Fire(d)!!!!!!!!

danielf · 04-05-2007, 15:48

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6624343.stm

skyblueheroes · 04-05-2007, 15:49

Man, thats harsh.

**Derek S** · 04-05-2007, 15:52

Harsh but better than sending them all a text message.

bopdude · 04-05-2007, 15:56

Whilst there is no easy way to tell people that they're getting laid off ( I know, I was 2 weeks ago ) I haven't got a problem in the way they did this. They got everyone together, in one spot, at the same time and broke it to them verbally, I had a letter pushed through my letter box, hand delivered. Not even a knock on the door and a we're sorry etc etc.

So whilst the fire alarm might have caused a bit of anxiety in some people, the end justified the means IMHO.

Xaccers · 04-05-2007, 15:58

Strikes me that it was an upper managment decision to sack everyone, dumped on lower managment to get the message out before it became public knowledge later that day.
Better to be told by the company than read it in the paper.
A brutal way to do it, but if it was about to be made public, then it had to be done.
The true blame lies with those at the top who left it so late rather than be able to do it via the post or other meetings.

danielf · 04-05-2007, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by bopdude

Whilst there is no easy way to tell people that they're getting laid off ( I know, I was 2 weeks ago ) I haven't got a problem in the way they did this. They got everyone together, in one spot, at the same time and broke it to them verbally, I had a letter pushed through my letter box, hand delivered. Not even a knock on the door and a we're sorry etc etc.

So whilst the fire alarm might have caused a bit of anxiety in some people, the end justified the means IMHO.

While I can appreciate they wanted to break the news on the spot, before it became public knowledge, the use of the 'Fire' alarm does suggest (perhaps wrongly) that management considered this a funny joke. Sacking people is not something to make jokes about.

bopdude · 04-05-2007, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Quote:

Originally Posted by bopdude

Whilst there is no easy way to tell people that they're getting laid off ( I know, I was 2 weeks ago ) I haven't got a problem in the way they did this. They got everyone together, in one spot, at the same time and broke it to them verbally, I had a letter pushed through my letter box, hand delivered. Not even a knock on the door and a we're sorry etc etc.

So whilst the fire alarm might have caused a bit of anxiety in some people, the end justified the means IMHO.

While I can appreciate they wanted to break the news on the spot, before it became public knowledge, the use of the 'Fire' alarm does suggest (perhaps wrongly) that management considered this a funny joke. Sacking people is not something to make jokes about.

I don't think they saw it as a joke, just a means to an end, after all, they're losing their jobs as well, don't think that they'll be to happy about it.

Xaccers · 04-05-2007, 16:14

How was using the firealarm a joke?
They needed to get all employees in one place to inform them before the end of trading.
Very difficult to do that when there are customers milling around don't you think?
Easiest way to get everyone together and clear the store of customers is via the fire alarm.

danielf · 04-05-2007, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

How was using the firealarm a joke?
They needed to get all employees in one place to inform them before the end of trading.
Very difficult to do that when there are customers milling around don't you think?
Easiest way to get everyone together and clear the store of customers is via the fire alarm.

I would think it may have been perceived as a sick joke by some. As in 'The fire alarm, isn't that what you use when you fire people'?

fireman328 · 04-05-2007, 16:20

I don't suppose it matters now, but the fire alarm is supposed to be ONLY to indicate an alarm of fire and should not be used for any other purpose, except for testing which should be at the same time and day each week.

jkat · 04-05-2007, 16:21

lol how cheap and low can u get??

bopdude · 04-05-2007, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireman328

I don't suppose it matters now, but the fire alarm is supposed to be ONLY to indicate an alarm of fire and should not be used for any other purpose, except for testing which should be at the same time and day each week.

Good point, being a business, wouldn't there be a direct alarm to the Fire brigade

Cerberus · 04-05-2007, 16:35

It could of been worse, they could of got Sir Alan Sugar to do it!

No seriously though, that is a shocking way to tell the staff.

I was laid off 2 weeks ago and we were specifically told prior to Christmas that there would be no more job losses at 3. Unfortunately, we were lied to.

fireman328 · 04-05-2007, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by bopdude

Good point, being a business, wouldn't there be a direct alarm to the Fire brigade

There is currently no requirement to link the call to fire service except in places of high life risk such as hotels and guest houses.
Some business premises are linked to a central station which calls fire service/police, in case of an alarm at the premises.

bopdude · 04-05-2007, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireman328

There is currently no requirement to link the call to fire service except in places of high life risk such as hotels and guest houses.
Some business premises are linked to a central station which calls fire service/police, in case of an alarm at the premises.

Thanks for that