600 jobs to go at Eon call centre in Rayleigh (From Echo)
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600 jobs to go at Eon call centre in Rayleigh
9:20pm Tuesday 19th January 2010 in
ENERGY company Eon is to close its site in London Road, Rayleigh, with the expected loss of 600 jobs.
However, the company says it is to create a substantial number of additional roles in customer service elsewhere in the business.
FULL STORY IN WEDNESDAY'S ECHO
Comments(105)
Beth the original one
says...
10:58pm Tue 19 Jan 10
Bunya Boy
says...
10:59pm Tue 19 Jan 10
How can this be leaked when the staff haven't been told that this is happening... i hear there is a all staff site meeting being called at 10am tomorrow morning the 20th Jan and that it has been pulled forward from the 21st which i can only surmise that they are aware of it being leaked to the press and trying to limit the damage.... SHAME ON YOU E.On Directors and Paul Bird You disgust us all!!
E.on will lose alot of business over this one...
1qwerty
says...
11:06pm Tue 19 Jan 10
71maisie
says...
11:15pm Tue 19 Jan 10
We have been really pushed by Eon over the last two years with threats of if you dont improve productivity you might loose your jobs. Well we did meet our targets and we still loose our jobs - I feel stupid and in a real panic. Where will we all find employment in this recession. Add insult to the fact that our jobs are already advisertised for the New Nottingham offices where all the big brass work!- yes same jobs-just different area!
Eon are replacing staff who have a MINIMUM of two years experience on customer service with temp staff who can start immediately!!. This is about profit margins and not customer service. Shame on Eon and their claimed values Honesty and Openess, Integrity and their Rule One is that they dont hurt people - could have fooled me.
Graham Bartlett should be very very ashamed as he and David Bird descend into the Firing line tommorrow oh via video link of course!
If he mentions reducing our carbon footprint ooohhhhhh
Beth the original one
says...
11:15pm Tue 19 Jan 10
tpoppy
says...
11:20pm Tue 19 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
11:22pm Tue 19 Jan 10
Good luck all of you, no one deserves to be told in this manner, i was considering bringing my supply over to eon, but not now.
Oh i guess eon can guess where the targets for rayleigh will be sent now
Beth the original one
says...
11:26pm Tue 19 Jan 10
eonrcrap
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11:35pm Tue 19 Jan 10
Stoo
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11:42pm Tue 19 Jan 10
Pattaya2010
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11:48pm Tue 19 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
11:50pm Tue 19 Jan 10
So no i dont believe the directors care one iota about their staff, so maybe the staff in the other call centres better start looking at their own jobs too.
yamahar1
says...
11:51pm Tue 19 Jan 10
eonrcrap
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11:58pm Tue 19 Jan 10
welcometothebritishrepublic
says...
12:02am Wed 20 Jan 10
Seems the money-grabbing firm are trying to consolidate their business. Seems likely that the whole company will be up for sale soon. Watch this space.
essex22
says...
12:25am Wed 20 Jan 10
tinytina
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12:44am Wed 20 Jan 10
bubalicious
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1:12am Wed 20 Jan 10
bubalicious
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1:13am Wed 20 Jan 10
siebrowse
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1:25am Wed 20 Jan 10
Aunty S
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3:49am Wed 20 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
8:39am Wed 20 Jan 10
samdansey
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8:55am Wed 20 Jan 10
radioman
says...
9:07am Wed 20 Jan 10
Nebs
says...
9:14am Wed 20 Jan 10
E off
Hitcher!
says...
9:23am Wed 20 Jan 10
I have worked here for many years and have recently been given the opportunity to better myself within teh company. It has been taken away from me. Now i have to start a fresh. You had no right to do this. Every where i look, people have your site up and print outs from your rag. People have been reduced to tears because of the spite you have spread into this building. Kill Yourself Mr Editor
vangebasildon
says...
9:34am Wed 20 Jan 10
bawler
says...
9:55am Wed 20 Jan 10
It was terrible driving back along the road seeing people who are obviously employees walking to work in tears with a copy of the Echo under their arm.
I'm told Rayleigh call centre is the one with the best record for sales leads, the call centre that handled all the debt problems and the one most improved in the group.
How can it be the right decision to close this site/
Nothing to do with new housing I suppose?
Whilst E.on have shown themselves to be just another corporate money grabbing machine, the employees should be proud of themselves. The job isn't the best around, but it was done to the best achievable levels.
You should all hold your heads up high and don't look back.
Michael Vincent
says...
10:10am Wed 20 Jan 10
Hitcher! wrote:The Echo has EVERY right to publish it. It is a matter of serious public concern. Good on the Echo for exposing it and the terrible treatment of staff there. It is not the Echo's fault that the E.On failed to tell staff. They should have realised this would happen.
What right does the ECHO have to put this rubbish out there? You actually disgust me and are causing the 600 people in question to melt down. I hate british press as there is no compassion. You tell us about our site closing and then on the back page you place news about an ex-employees death on page 5. You souless bloodsucking scum bags. I wishh all of you at the echo nothing but pain and misery and hope that YOU become redundent. I have worked here for many years and have recently been given the opportunity to better myself within teh company. It has been taken away from me. Now i have to start a fresh. You had no right to do this. Every where i look, people have your site up and print outs from your rag. People have been reduced to tears because of the spite you have spread into this building. Kill Yourself Mr Editor
Mandingo
says...
10:18am Wed 20 Jan 10
These people saying they were loyal to their company etc - well why?? Do you really think a job for life exists these days, how old are you guys? Call center jobs are just glorified factory packing jobs (i should know as i have lots of experience in the field) and this part of the operation is always first to to be cut/affected. Of course its about profits, of course its terrible. So is invading another country for profits and the banks succeeding whilst the working man gets crushed. You all get angry about people scamming the system, abusing this and that well ask yourself.....what do you get from playing the game fairly??? Its time for REVOLUTION or just buy your big screen TV, your car you cant afford and go through it all again in 3 years!
thelonewhinger
says...
10:32am Wed 20 Jan 10
I actually changed my energy supplier to Eon last year and found everyone I spoke to at Rayleigh 100% efficient and friendly, with information at their fingertips and nothing too much trouble. So much a contrast to the rude, obnoxious and predominantly Asian staff at "British" Gas.
In their drive for savings and efficiencies I hope that Eon will rethink and take notice of what happened at BT and British Gas whose customers have voted with their feet in reaction to the contempt shown to customers and employment of third rate staff.
DannyK86
says...
10:33am Wed 20 Jan 10
Jessie21
says...
11:33am Wed 20 Jan 10
I feel for all the people at Rayleigh who are losing their jobs and as for the comment further up about how Nottingham and Bedford will treat Rayleigh now as apparently we are ‘safe’? I’m sorry but that was uncalled for, we will still treat them as any other employee and no our jobs are not safe, we are having job losses here too just not to the extent of closing the whole site down. No one who works for E.ON is happy about this and everyone worries it will be them next.
Although E.ON saddens me with all these job losses and cut backs and I don’t agree with most of them I can not put them down as an energy supplier, they are all the same at the end of the day and where you save money on your consumption to another supplier you can also be losing in customer service to them, non of them are brilliant but I will stand with E.ON that we provide good customer service, any E.ON employee who says otherwise are saying that themselves do not give good customer service as its us guys on the phones talking to the customers and I think us employees do a very good job at giving excellent service whenever we can, I just can’t say the same for E.ON on employee service as this incident proves.
My thoughts are with you guys down there and I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you find even better jobs, don’t give up, we are all thinking of you here in Nottingham.
imco
says...
1:32pm Wed 20 Jan 10
DannyK86 wrote:Good point.
With HSBC and Eon due to close call centres, and plenty of empty offices through the southend area, this is an EXCELLENT opportunity for another call centre to move in and take advantage of experienced staff and cheap proeprty. Fingers crossed!
And to Jessie in Nottingham: There is no reason why the Echo should not publish this. It is a matter of serious public concern. If Eon had behaved differently it wouldn't have happened like this.
s07
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1:35pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo
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1:44pm Wed 20 Jan 10
cherylB
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1:45pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Leighgirl
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2:18pm Wed 20 Jan 10
s07
says...
2:34pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo
says...
2:45pm Wed 20 Jan 10
This is why eventually captilism will fail - how can people work with enthusiam and dedication whey ultimately you know you will be made redundant when they post bad numbers for the quarter!? My points on here have been more valid and useful than anything you have stated. Name calling will get you no where but the back of the dole queue my friend, so move to the back now pls :) PS I am actually working but in airport lounge taking a break from my work!
Callas
says...
2:48pm Wed 20 Jan 10
s07
says...
2:52pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Callas
says...
2:56pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
2:56pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Callas wrote:I find it strange about your comment, if you were made aware, you kept it to yourself as did the directors, apart from the one that leaked it of course.
Find it strange to see people at Eon moaning as we were made aware before today....don't believe all these ranting people say on these sites. They are just bitter people who like ignoring the truth and placing blame wherever.
I KNOW there were rumours, but that is different to being actually told that your job has gone. I believe the people that are commenting on here and are genuinely upset. What upsets me Callas is you coming on here and saying they are all lying. They are not, and if you knew, then well done and you obviously knew more than the 599 other workers, including karen bardrick.
Beth the original one
says...
3:01pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Callas wrote:hmmm interesting in one post you are implying you were an employee, now you are implying you are not. lies like those spoken by mr bird today are springing to mind.
hear hear Mandigo. At last someone talking sense and being able to spell, which is not something Eon employees seem to be able to do.
Mandingo
says...
3:02pm Wed 20 Jan 10
You seem to focus on just one thing I said but not on other points. This world is run by large corporations who exploit our desire to obtain things and obtain them quick and cheap - this is the results. I myself have been underconsultation twice in the last 3 years due to takeovers and merges hey I must be doing something right - promoted both times.
At the end of the day answer me this: What has changed since this last bubble burst? Answer = nothing, they said things must change, we cant go on but Thatcher destroyed unions, said society doesnt exist so as long we can buy fake tan, get drunk on a friday night and consume to make us feel better we dont care.
An aletrnative to captilalism and socialism is way too much thinking work and Corps stand to loose way too much money. Oh and please actually add somekind of sensible point to your points instead of just picking on me :) But bring it on as you will be waiting at the back of that queue for some time.
s07
says...
3:02pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo
says...
3:05pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo
says...
3:07pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
3:09pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo wrote:i dont think anybody had assumed that, they had got the gist of your comments, that you think they have no right to be upset, and the fact that you find staff loyalty somewhat bizarre. Believe it or not, there are some decent employees out in the workforce who will do everything in their power to remain loyal to their employers. The fact is mandingo you appear to have the wrong staff working for you in the fact that you dont appear to have any staff loyal to you, for that i pity you and its a shame. Maybe you could actively employ some of these workers and stop slating the genuinely upset ones
Just to clarify I am in the call center industry but nothing to do with EON.
s07
says...
3:09pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Callas
says...
3:11pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Please tell me where I stated I worked for Eon?!?!?!
Beth the original one
says...
3:14pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Callas wrote:Callas wrote:
Beth...I think you need to spend more time elsewhere rather than wasting it on this forum. Please tell me where I stated I worked for Eon?!?!?!
Find it strange to see people at Eon moaning as we were made aware before today....don't believe all these ranting people say on these sites. They are just bitter people who like ignoring the truth and placing blame wherever
Please see the word "we were" made aware, that implies you worked for eon.
then in the next post you imply that you dont.
Mandingo
says...
3:15pm Wed 20 Jan 10
S07 - Again I will say - I am waiting to take a flight and as an exec I can do what I like as long as I deliever results :) I am in a powerful position but I know my roots and stay in the trenches which is why you will never suceed as you wish I was in a bedsit like you. You again choose to call me out where as infact I am speaking about teh bigger picture - Cadburys anyone?
Callas
says...
3:15pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
3:17pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Callas wrote:In that case i think the dimwit is you, as this whole thread is to do with eon, not with other call centres or other firms. geddit
I said we were correct..the we does not refer to people at Eon...dimwit
Polar
says...
3:19pm Wed 20 Jan 10
I have a very close friend who works at Eon and who has been in contact with me today as and when things have happened. The staff were informed of the meeting which was due to take place tomorrow, last Thursday. The meeting was moved forward to today after a press leak and the staff were informed of this last night. They were not told what was going to happen, they found out about the closure from the press before the meeting at 10am this morning.
The staff there have been going through hell this last week not knowing if they were going to lose their jobs, and all they had to go on were rumours. They were not told anything by Eons directors.
I think we all need to show the people who have lost their jobs some support. It is not their fault is it? They didn't know what was going to happen!! It is disgusting how people on here who have nothing better to do, with no idea what was going on at Eon have jumped on the band-wagon and started throwing insults at the people who have been affected by this.
Callas
says...
3:20pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Glad to know I am conversing with such high intellectuals.
For the record I have a great deal of sympathy for the people who have lost their jobs. However, these decisions are made for the better good and not, like you clearly seem to think, to upset people.
The company clearly wants to keep trading and has identified they way forward. Best you starting looking rather than wasting your time on this site.
Beth the original one
says...
3:22pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Callas wrote:well for someone with lots of sympathy for the workers, i would hate to see someone unsympathetic. You have accused them of lying, being bitter, angry, and told other readers to not take any notice of them.
Oh dear...We finally see your level...."geddit" Glad to know I am conversing with such high intellectuals. For the record I have a great deal of sympathy for the people who have lost their jobs. However, these decisions are made for the better good and not, like you clearly seem to think, to upset people. The company clearly wants to keep trading and has identified they way forward. Best you starting looking rather than wasting your time on this site.
I dont think i like your level of sympathy, you can keep it.
s07
says...
3:22pm Wed 20 Jan 10
rochford52
says...
3:26pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo
says...
3:28pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo
says...
3:34pm Wed 20 Jan 10
s07
says...
3:39pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo
says...
3:44pm Wed 20 Jan 10
------
Strike and you are called lazy etc (BA workers/Miners/Print staff/Tube workers/nurses/teach
ers) - this encourages staff to put up with what we have now a confused Britain where Thatcher told us society doesnt exist but we strive to get back to that era of love thy neigbour.
kuga_kris
says...
4:55pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
5:04pm Wed 20 Jan 10
I agree with you kuga, ranting wont change anything, but it might make them feel better to air their pain. Also no point looking for another job as no new employer will keep a vacancy open for 5mths to enable ex employee to get their redundancy package for what its worth,
JWAFOM
says...
6:42pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Beth the original one wrote:Beth, I really hope that's not what you think of us. I work for E.ON at Nottingham and can honestly say we were all angry and upset for Rayleigh staff and our colleagues in IT and Energy Services. It could just as easily been us, Bolton, anywhere. If there was anything we could do for our colleagues, we would. We are all just tiny cogs and have no sway over these decisions. I wish there was something we could do and hope the 800 staff are able to find work. I would also add that I'm sure our jobs are far from "safe" and with another big local employer in Nottingham recently cutting it's staff, we would find ourselves in a very similar position should anything happen. We are all wondering; who is next?
you mean to say the directors havent even got the courage and decency to attend in person. Still i guess they cant get tomatoed and egged via a video link. I wonder, also what kind of support nottingham and bedford will give the rayleigh workers, probably none, their jobs are "safe" for the moment.
Isaac Hunt
says...
6:47pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
6:51pm Wed 20 Jan 10
JWAFOM wrote:I apologise, that came out wrong, it was meant in another way, You all work for eon and i think you should all be wary, rayleigh staff for the past 18mths have been beaten over the head with a big stick telling them to sell sell sell, and promote chc or the chc teams would lose their jobs, they were told not to offer the best tariffs unless specifically asked for by customer or that cust had threatened to leave, in fact as much as some of the above went against the grain, they did it for fear of losing their jobs because that was the stick that was used, and guess what they still lost their jobs. The directors have treated rayleigh with total disdain, and even walked into the meeting claiming they knew how they felt. NO they didnt know how they felt, they werent told their jobs were gone by the local newspaper before the big wigs had the decency to tell them, nor were they sitting there with the fear of how they would pay their mortgages/rent and bills. They even had the gall to lie and say they had had no offers for the site to develop, despite the fact that builders have moved in next door and that plot isnt particularly large, but if they add the eon site, it will make a substantial building estate. So please be careful as they have no care or thoughts to their staff, they will threaten you with loss of jobs if you dont perform, but will still take the jobs from under your feet all the same. They are lying snakes in the grass and should be totally ashamed of themselves. The least they could have done today was to be honest and truthfull and stop treating the staff like they had just got off the last banana boat.
Beth the original one wrote: you mean to say the directors havent even got the courage and decency to attend in person. Still i guess they cant get tomatoed and egged via a video link. I wonder, also what kind of support nottingham and bedford will give the rayleigh workers, probably none, their jobs are "safe" for the moment.Beth, I really hope that's not what you think of us. I work for E.ON at Nottingham and can honestly say we were all angry and upset for Rayleigh staff and our colleagues in IT and Energy Services. It could just as easily been us, Bolton, anywhere. If there was anything we could do for our colleagues, we would. We are all just tiny cogs and have no sway over these decisions. I wish there was something we could do and hope the 800 staff are able to find work. I would also add that I'm sure our jobs are far from "safe" and with another big local employer in Nottingham recently cutting it's staff, we would find ourselves in a very similar position should anything happen. We are all wondering; who is next?
They say that they "dont hurt people" does that apply to all that arent eon staff....
Pattaya2010
says...
6:57pm Wed 20 Jan 10
JWAFOM
says...
7:00pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Mandingo wrote:People are upset because they have lost their jobs. Others are showing empathy. Stop being so cold and ignorant and show some compassion to you fellow man. You are name calling and insulting people in your posts too. I'm glad you are enjoying your break from cleaning airport toilets, now get back to it.
S07 - no actually not unemployed - actually a director of call centers so can empathise but bitter yes as people who dont seem to understand what kind of world we live in. If people are greedy want their creature comforts and want capitalism then you deal with the boom and bust not blame companies for doing things like this (regardless of the way it was handled), I mean do really people expect terms of redundancy to be dicussed in the notification meeting!!? This is why eventually captilism will fail - how can people work with enthusiam and dedication whey ultimately you know you will be made redundant when they post bad numbers for the quarter!? My points on here have been more valid and useful than anything you have stated. Name calling will get you no where but the back of the dole queue my friend, so move to the back now pls :) PS I am actually working but in airport lounge taking a break from my work!
Anon12340
says...
7:06pm Wed 20 Jan 10
I wasn't going to bother but had to post this after seeing a posts from other users that lack compassion and itteligence. Some from people who claim to be business executive. Yes, economic times are challenging. This is even more reason to make sure that all decision making includes considerations for the 'Human Impact" caused by that decision. There is also an extremely naive suggestion that these changes are always for the better. Research will in-fact prove (if you bother to do it) that the service provided will certainly be disrupted and never be the same. This is a simple case of greed. To all business executives who think these are common-place decisions and reasonable.... please see the widely used Z model for decision making and start behaving like an ethical person. Finally, I would like to pass my deepest sympathy for those affected and thier families.
Soozie
says...
7:59pm Wed 20 Jan 10
What is really disturbing is how little sympathy the English have for their fellow man. This paper is racist the best of times, but come on.
These are your friends, neighbours, etc - band together and have some feelings FFS.
BBC says you have until June so hopefully things will change, for the better.
Beth the original one
says...
8:27pm Wed 20 Jan 10
I for one have felt total disgust at some of the people on here that in one post imply they are staff and say that they are all lying and being bitter and then in another post imply they are not staff and then further on, claim to have sympathy for the staff. Obviously doesnt know which side of the fence to sit on, and is obviously a bandwagon hopper.
CK49
says...
8:40pm Wed 20 Jan 10
I was gutted that it had happened after 8yrs of service but on reflection, it was a good thing for most people as they would never have left otherwise. We were offered the option of going to Rayleigh & I'm glad that I didnt take it. And yes they did expand the business in other areas; Coventry!! So that was really useful, especially as within a year they had also started to look at gettin rid of people up there.
I believe that the guy who did the announcement at Ipswich (Peter Haigh) lost his job a little while later so it was thanks for doing our dirty work & now you can get lost too! 600 jobs are a lot to try & find so I really feel for people, at least we were given the option of, if we found a job, leaving up to 6wks early & still keeping our redundancy payment. Best of luck to everybody in their job search.
Nebs
says...
8:50pm Wed 20 Jan 10
madman1000
says...
9:10pm Wed 20 Jan 10
southendmechanic
says...
9:28pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Nebs wrote:yes because this would help in what way? stop someone else creating jobs? sorry to hear of Eon leaving rayleigh and so many in a difficult situation. Lets hope that everyone will in the long run be better off without this firm and their insensative actions to loyal staff. keep you chins up
Don't forget to object to any planning application for development on the site.
monkey01
says...
11:07pm Wed 20 Jan 10
catdaisy
says...
11:16pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Nebs
says...
10:01am Thu 21 Jan 10
southendmechanic wrote:It will help because if they don't get planning permission to develop the site then they will think twice about future closures and redundancies.
Nebs wrote: Don't forget to object to any planning application for development on the site.yes because this would help in what way? stop someone else creating jobs? sorry to hear of Eon leaving rayleigh and so many in a difficult situation. Lets hope that everyone will in the long run be better off without this firm and their insensative actions to loyal staff. keep you chins up
I appreciate that it will not do anything to help the current workers, but it may help others in the future.
Leighgirl
says...
11:14am Thu 21 Jan 10
southendmechanic
says...
11:44am Thu 21 Jan 10
Nebs wrote:it wont help Eon wont develop the site they will sell it and have very proberbly already done the deal.
southendmechanic wrote:It will help because if they don't get planning permission to develop the site then they will think twice about future closures and redundancies. I appreciate that it will not do anything to help the current workers, but it may help others in the future.Nebs wrote: Don't forget to object to any planning application for development on the site.yes because this would help in what way? stop someone else creating jobs? sorry to hear of Eon leaving rayleigh and so many in a difficult situation. Lets hope that everyone will in the long run be better off without this firm and their insensative actions to loyal staff. keep you chins up
The Malone
says...
12:32pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Anyway, if they make local staff redundant I will change my energy supplier, I only went with them to support local jobs in the first place, I urge all of you to change suppliers if you can.
miasma
says...
1:59pm Thu 21 Jan 10
We have also interviewed many others and received applications from still more.
This year we hope to be hiring again and it would be nice to hope that in some small way we could redress tha balance of injustice meted out by Eon. Eon have always been renowned a a 'Zero-rated employer' and not just in Essex.
However I would urge the unfortunate 600 to brush up on their spelling and English language skills before approaching other employers. There can be no excuse for some of the illiterate burbling that has appeared in the comments relating to this event and employers would, in all likelihood, ignore any applications from 75% of the above contributors because of this.
thelonewhinger
says...
2:05pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Those who get some kick out of this activity should perhaps start their own on-line forum where they can rant, swear, threaten and abuse to their hearts content. Just please leave the Echo comments page for those giving their take on the subject....
Back to Eon - I am glad it seems that employees have a 6 month notice period to work and this might help them find alternative work.
To all those involved - the big R is not the end and it is important to use it as a starting block to the next stage of your life. Joining the Q at the Jobcentre won't get you anywhere.
MisterHughie
says...
7:23pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Speaking to someone at Unison who I know, it was the union who leaked the story as they were consulted before, it is another example of a Union trying to justify their existance really.
Anyway, I did a little bit of homework and it appears that the retail arm of eon hasn't made a profit in nearly 4 years, it annoys me when the ill informed harp on about fat cat utilities so I can understand streamlining which eon want to do, why shouldn't they save money to relocate their operations in the midlands where all their other offices are.
I know its hard, I'm not trying to say what they are doing is right, but I understand their reasons. I have learnt you just have to take a step back and you willl get through, if I'm honest, redundancy did me a favour as it got me out of one rut and I might still be there if my hand wasn't forced.
maddriver
says...
7:47pm Thu 21 Jan 10
After the news was made public an assurance was given that "no further job losses were planned" and then over the next two years jobs were cut in many branches.
E.ON UK are typical of all large corporations -they have no regard for their employees or customers and think only of increasing profits for their German owners who will of course pass the increased profits on to their German shareholders.
Good luck to those at Rayleigh for their future prospects and to any E.ON UK employees in other locations who may think their loyalty will be rewarded, but it won't
Beth the original one
says...
7:52pm Thu 21 Jan 10
MisterHughie wrote:They would understandf more if the powers that be had been truthful, but they werent.
I appreciate it is so hard when mass redundancies are made, I have been in the same situation 3 times in 8 years now. I work in logistics, and the transport sector has been hit hard by the recession and foreign hauliers doing the job for less. I was last saved by a colleague opting to go as he has no dependants and I have a family to provide for, so I owe him really. Speaking to someone at Unison who I know, it was the union who leaked the story as they were consulted before, it is another example of a Union trying to justify their existance really. Anyway, I did a little bit of homework and it appears that the retail arm of eon hasn't made a profit in nearly 4 years, it annoys me when the ill informed harp on about fat cat utilities so I can understand streamlining which eon want to do, why shouldn't they save money to relocate their operations in the midlands where all their other offices are. I know its hard, I'm not trying to say what they are doing is right, but I understand their reasons. I have learnt you just have to take a step back and you willl get through, if I'm honest, redundancy did me a favour as it got me out of one rut and I might still be there if my hand wasn't forced.
Yes its true that eon havent made a profit in the last 4 yrs or so, however if it wasnt for the rayleigh call centre, they wouldnt have been in the black this year. We understand that they have to stream line and fill a 1000 seats over all the call centres, but why dont they close either leicester or nottingham as both of those call centres are only half an hour on a train apart, they have a chance to relocate, Rayleigh dont. Also it doesnt make sense to close the most profitable and best performing call centre, (their words and figures, not rayleighs) Also at the meeting they asked if the pressure to sell sell sell would now be removed, and they were then told that they had never been put under pressure, excuse me, so what was it then, the constant threats over the past 18 mths that if they dont sell sell sell and promote chc they would lose their jobs then if thats not pressure....
MisterHughie
says...
8:28pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Beth the original one wrote:Hi Beth, you can bet that IT infrustructure costs have a lot to do with it, that is why is pays to have sites close togther, easier to network them! massive savings to be had.
MisterHughie wrote: I appreciate it is so hard when mass redundancies are made, I have been in the same situation 3 times in 8 years now. I work in logistics, and the transport sector has been hit hard by the recession and foreign hauliers doing the job for less. I was last saved by a colleague opting to go as he has no dependants and I have a family to provide for, so I owe him really. Speaking to someone at Unison who I know, it was the union who leaked the story as they were consulted before, it is another example of a Union trying to justify their existance really. Anyway, I did a little bit of homework and it appears that the retail arm of eon hasn't made a profit in nearly 4 years, it annoys me when the ill informed harp on about fat cat utilities so I can understand streamlining which eon want to do, why shouldn't they save money to relocate their operations in the midlands where all their other offices are. I know its hard, I'm not trying to say what they are doing is right, but I understand their reasons. I have learnt you just have to take a step back and you willl get through, if I'm honest, redundancy did me a favour as it got me out of one rut and I might still be there if my hand wasn't forced.They would understandf more if the powers that be had been truthful, but they werent. Yes its true that eon havent made a profit in the last 4 yrs or so, however if it wasnt for the rayleigh call centre, they wouldnt have been in the black this year. We understand that they have to stream line and fill a 1000 seats over all the call centres, but why dont they close either leicester or nottingham as both of those call centres are only half an hour on a train apart, they have a chance to relocate, Rayleigh dont. Also it doesnt make sense to close the most profitable and best performing call centre, (their words and figures, not rayleighs) Also at the meeting they asked if the pressure to sell sell sell would now be removed, and they were then told that they had never been put under pressure, excuse me, so what was it then, the constant threats over the past 18 mths that if they dont sell sell sell and promote chc they would lose their jobs then if thats not pressure....
maddriver
says...
8:47pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Perhaps the idea is to return to Asian call centres which were closed as they were inefficient and causing high numbers of complaints.Should this be the case it would prove that E.ON are more interested in profit than they are in either their customers or employees, both of whom they treat with equal contempt.
The Malone
says...
8:46am Fri 22 Jan 10
MisterHughie wrote:If it pays to have them close together why do companies have them in India. Distance between IT infrustracture is negligible. Its salary, the Rayleigh jobs will be exported.
Beth the original one wrote:Hi Beth, you can bet that IT infrustructure costs have a lot to do with it, that is why is pays to have sites close togther, easier to network them! massive savings to be had.MisterHughie wrote: I appreciate it is so hard when mass redundancies are made, I have been in the same situation 3 times in 8 years now. I work in logistics, and the transport sector has been hit hard by the recession and foreign hauliers doing the job for less. I was last saved by a colleague opting to go as he has no dependants and I have a family to provide for, so I owe him really. Speaking to someone at Unison who I know, it was the union who leaked the story as they were consulted before, it is another example of a Union trying to justify their existance really. Anyway, I did a little bit of homework and it appears that the retail arm of eon hasn't made a profit in nearly 4 years, it annoys me when the ill informed harp on about fat cat utilities so I can understand streamlining which eon want to do, why shouldn't they save money to relocate their operations in the midlands where all their other offices are. I know its hard, I'm not trying to say what they are doing is right, but I understand their reasons. I have learnt you just have to take a step back and you willl get through, if I'm honest, redundancy did me a favour as it got me out of one rut and I might still be there if my hand wasn't forced.They would understandf more if the powers that be had been truthful, but they werent. Yes its true that eon havent made a profit in the last 4 yrs or so, however if it wasnt for the rayleigh call centre, they wouldnt have been in the black this year. We understand that they have to stream line and fill a 1000 seats over all the call centres, but why dont they close either leicester or nottingham as both of those call centres are only half an hour on a train apart, they have a chance to relocate, Rayleigh dont. Also it doesnt make sense to close the most profitable and best performing call centre, (their words and figures, not rayleighs) Also at the meeting they asked if the pressure to sell sell sell would now be removed, and they were then told that they had never been put under pressure, excuse me, so what was it then, the constant threats over the past 18 mths that if they dont sell sell sell and promote chc they would lose their jobs then if thats not pressure....
MitchLive
says...
12:57pm Fri 22 Jan 10
thelonewhinger
says...
4:04pm Fri 22 Jan 10
maddriver wrote:If Eon adopt the modern "press and hold" approach using premium phone rates they can look forward to losing a massive customer base.
There seems to be a misunderstanding regarding the E.ON UK set up. The call centres at Nottingham, Leicester, Bolton etc. are specialist call centres with different roles to Rayleigh and do not take general calls as a rule. The plan may be to make any or all of these offices take over the role currently filled at Rayleigh but this would entail new recruitment and training. Perhaps the idea is to return to Asian call centres which were closed as they were inefficient and causing high numbers of complaints.Should this be the case it would prove that E.ON are more interested in profit than they are in either their customers or employees, both of whom they treat with equal contempt.
I have already mentioned that the Rayleigh call centre was a real pleasure to deal with (perhaps that's how we are in this part of the country) and you came off the line feeling you had actually achieved a result!
woody4
says...
6:04pm Fri 22 Jan 10
'Eon has announced that it will create 500 new call and contact centre jobs in Nottingham. Eon revealed that it will begin recruiting for these full-time and part-time positions in the near future to add hundreds of staff members to its 6,600-strong workforce in the region.'
can i just remind everyone that all suppliers are pretty much the same and if people stop using eon then germany will pull out eventually and take 16,000 jobs down with them.
MisterHughie
says...
6:50pm Fri 22 Jan 10
The Malone wrote:IT infrustructure is not negligible, in the company I work, we use IPT technology for all our call systems, saves us a fortune, if your sites are closer, shared service costs are also down as well, so i disagree with that one,
MisterHughie wrote:If it pays to have them close together why do companies have them in India. Distance between IT infrustracture is negligible. Its salary, the Rayleigh jobs will be exported.Beth the original one wrote:Hi Beth, you can bet that IT infrustructure costs have a lot to do with it, that is why is pays to have sites close togther, easier to network them! massive savings to be had.MisterHughie wrote: I appreciate it is so hard when mass redundancies are made, I have been in the same situation 3 times in 8 years now. I work in logistics, and the transport sector has been hit hard by the recession and foreign hauliers doing the job for less. I was last saved by a colleague opting to go as he has no dependants and I have a family to provide for, so I owe him really. Speaking to someone at Unison who I know, it was the union who leaked the story as they were consulted before, it is another example of a Union trying to justify their existance really. Anyway, I did a little bit of homework and it appears that the retail arm of eon hasn't made a profit in nearly 4 years, it annoys me when the ill informed harp on about fat cat utilities so I can understand streamlining which eon want to do, why shouldn't they save money to relocate their operations in the midlands where all their other offices are. I know its hard, I'm not trying to say what they are doing is right, but I understand their reasons. I have learnt you just have to take a step back and you willl get through, if I'm honest, redundancy did me a favour as it got me out of one rut and I might still be there if my hand wasn't forced.They would understandf more if the powers that be had been truthful, but they werent. Yes its true that eon havent made a profit in the last 4 yrs or so, however if it wasnt for the rayleigh call centre, they wouldnt have been in the black this year. We understand that they have to stream line and fill a 1000 seats over all the call centres, but why dont they close either leicester or nottingham as both of those call centres are only half an hour on a train apart, they have a chance to relocate, Rayleigh dont. Also it doesnt make sense to close the most profitable and best performing call centre, (their words and figures, not rayleighs) Also at the meeting they asked if the pressure to sell sell sell would now be removed, and they were then told that they had never been put under pressure, excuse me, so what was it then, the constant threats over the past 18 mths that if they dont sell sell sell and promote chc they would lose their jobs then if thats not pressure....
The Rayleigh jobs won't be outsourced, as companies don't export them anymore, reading what I have about eon, they brought work back from central asia and according to someone elses post further down, they are creating new ones in the midlands. Not sure what you have to substantiate this, I'm only being objective!
EoNottingham
says...
6:03pm Sun 24 Jan 10
I am surprised by some of the comments made here regarding e.on being a bad company and slating the directors/management
. I understand that each persons experience of working for a company will be different but I feel it's only fair to offer a balanced opinion.
I think that however this type of announcement gets out it's going to be met with anger and disappointment. It's very unfortunate that the story was leaked and people had to find out about job losses on the news before being briefed. But, from my experience of organising the brief and the effort put in to keep everyone informed I think that lot's of effort was put in to do it the right way. If it's true (as someone else posted earlier) that it was the union that leaked the story then they should be ashamed of themselves. It surely was not in the best interests of their members to do so.
As far as all the comments regarding e.on being a bad place to work, well again I know people will have different experiences but, I have to say e.on are probably the best company I have ever worked for. They offer support of all kinds to their employees over and above what is required. If anything i'd say in some ways they're too good to some staff. They pay over the industry average wage and offer all kind of health benefits etc.
It is never going to be popular to close sites and make redundancies but, if the alternative is for that arm of the business to remain unprofitable and eventually result in greater job losses I know which option I would prefer. I don't feel that this is a cynical profit increasing exercise by e.on. It is a difficult business decision taken to ensure the future jobs for many other people across the country.
Beth the original one
says...
7:12pm Sun 24 Jan 10
It is also easy for you to say that you dont feel its a profit increasing exercise, yet at the meeting they vehemently denied or receiving an offer or selling the site to the builders next door, yet someone i know is the contractor and he has confirmed that he has made an offer, lets watch the bulldozers move in on 1st of july.
I also know someone and it will probably be affecting others at the site that if they dont walk into another job on 1st july, they will be waving goodbye to their house. Try telling them that its for the best.
Try also imagining the anger and upset that the loss of jobs came from the local rag rather than the bosses, try also explaining how the local rag was able to quote Graham Bartlett word for word, yet he claims it was leaked, well if it was leaked, he was the one doing the leaking.
EoNottingham
says...
1:49pm Mon 25 Jan 10
I did not suggest telling anyone affected by the redundancies that it's 'for the best'. I was simply putting the decision to close one site into the wider context of potentially greater losses if action was not taken now. I have sympaty for those who will be loosing jobs. At least they have been given 5 months notice. Some companies may not have behaved the same.
As for selling the Raleigh site, well, I don't understand what the issue is? Of course the site will be sold. If a decision/deal has already been made and is being denied then that's clearly a poor decision to deny it. But, selling the site would clearly be part of any plans. Are you suggesting that if the builder who has allegedly made an offer had not done so, that e.on would not be closing the site?!
I can't see any logic that would support a claim that Graham Bartlett or anyone else in the brass at e.on would leak the story. I don't understand the suggestion that some people have made that e.on are in some way getting the press to do their 'dirty work'! The briefings across the business were planned for every site. The comms people seem to have done their best to keep things under wraps. Clearly leaking the story would only ever meet with a negative reaction, make people upset/angry and make all of the planned briefs more difficult. Why would e.on chose to do that?!
Once again, I really don't intend to diminish the upset caused to those facing the search for new jobs.
I feel it is only fair to offer a more objective opinion.
kuga_kris
says...
2:06pm Mon 25 Jan 10
MitchLive wrote:Hiya it's me, really sorry i missed you the other day, i was having my legs waxed and belly button pierced for my 2 weeks in Tenerife. Shall we say 8pm toight at the Half Moon, bring plenty of money cos i'm thirsty........PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER WOMAN, it's not a lonely hearts column, honestly...
I live a stones throw from the building and had a query about my bill, gave Eon a call and a lady I got put through to was so helpful it was untrue (also nice to talk to someone English). She changed my tariff for me and I asked if I will be saving a load of money, she said yes. I said I owe her a drink then. I hung up and wished I had asked if she wanted to go for a drink. Called back, asked to be put through back to this young lady but she was unavailable. Really annoyed me cause as usual, I miss a chance. If your out there, reading this, sorry to hear the bad news, but if you are still up for a drink, say hello. To the other 599 people, again, sorry to hear your bad news and hope you find some good out of this.
kuga_kris
says...
2:25pm Mon 25 Jan 10
Beth the original one
says...
7:21pm Mon 25 Jan 10
kuga_kris wrote:No one is saying its a bad move, but who wants to uproot their family on the promise of an interview NOT a promise of a job, which is theirs in the first place.
Lsiten chaps, seen some noise here about Nottingham. Clearly the brutal truth it must make business sense for Eon to consolidate their call centre operations. 2 things i) If Nottm is the UK headquarters then this will mean more career progression opportunities in different areas of the business for call centre staff, ii) A move to Nottm is NOT a bad thing, it's a vibrant city slap bang in the middle of the country and favours consirably better in the living standard stakes to the provincal areas of south east essex - believe me you won't look back and miss all those aggro/grief stricken nights out in bas-vegas and TOTS !!!!
I am glad ENottingham is happy in his/her job with eon, they obviously havent been put under the same pressure that rayleigh was, they obviously werent told that if they didnt sell and promote chc that the chc team would lose their jobs, well rayleigh pulled out all the stops to save the chc teams jobs and their own and guess what, they got stabbed in the back, they lost their jobs, makes them all wonder what the effort was all for. And no no one at rayleigh blames nottingham for sitting there and saying "phew thank god it wasnt us", after all you are all human and we would have probably been saying the same thing if boot was on the other foot.
We wouldnt even mind them shutting rayleigh down if they were honest about it and say yes we have sold the site blah blah blah, but they lied, and graham bartlets first words to them in rayleigh was "i know how you feel" NO he doesnt, he hasnt lost his job, nor did he hear it from the local newspaper first, nor did he get a text message requesting that he attends on weds instead of thursday. Nor did the staff sit there at the meeting an sigh "it was our day off" like graham did when he stated that he drove for 3hrs to get there. well bully for him diddums, at least when he went home he knew that in the morning he would still have a job.
As for why eon chose to leak it, is anybodys guess, all we know is the newspaper quoted him word for word, Maybe you get treated better in nottingham, but they were treated appallingly in rayleigh and threatened endlessly with their jobs for 18mths. That is not the way a decent employer behaves.
MitchLive
says...
4:41pm Tue 26 Jan 10
kuga_kris wrote:Your obviously not aware, but after London, Nottingham is plagued by gun crime, the place is known for having notorious gangs pulling off drive by shootings all the time. Going to Bas Vegas or TOTS would be like a walk in the park compared to there. Next you'll be saying lets all move to Afghanistan cause it's sunny and full of sand.
Lsiten chaps, seen some noise here about Nottingham. Clearly the brutal truth it must make business sense for Eon to consolidate their call centre operations. 2 things i) If Nottm is the UK headquarters then this will mean more career progression opportunities in different areas of the business for call centre staff, ii) A move to Nottm is NOT a bad thing, it's a vibrant city slap bang in the middle of the country and favours consirably better in the living standard stakes to the provincal areas of south east essex - believe me you won't look back and miss all those aggro/grief stricken nights out in bas-vegas and TOTS !!!!
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tpoppy says...
10:34pm Tue 19 Jan 10