Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> Staff numbers down. http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1345217730 Message started by Administrator on Aug 17^th, 2012, 3:36pm

Title: Staff numbers down.
Post by Administrator on Aug 17^th, 2012, 3:36pm

Ariel reports here that staff numbers have been reduced.

"A BBC spokesperson said savings were being made through simplifying the corporation's structure, technology developments, closer inter-departmental working and streamlining as well as headcount reductions."

"as well as headcount reductions" covers everything, really.

"Around 1230 people were made redundant in 2011, compared to 444 in the previous year."

Admin.

Title: Re: Staff numbers down.
Post by FoxyFace on Aug 18^th, 2012, 7:20am

I guess impossible to find this out--but it would be fascinating to know that out of these 1230 made redundant, what %
1) Left with a BBC pension PLUS their redundancy pay off.
2) Were subsequently offered and taken some "BBC freelance" work
3) Had an expectation of freelance work which did not happen
4) Were able to wangle a "leaving " payment-equal at least to redundancy-in place of having to relocate to Salford.
5) Took a BBC Pension, a redundancy payment and took on BBC freelance work.

Title: Re: Staff numbers down.
Post by Alastair Hendrie on Aug 20^th, 2012, 11:07pm

Sounds to me like a bit of "green cheese" coming to the surface.

If any of the redundant staff were entitled to redundancy pay and were of an age to be eligible to take their pension, then why shouldn't they? It's an entitlement as part of the BBC Conditions of Service.

The BBC has admitted it no longer staffs for the peaks of production, rather for the troughs. If redundant staff have the skills which the BBC requires and have been away for the required time, then why shouldn't they accept "freelance" or casual work?

I worked for over 37 years and had planned to keep going until I had completed 40 years service. But when redundancies were required, I was prepared to volunteer so that those of my colleagues who needed their jobs could remain in work, and the redundancy pay and the pension made it financially beneficial for me to go. Should I have turned the opportunity down?

Title: Re: Staff numbers down.
Post by John on Aug 21^st, 2012, 6:45am

I worked for over 37 years and had planned to keep going until I had completed 40 years service. But when redundancies were required, I was prepared to volunteer so that those of my colleagues who needed their jobs could remain in work, and the redundancy pay and the pension made it financially beneficial for me to go. Should I have turned the opportunity down?

That is exactly what I did. It was sad to see the medics on hand to help those folk who were made redundant when individuals were called to the office to learn their fate. So by giving up my job I saved one of them from the axe.

John