Personnel structure changes

Further details of HR restructuring have been given to union representatives.

The trade unions met with management on 14 March to hear details of the next stage of the HR (Human Resources aka Personnel) restructuring. HR was faced with a 22 per cent reduction in costs which would lead to the loss of 60 to 70 people.

London

In London, the transfer of HR Advisors to Henry Wood House would be achieved without any compulsory redundancies and, amongst HR managers, a number had expressed an interest in voluntary redundancy. The excess fares policy would apply to those who incurred extra expense in transferring to Henry Wood House.

Outside London

In the Nations, there would be no compulsory redundancies.

In the English Regions, there would be some relocation from the island sites to the main centres (Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester). Some staff would be redeployed but there would be a remainder of about six people who would have difficulty in being redeployed.

The process is now under way of filling positions in the main centres. There are additional recruitment administration posts in Bristol and the possibility of training and development administrative posts. Staff are being asked their preferences and senior HR management hope to achieve reductions without compulsory redundancies. There will not be any enforced relocation.

The unions asked why people could not be kept on island sites given the increased use of Internet/email communications.

Replying for management, Lesley Hopkins said that HR needed a critical mass in the three main centres. It would be difficult to enforce new standards and ways of working if staff were in remote positions. Customers would now be from the whole region.