Page 139 - Socially-responsible-restructuring-Effective-strategies-for-supporting-redundant-workers

Socially responsible restructuring
Effective strategies for supporting redundant workers

Future, which supports individuals in managing their job transitions and contains
a range of information about agencies that can be of assistance. Through
increased marketing and promotion, it is intended that PACE services will be
more accessible to individuals and employers.
Current legislation requires employers to notify the Department of Business,
Innovation and Skills if more than 20 of their staff are under threat of redundancy
over a 90-day period. This information is reported to PACE local response chairs
who contact the employers to discuss support. This has resulted in PACE
services being accessed more by this group of employers than those with smaller
numbers of staff at risk of redundancy. It is hoped that proactive work with micro,
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), combined with the use of the
helpline and improved website, will result in more individuals and employers, in
small-scale redundancy situations in rural as well as urban areas, accessing
PACE services. The PACE team in the Highlands and Islands (H&I) has stressed
the importance of undertaking proactive work with small businesses to offer
support, including to those who were known or believed to be in economic
difficulty and facing restructuring or closure. Recent work has included extensive
activity in the financial services industry and a range of other sectors.

6.9.5. Impact and effects
The outsourcing company stated that ‘the response from employees was
excellent’. An interim review undertaken by the outplacement resource centre
coordinator indicated that, by June 2009, about 180 people were still working on
the bank’s account, 80 had taken early retirement while around 250 staff had left.

6.9.6. Innovation and effectiveness
The main area of innovation and effectiveness related to the development of
good partnership practice between the internal team and the external PACE
partners (Jobcentre Plus and SDS), through a dedicated team. Further, the
outplacement resource centre invited local learning providers, such as higher
education institutions, to undertake presentations to staff so they could be aware
of learning provision. In terms of effectiveness, the outsourcing company
indicated that ‘the PACE team was instrumental in restoring confidence and lifting
morale’.

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