Page 122 - Socially-responsible-restructuring-Effective-strategies-for-supporting-redundant-workers

Socially responsible restructuring
Effective strategies for supporting redundant workers

All occupations in manufacturing and related administration are affected
roughly equally by the redundancies. Positions in development and engineering
services can be considered safe, as well as tool and chassis manufacturing,
albeit to a lesser extent. This is due to the strategic reorientation of Karmann
towards development and production of specific car parts. Since it is mandatory
to base the decision on whom to lay off also on the individual social situation,
protection of vulnerable groups is ensured to some degree. There is no
comprehensive insight on how upstream companies are affected by the
restructuring; it is known from some closely-related suppliers that they are not
planning redundancies.
Preparation time in the current restructuring round was very short because of
the rapidly deteriorating company situation and the looming insolvency. On
earlier occasions, there had been a period of around six months between the
decision on restructuring and the conclusion of the social plan. The operations of
the transfer company, however, usually started before this date. The transfer
service provider Silberstreif has run all transfer companies. While the set-up of
the first one had taken about six weeks, preparation time now has been
significantly shorter thanks to the acquired familiarity with Karmann’s specific
situation.

6.6.3. Restructuring practice and processes
There has been no properly internal support in terms of guidance and counselling
measures for employees threatened by lay-off. Support was given only in the
context of the transfer company and has always been carried out by the external
provider Silberstreif.

6.6.4. Cooperation and external capacity
The transfer services provider Silberstreif was contracted for the whole set-up the
transfer companies. It offers the following specific services:
(a) individual counselling consists of detailed weekly discussions with a
personal adviser are mandatory. Great emphasis is placed on this measure,
which is seen as the basis from which all other support activities are planned
and developed;
(b) job application training includes rehearsal of specific situations, advice and
support on formal application matters, networking training;
(c) advice, counselling and training on business start-up is also provided;
(d) at job fairs, organised visits to other companies’ sites; possible employers
are invited to present themselves to transfer company members;

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