My redundancy story
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
In August of 1998 the two newspapers in Hawke's Bay, a province of approximately 150,000 people, situated on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand announced they were ending publication on April 30, 1999. These two papers had been in existence for a combined period of over 260 years. In terms of NZ history that is an awfully long time.
Approximately 3 years ago the chain of NZ papers of which they had been part of were purchased by Independant Newspapers controlled by family interests of Tony O'Reilly of Irish Rugby, Irish Butter, Heinz Food and various Irish, English, South African and Australian media interests fame.
A new paper to replace the two existing papers would commence publishing on May 1. The two closing papers were based in the cities of Napier, where I live, and Hastings situated 20 kilometres apart. Both cities populations are about 55,000 with Hastings servicing the rural hinterland while Napier is seen more as a seaside tourist city while having the sea and air ports serving the area. The new paper was to be based in Hastings
Both papers had staffing levels of about 120 people. The new paper would need 160 people.The management announced in due course who had been appointed to the senior positions. The staff from the two papers had to compete for the remaining jobs through an interview process quaintly called best matched. Voluntary redundancy was not an option but submissions would be listened to. Staff had a week to give management these submissions.
Surprise, surprise they took notice of some of the submissions. Voluntary redundancy was allowed.
The interview (interrogation) process was then carried out. Most, but not all, people came out reasonably well. Luckily the Napier people had good redundancy agreements in their contracts. Hastings people on inferior contracts were paid out the same as Napier people.
The new paper was successfully launched on May 1. As with all new projects there were a few hiccups but every thing seemed to be progressing well.
While all this was going on the two advertising teams continued as normal. The Napier sales people saw their clients in Napier and gave their copy to the Ad Services people (of which I was one) to turn into advertisements using Quark Xpress, PhotoShop and Freehand desktop publishing software. These ads were sent as .eps files over a dedicated telephone line to Hastings.
On Monday August 2, 1999 it was announced the numbers in the ad services departments were too high. Instead of having nine in Hastings, plus three artists and eight in Napier, plus two artists, there would be two in Napier, eleven in Hastings plus two part-timers (20 hours guaranteed) in Hastings. The Napier and Hastings supervisors and artists, including the one who doesn't drink, were confirmed in their positions. Everyone else had to apply for their jobs on a best-matched basis.
I went through the farcical interview but think I blew it when I said I wanted in order of preference - part-time in Napier (not offered), full-time in Napier (only 1 position available), part-time in Hastings. Telling the Hastings supervisor I didn't think she was up to organising a new department probably didn't help either.
As a result of all this I am redundant from Friday 21/8/99. They wanted me to stay on until September 3 but I was unavailable. Funny that.
I am looking forward to my new situation of a person past his use-by date. Friends who opted for the redundancy deal earlier seem much happier than the ones who went to Hastings. I own my own home and am reasonably secure financially.
I'm pleased I got that off my chest. Job offers can be sent to ICQ17498302.
Anyone who read down this far buy a drink and send the bill to -
FREE DRINKS
Approximately 3 years ago the chain of NZ papers of which they had been part of were purchased by Independant Newspapers controlled by family interests of Tony O'Reilly of Irish Rugby, Irish Butter, Heinz Food and various Irish, English, South African and Australian media interests fame.
A new paper to replace the two existing papers would commence publishing on May 1. The two closing papers were based in the cities of Napier, where I live, and Hastings situated 20 kilometres apart. Both cities populations are about 55,000 with Hastings servicing the rural hinterland while Napier is seen more as a seaside tourist city while having the sea and air ports serving the area. The new paper was to be based in Hastings
Both papers had staffing levels of about 120 people. The new paper would need 160 people.The management announced in due course who had been appointed to the senior positions. The staff from the two papers had to compete for the remaining jobs through an interview process quaintly called best matched. Voluntary redundancy was not an option but submissions would be listened to. Staff had a week to give management these submissions.
Surprise, surprise they took notice of some of the submissions. Voluntary redundancy was allowed.
The interview (interrogation) process was then carried out. Most, but not all, people came out reasonably well. Luckily the Napier people had good redundancy agreements in their contracts. Hastings people on inferior contracts were paid out the same as Napier people.
The new paper was successfully launched on May 1. As with all new projects there were a few hiccups but every thing seemed to be progressing well.
While all this was going on the two advertising teams continued as normal. The Napier sales people saw their clients in Napier and gave their copy to the Ad Services people (of which I was one) to turn into advertisements using Quark Xpress, PhotoShop and Freehand desktop publishing software. These ads were sent as .eps files over a dedicated telephone line to Hastings.
On Monday August 2, 1999 it was announced the numbers in the ad services departments were too high. Instead of having nine in Hastings, plus three artists and eight in Napier, plus two artists, there would be two in Napier, eleven in Hastings plus two part-timers (20 hours guaranteed) in Hastings. The Napier and Hastings supervisors and artists, including the one who doesn't drink, were confirmed in their positions. Everyone else had to apply for their jobs on a best-matched basis.
I went through the farcical interview but think I blew it when I said I wanted in order of preference - part-time in Napier (not offered), full-time in Napier (only 1 position available), part-time in Hastings. Telling the Hastings supervisor I didn't think she was up to organising a new department probably didn't help either.
As a result of all this I am redundant from Friday 21/8/99. They wanted me to stay on until September 3 but I was unavailable. Funny that.
I am looking forward to my new situation of a person past his use-by date. Friends who opted for the redundancy deal earlier seem much happier than the ones who went to Hastings. I own my own home and am reasonably secure financially.
I'm pleased I got that off my chest. Job offers can be sent to ICQ17498302.
Anyone who read down this far buy a drink and send the bill to -
FREE DRINKS
