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Socially responsible restructuring
Effective strategies for supporting redundant workers
6.10.6. Innovation and effectiveness
The experience of the pool is notable for a number of reasons. First, the scheme
provides services which go significantly beyond legal requirements, as well as
comparable practices in the sector. Second, the scheme was developed
internally together with employee representatives and was refined over time. The
scheme has subsequently been adjusted in the light of experience, as well as to
reflect changing market conditions. New services, such as the extension of
training portfolio, have been added to respond to perceived needs. The fact that it
was designed as a temporary scheme has also given it a certain dynamic and
flexibility. The competence pool is regularly evaluated and its working methods
and outcomes have been extensively disseminated in Finland and in other
countries, through the human resources working group of ETNO, the European
Telecommunications Network Operators Association. The HR department
dedicates time and resources to informing other companies, journalists and
researchers interested in the scheme. More than 200 companies have visited
TSF or requested information about the pool since then.
The scheme has a substantial profile and has attracted significant attention. In
November 2008, HENRY, the Finnish Association for Human Resource
Management, chose TSF’s competence pool as the Personnel Achievement of
the Year. HENRY assesses the pool as follows: ‘The initiative is now very topical,
not only in telecommunications but in other industries as well. It is an exemplary
initiative that reflects the employer’s responsibility for the employees. It is also a
truly innovative, unique initiative in Finland. Further, it has great social
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significance’ ( ). The aspect HENRY especially valued is that the operating
model has been developed in cooperation with employee representatives.
6.11. Anglesey Aluminium Metals Ltd, UK
(CASE STUDY 11)
6.11.1. Background and context
Anglesey Aluminium Metals Ltd (AAM) is located near the town of Holyhead on
the Isle of Anglesey in the north west corner of Wales. The plant has been
operating for around 40 years and is currently jointly owned by Rio Tinto and
Kaiser Aluminium & Chemical Corporation. The plant is a heavy consumer of
electricity and has operated for many years with a preferential agreement with
the power company generating from the nearby nuclear plant. However, this
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( ) See: http://www.henryorg.fi [cited 17.5.2010].
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