Latest news with #redundancy
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fears over 90 jobs at supplier to bus maker Alexander Dennis
Nearly 100 workers at a Fife firm that supplies parts to bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis have been told they are at risk of being made redundant. Dunfermline-based Greenfold Systems told 90 members of staff on Friday that their jobs could go as a knock-on effect of Alexander Dennis planning to move its operations to England. Greenfold Systems constructs the sides, interdecks and roofs of buses for the Alexander Dennis factories in Falkirk and Larbert. Business and Employment Secretary Richard Lochhead said he was "very disappointed" to learn about the job threat and offered Scottish government assistance to the firm and its workers. Earlier this month, Alexander Dennis announced it was planning to move its full operation to a site in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The plan would see its sites in Falkirk and Larbert close with the loss of 400 jobs. The wider economic impact of any closure would be felt among the suppliers to the plants, such as Greenfold Systems. News of the redundancy threat was first reported by The Courier. Greenfold's managing director Craig Waterson told the newspaper that Alexander Dennis was a "sizeable customer" and added it was a "difficult situation" for the company. He added: "What happens with Alexander Dennis remains to be seen. We would, of course, like a clearer answer but we're not going to get one any time soon. "A communication has been issued to staff, essentially telling them that their jobs are at risk as a result of the Alexander Dennis situation." The managing director of Alexander Dennis has said that orders for hundreds of new vehicles may not be enough to keep its Scottish sites open. Speaking to MSPs, Paul Davies said the company would need to win orders for at least 70 new buses this year and 300 next year to keep its Falkirk and Larbert operations going. But he said this alone may not be sufficient and he could not commit to keeping the sites open. Business and Employment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "I am very disappointed to learn that Greenfold Systems Ltd has entered into consultation with a view to making redundancies at its Dunfermline site. "This will be a difficult time for the employees at risk of losing their jobs, their families and for the local area. Scottish Enterprise will engage with the company to better understand the reasons for this decision and whether it can offer any assistance. "The people affected by this announcement are our immediate priority and the Scottish government will do everything in its power to help those affected through our initiative for responding to potential redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment." Greenfold Systems has been approached for comment.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Fears over 90 jobs at Dunfermline supplier to bus maker Alexander Dennis
Nearly 100 workers at a Fife firm that supplies parts to bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis have been told they are at risk of being made Greenfold Systems told 90 members of staff on Friday that their jobs could go as a knock-on effect of Alexander Dennis planning to move its operations to Systems constructs the sides, interdecks and roofs of buses for the Alexander Dennis factories in Falkirk and Larbert. Business and Employment Secretary Richard Lochhead said he was "very disappointed" to learn about the job threat and offered Scottish government assistance to the firm and its workers. Earlier this month, Alexander Dennis announced it was planning to move its full operation to a site in Scarborough, North plan would see its sites in Falkirk and Larbert close with the loss of 400 wider economic impact of any closure would be felt among the suppliers to the plants, such as Greenfold Systems. News of the redundancy threat was first reported by The managing director Craig Waterson told the newspaper that Alexander Dennis was a "sizeable customer" and added it was a "difficult situation" for the added: "What happens with Alexander Dennis remains to be seen. We would, of course, like a clearer answer but we're not going to get one any time soon. "A communication has been issued to staff, essentially telling them that their jobs are at risk as a result of the Alexander Dennis situation." The managing director of Alexander Dennis has said that orders for hundreds of new vehicles may not be enough to keep its Scottish sites to MSPs, Paul Davies said the company would need to win orders for at least 70 new buses this year and 300 next year to keep its Falkirk and Larbert operations he said this alone may not be sufficient and he could not commit to keeping the sites open. 'Difficult time for the employees' Business and Employment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "I am very disappointed to learn that Greenfold Systems Ltd has entered into consultation with a view to making redundancies at its Dunfermline site."This will be a difficult time for the employees at risk of losing their jobs, their families and for the local area. Scottish Enterprise will engage with the company to better understand the reasons for this decision and whether it can offer any assistance."The people affected by this announcement are our immediate priority and the Scottish government will do everything in its power to help those affected through our initiative for responding to potential redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment."Greenfold Systems has been approached for comment.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
TikTok staff didn't know content moderation quiz would be factor in redundancies, WRC told
Hundreds of staff at TikTok 's Irish arm were given competency tests in late 2023 without knowing that the results would go towards deciding whether they would keep their jobs in a mass redundancy drive the following spring, a tribunal has heard. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) heard evidence on the tests this week as part of a challenge by a former content moderation team leader who lost his job last year after missing the cut to keep his job by a fraction of a point. Over 1,900 workers worldwide who were put at risk of redundancy in early 2024 were quizzed on their knowledge of TikTok's content moderation policies – some 950 of them in Ireland, the Workplace Relations Commission was told. A senior manager at the social media firm said bosses had taken a 'quite deliberate' decision to keep the workers and their line managers in the dark about the true reasons for the test. READ MORE The tribunal was hearing evidence on a complaint against TikTok Technologies Ltd under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 by Mohur Saleh, who lost his job in April 2024. Mr Saleh was one of 564 staff made redundant worldwide at that time by TikTok, 289 of them in Dublin, the WRC was told. However, Mr Saleh has argued he was unfairly selected for redundancy on the basis that the scoring system in his talent pool was partly based on the results of the November 2023 test – which he had not passed – as well as on performance ratings, which he had disputed. The WRC heard Mr Saleh scored 32.25 points as part of a redundancy selection process which began in February 24. That was 0.75 short of the cut-off point at 33 points. IATA Director General Willie Walsh on airline profits, air fares and why the Dublin Airport passenger cap makes Ireland a laughing stock Listen | 35:56 Mr Saleh had scored 25 points for his clean disciplinary record, with his performance ratings for 2022 and the first half of 2023 accounting for the balance of his score, the WRC heard. However, Mr Saleh did not make the minimum grade in the policy knowledge test and was awarded 0 out of 10 available to him, the tribunal heard. Kevin Purcell, who was head of training and quality for TikTok in Europe, the Middle East and Asia (EMEA) at the time of Mr Saleh's redundancy, said that senior management 'formed a view that we needed to restructure the entire organisation globally'. That meant it required only 39 out of the 63 moderator team leads on staff and was aiming to shed 24 positions, the tribunal heard. Mr Purcell said he had no knowledge of which staff 'made the cut' until the points were calculated and ranked. He said there was 'clear water' between Mr Saleh's position and the cut-off point as a number of other employees scored higher than the complainant but failed to secure one of the available jobs. Over 1900 workers in the areas later affected by the redundancies were directed to do the policy knowledge tests in November 2023, the tribunal heard. The workers were asked to review 100 pieces of content which had already gone through TikTok's content moderation process, with their answers being checked against the official moderation outcome, the tribunal heard. Mr Purcell confirmed when questioned by the adjudicator, Monica Brennan, that the tests were done 'with the restructuring in mind' and that staff did not know the purpose of the policy tests at the time. 'That was quite deliberate, because it was a blind test. I was concerned that if people knew it was being done in contemplation of restructuring, it might lead to people cheating,' he said. Mr Purcell said the pass grade in the test was 51 out of 100 and that Mr Saleh had failed to pass this threshold. Mr Saleh's evidence was that 35 of the 100 posts did not load when he attempted the test. He also took issue with the fact that the test was based on TikTok's rules for the English-language market, which were different from the rules for the Middle East and North Africa where he had primarily worked. Mr Saleh said his separate performance ratings had been affected by 'misconduct and harassment, including serious harassment, involving colleagues', with a knock-on effect on his performance, and about which he had complained. He said positive feedback about projects he had undertaken ought to have been taken into account, in 2022 and 2023, but wasn't. He said he had looked for a review of his 2022 appraisal without success. Mr Purcell told the WRC in his evidence that he had been involved in 'calibrating' the performance review process in TikTok ahead of the mid-2023 round. He said that before that point, the reviews were 'very skewed towards positive across the board'. He said he felt Mr Saleh's rating was 'appropriate' in 2023 and that the 'recalibration' of performance reviews 'wasn't directed to the complainant or any individual'. The WRC heard that during the redundancy consultation period, Mr Saleh applied for four internal roles at the team leader level or higher, but did not apply for any open vacancies at the lower rank of individual contributor. Having failed to secure an alternative position, he was made redundant, the tribunal heard. In a legal submission, TikTok's barrister, Niamh McGowan BL, appearing instructed by A & L Goodbody, said Mr Saleh lost his job as part of a 'mass redundancy' which had been carried out in consultation with elected employee representatives. 'He's the only employee that has challenged the fairness of the process and the selection criteria. What we say is that the dismissal arose entirely from redundancy,' Ms McGowan said. 'There was an open, meaningful and fair collective consultation process which applied equally to every other person put at risk,' she added. The adjudicator, Ms Brennan, is now considering her decision on the case, which will be published by the WRC in due course.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
My new manager is destroying my confidence with micro-management & bad communication
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions. Here, Karren gives advice to a reader who wants to negotiate a fair redundancy after 20 years at her job. Q: For the past three years, I've worked in change communications. It was my perfect job and enabled me to thrive. Unfortunately, my employer got rid of my position and sent me back to a previous role in a different department, which I now find difficult. I'm currently on the waiting list for a neurodiversity assessment. I've told my new manager this, but they don't understand and work in a way that makes things a struggle and affects my focus. They also aren't very clear in their communication and they micro-manage me – even asking me about personal appointments in my calendar. I want to move forward – whether in this company or a different one – but my confidence is being knocked every day. Do you have any advice? Amber, via email A: It doesn't sound like your employer is supporting you or playing to your strengths. The Apprentice's Karren Brady gives career advice in game of Have You Ever? Request a meeting with your manager to calmly explain how the current set-up is affecting your ability to do your best work. Be specific about what's difficult, such as micro-management, unclear instructions and being questioned on personal matters, and how this is affecting your focus and confidence. Then explain what you need instead – more clarity, trust and autonomy. It's also worth sharing how much you thrived in your previous role and why. At the same time, speak to occupational health or HR about your neurodiversity assessment, as you may be eligible for reasonable adjustments. while at work. Keep a written record of concerning interactions, and don't stop advocating for yourself. Whether it's within this company or somewhere new, you deserve to be in a role and environment that supports your needs and allows you to grow.
Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Blair's old school ‘to axe teachers' after Labour VAT raid
Teachers at Sir Tony Blair's former college are facing redundancy after Labour's VAT raid on private school fees. Fettes College in Edinburgh, which charges up to £54,000 a year, is examining its options for reducing staff after changes to VAT and National Insurance forced it into 'difficult' decisions. It comes as private schools experienced their biggest year-on-year drop in pupil numbers for more than a decade. A number of schools across the country have also had to close, with others revealing the cost of Labour changes had run into seven figures. Fettes College sits on 100 acres and offers mountain views, woodland and green space on campus. Pupils pay up to £15,150 a term, rising to £18,000 if they board. However, it has been hit by Chancellor Rachel Reeves's decision to remove the VAT exemption on private school fees from January 1 and hike employer National Insurance contributions from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent. It is now running a consultation with staff that could lead to redundancies. A Fettes College spokesman said: 'Various factors have conspired to increase costs on all organisations and schools are not immune, particularly with the recent imposition of VAT on school fees and rise in National Insurance contributions. 'Despite being financially very well managed with a strong student roll, these factors are having an impact on our costs and numbers, and we are obliged to run our operations as efficiently as possible. 'A consultation process began in May to right-size our staffing model. This difficult decision may result in some redundancies.' Experts have previously warned that the raid could hurt thousands of Scottish children with special educational needs and disabilities. Pupils with an educational, health and care plan are exempt from the increase in fees, but the system does not exist in Scotland. Private school pupil numbers have already fallen by more than 11,000 across England, with some schools already forced to close after becoming unaffordable. Park Hill School in Surrey, London-based Falcons School and Wakefield Independent School are among those which have said they will shut their doors. The headmaster of Malvern College, based in Worcestershire, said the raid had cost his school £2m. Earlier this month, affected families brought a series of High Court legal challenges in a bid to reverse the Government's decision. However, judges dismissed all three claims in a single judgment. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, said: 'This is an unprecedented tax on education, and it was right that its compatibility with human rights law was tested. 'We will continue to work to ensure the government is held to account over the negative impact this tax on education is having across independent and state schools.'
