Comments on: Jobs go as publisher outsources ad creation teams to India

By: shocking

shocking — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:32:55 +0000

Does anyone know what happened to the 60-70 staff who are being relocated to India. Has anyone took up the JP offer or are JP having a change of heart? I know the staff were given only 1 week to decide but there has been nothing mentioned since.

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By: House of Cards

House of Cards — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:37:29 +0000

It appears to have gone under the radar that Peterborough print site is also closing and Sheffield print site is losing front line managers and engineering staff.
If HR aren’t dealing with Ad Creation, and they’re not dealing with Peterborough or Sheffield because they’re too busy, where are they? Planning the next cull no doubt.
Good luck with Phase 2 Ashley. After all, Phase 1 was such a success (according to The Word – Hmmm!?!)

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By: BombayBicycleClub

BombayBicycleClub — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:57:20 +0000

There hasn’t been one post on here which has seriously sought to explain or excuse this JP move, and that tells its own story.
A dreadful indictment and it will need a bold move from the top if any shred of decency is going to emerge from this debacle.

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By: jaimemelhorn blog

jaimemelhorn blog — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:22:13 +0000

It’s a good post.

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By: GladImOutOfIt

GladImOutOfIt — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:01:26 +0000

Shocking: I think that “agreement” may be unenforceable in law, as being an unreasonable clause in a contract. But who’s got the cash to challenge it?

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By: LG

LG — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:41:54 +0000

Outsourcing overseas means redundant staff don’t have as much money to spend with local businesses. This is repeated as more firms outsource and make people redundant. The local economy suffers, which means businesses are less likely to advertise with local papers. Presumably JP’s titles don’t run news stories about local firms making staff redundant because of outsourcing, at the risk of hypocrisy.

So what next? Is JP working on software that automatically takes stories off PA, puts them on the page and sends them to the printers without the need for any humans?
No, mustn’t go putting ideas into people’s heads…

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By: Ex JP

Ex JP — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:39:10 +0000

Sad and dismayed. I am one of the hardworking and loyal employees that JP found dispensable. I have always been passionate about local press! And JP Puppet it’s not about length of time, that counts for nothing, it’s if your “face fits”. My advice? Take the money and get the hell out!

By: shocking

shocking — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:59:31 +0000

lensman
not possible I understand that JP pay for a solicitor who makes redundant staff sign an agreement not to sue the company after they leave.
For some staff who haven’t been there a long time they may be better off going down the constructive dismissal route rather than take their redundancy. I don’t know, I’m not a legal person but it may be worth asking.

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By: lensman

lensman — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:19:04 +0000

Staff affected need to take the redundancy then get a good lawyer and claim constructive dismissal.

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By: Vindaloo

Vindaloo — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 10:48:06 +0000

Agree completely with the above… even their internal newsletter called TheWord is all propaganda. They certainly can talk the talk.

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By: JP Puppet

JP Puppet — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 10:12:29 +0000

Re: JP Drone

Wouldn’t surprise me if HR don’t really know what they are doing. JP is littered with square pegs in round holes. People get shifted into new positions less on the merits of if they can do the job but more on the length of time they have been here.

In all my time here i’ve never known anyone be sent on a training course in order learn their new role.

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By: JPdrone

JPdrone — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:25:22 +0000

I certainly wouldn’t accept anything HR have said without checking it out first with an employment lawyer. Most home contents policies at least give access to a legal helpline.

HR seem to have little knowledge of up to date employment law. That’s my experience.

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By: shocking

shocking — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:48:10 +0000

According to ACAS TUPE means transferring from one company to another, I thought JP were just using this new company to provide a service on their behalf, I didn’t realise they were selling up?
Relocation rights according to ACAS include a relocation package
it reads
“The biggest task is often to persuade key employees to move. In order to overcome employees! fears, employers may wish to offer
relocation packages, which might include the following:
• reimbursement of legal costs
• help in arranging a mortgage
• payment of excess housing costs
allowance
• award of a disturbance allowance
• reimbursement of house hunting
costs.
Employers should be aware that further costs may be incurred through a need to provide for the redundancy or early retirement of
those either not selected for relocation or not offered a suitable
alternative job.
It doesn’t sound as though they are any help at all. I think you may have more rights than you have been told.

Check out the ACAS website http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=857

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By: Runaway Ed

Runaway Ed — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:12:09 +0000

If only newspapers had Protected Geographical Status like some foodstuffs – ie if you call yourself Oxdown Gazette you need to be made in the Oxdown region.
There really is an unethical side to making redundant a local workforce on a GB-only product so you can have ‘virtual employees’ at much lower pay rates in the supposedly ‘booming economies’ thousands of miles away.
Doesn’t fit with policies on Social Cohesion, but instead increases the welfare bill here. There should be the equivalent of a windfall tax on companies that do this, so the beancounters look beyond their bonuses when contemplating outsourcing.
Interesting to note, too, that Unite is saying the RBS NatWest fiasco is down to IT outsourcing in India:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2164664/NatWest-glitch-Computer-caused-chaos-thousands-supervised-India.html

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By: Last one out - switch off the light

Last one out - switch off the light — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:16:45 +0000

JP Puppets comment says it all really!!!!
Actually I never mentioned any numbers – you may have to start on a smaller scale but at least bloody start – what ever happened to that very small acorn??????
It does not have to be one title in one area – remember how the Co-operative started?
This all went wrong in the late 90′s so they restructured and went back to “hyper local”. They are now opening more local mini markets.
We are all P***** off by what the various publishers management are messing up – just do something or give up and move on!

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By: MW ex. JP employee

MW ex. JP employee — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:43:14 +0000

Hate to think how the B’s and D’s will end up.
Wonder if they will have proof readers
Its the end of a traditional newspaper, which is a shame it was a sad day the day JP took over, it has been just run into the ground.
I was made redundant in the last wave after 18 loyal years, but loyalty means nothing. Feel sorry for the people who have worked at the YP all their working career.
Cant believe the work is being outsourced when Britain needs all the businesses to stay in Britain.
Good Luck to you all.

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By: R. JP Employee

R. JP Employee — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:15:40 +0000

Not only are we now being told there is no relocation package, we are now also told there is no trial period (contradictory to what Paul Wealleans – Director of Group Prepress Services Stated) so presumably no help in obtaining a work visa either…

We are also being forced to sign a form by Friday 29th June Indicating if we accept to transfer to India, or if we object to the transfer & will be made redundant instead.

The offer of transfer is to attempt to remain within the legality of a TUPE transfer as being made redundant without would be illegal as the work is ongoing.

We have had no direct consultation at all, just a few passed on emails.

If we were to transfer, it seems we would be working in the UK on the 24th August & in India on the 27th, with No aid from the company whatsoever.

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By: Losing Control

Losing Control — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:21:58 +0000

Reclined in a chair that could only have been designed by Pininfarina sits JP – a fat corporate cat purring on one knee, a gleaming ipad postioned strategically on the other. All that was left, was gone. Eyes once glimmering with greed begin to dull as realization takes hold. The self-destruct button was pushed so long ago but only now was it’s consequence beginning to reveal itself. The greed was all-consuming turning back upon those that had unleashed it; those who deserved it most.

A company in the ‘cloud’ maintained by workers from afar was beginning to fall from the sky. A scheme of cutting cost and maximizing gain created loss – lost pride, lost passion, lost respect, lost heart and lost identity. A company built upon a local core was doomed to fail as it’s foundations crumbled beneath it.

A voice once ignored, echoes in JP’s ear, the voice of Google when they encouraged ‘going’ their way… their unofficial slogan repeats endlessly like a mantra… “Don’t be evil!”… Don’t be.

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By: JP Puppet

JP Puppet — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:43:48 +0000

Re; Last one out – switch off the light

A start-up buisness loan for a 70 plus work-force? Yep that’ll work.

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By: hacker

hacker — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:38:30 +0000

Unfortunately I haven’t seen a newspaper strike post-Wapping that managed to achieve anything much.

No relocation package?! This really is madness. JP is in its death throes.

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