Mods, this might be worth merging with the redundancy thread after it gts some initial interest, not sure..?

I want to be careful what I say - not libellous as such - just dont want to cause hassle for ongoing "negotiations" that aren't quite done yet - but....

You may have heard that Blizzard in Cork plan to give the boot to 200 or so out of 900, despite the fact that they are doing so well... fair enough, i hear the Pin say, after all its not the civil service....

However am hearing that management have taken a very aggressive stance as regards redundancy pay offers (barely more than statutory), regardless of industry norms and their ability to pay; are refusing any sort of independent arbitration; are perfectly willing to destroy the morale of the workers who will stay (as v few can be sure they are safe), and apparently couldnt care less about their reputation as a market leader worth joining....

Some tough stories about people who quit permanent jobs on the continent to join Blizzard supprt (foreign languages needed there big time) and were given relocation expenses, now being told the prepare to pack and get out with a stuff-all package to get them home again, and some not in Ireland long enough to get the dole etc....

all very bizarre, after all who will be dumb enough to quit a job in future to move to Blizzard? Do they intend to only recruit from the Dole queue?

Am hearing rumours that if employees keep quibbling about their right to ask for an arbitrator from Labour Court as regards a fair redundancy offer, mgt now saying they may go ahead and move to selection criteria without involving the employees at all....

Not saying there is anything illegal in any of this but probably a good story - whether re the shattered dreams of internet geeks who thought they had it made working for WofW crowd and are now coming of age in an unpleasant fashion, or a lesson in just how pampered our public sector is by comparison, I am not sure.....


Dont want to compromise my sources as I think that relevant people there dont want to wash any laundry in public just yet but some may feel that v soon they will be left with no choice soon but to get the papers to take up the case a la Vita Cortex or something...if there is any interest....

Anyone want to PM me, I will hand your contact info on to someone who knows much more than I who might like to have some journos' contact details sooner rather than later..

sorry cant guarantee that a good story will come of it but you never know....

Sounds like 100% big corporate behaviour to me there.

There's probably a local, very very well paid upper tier of managment who's no. 1 interest is going to be themselves and their own reduncancy and employment packages.

It will be a case of worker fear and separation and individualization. Any trouble makers or organizers will be observed and isolated by managed based on the Paddy Management Methodologies (PMM).

PMM members will be meeting regularly and developing strategies and tactical plans. In brief they will chance their arm at getting away with blue murder and unless there is mass disturbance (in my experience more than 40% of the employees) then management will dominate the game with the Human Resources arm issuing warning e-mails, investigations, accusations etc. etc. to harass and bully employees into acceptance.

Such a corporate attitute is fairly regular in the US.

It's very much a take it or leave it situation.

Essentially there will be a divide and conquer methodology utilized by the corporation and in terms of tactics they have the upperhand, but are not guaranteed success either. It's probably best if a solicitor's letter or a few of them is raised to both the company directors in Ireland (I'm guessing that there is some Blizzard Entertainment Ireland Corporate Limited) vision here and that the proponents of this legal move are kept underwraps until push comes to shove.

When PPM gets with the American Corporate System you have a Cluster Fuck Situation.

This is all my personal experience.

As an aside, I really don't understand why companies often pay more than the statutory minimum for redundancies. Is the excess payment simply a form of a protection money to prevent their former employees from stoning their buildings or what?

No, it's because the current/remaining employees are at risk depending on economic circumstances. It is a payment that says "work hard, don't worry, if the company lets you go, you'll have enough to tide you over until you find something else". Companies that are unnecessarily tight with redundancy money find staff turnover rises in my experience.

I'd be gone like a flash. Point b: form a union, if you like.

I too find it hard to reason why a company would pay more than statutory, the morale side makes some sense but it appears that it creates a greater expectation that benefits, wages, and working conditions can generally be manipulated through employee action. Employment is a 2-way contract, there is risk and reward on both sides, I don't see why this should be any different if the comapny need to terminate an employment agreement for any justifiable reason. I know employers abuse in soem cases and that should not be tolerated, however, in the case of redundancy it appears that the norm is to placate and I don't get it, multis may well be abe to support such generosity but for small employers it can be the difference between make or break.
In true Irish fashion, companies got a rebate of 60% of redundancy payments up to end of 2011, that changed to 15% in Jan 2012 so it is a big difference for companies and it may be that the norm will change. Redundancy calculation for statutory is also capped for some reason at E600 per week ($31,500 or so) since 2005. Statutory is 2 weeks per full year worked plus 1 weeks pay for employees with greater than 2 years. I think the 2 years is too long, it should kick in after a probationary 3 months, as it is employees with less than 2 years are prime candidates for lay-offs. This may be the case in Blizzard, i.e. that many employees could be left without any payment. I think 2 months pay plus 1 week per year after 5 years for everyone would even the keel a bit, as it is employees with just a year having relocated are in trouble but the employee there 10 years is creaming it a bit.

Apparently studies show that the most productive and profitable companies are those that LOOK AFTER THEIR STAFF.

And in the event of downsizing/redundancies treating the departing staff well means that REMAINING STAFF are movitated to perform at their best.

A WIN/WIN situation. Unfortunately many parts of the corporate world have a nasty, ill-informed and inhumane work culture.

I don't even know what's confusing about that. Just because there's a statutory minimum doesn't mean anything above that is somehow a waste or nonsensical. You could apply the same reasoning to pay, holidays or any other condition of work.

Working conditions are driven by market forces of which regulation is just one aspect.