

"Today it was confirmed that Albert Dock will close on 30 March, which is a Friday.

For any of you starting new jobs, try to accept/get your start date before 6 April 2012.

Hopefully, anyone who has successfully obtained new employment, will probably be starting on Monday 2 April.

This is because new, less generous, employment right rules come into force on 6 April 2012.

Those starting before this date will continue to have some protection under the old rules.

The best of luck!"

The present Government is to introduce a whole new raft of legislation, some will be welcomed by most decent thinking people eg sexist remarks are to be made a criminal offence.

Others, I suspect, will not be so warmly welcomed eg introducing a financial charge to employees wishing to use the services of an Employment Tribunal.

I hope this is helpful.