Many severance requests

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 9

Many severance requests

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

Electricorp has had hundreds of requests for voluntary severance, said the company’s corporate relations manager, Dr Judith Aitken, yesterday. “Starting this week, regional and other local managers will approve severance payments wherever they are satisfied staff cannot be redeployed elsewhere in Electricorp,” she said. More than 250 trainee positions have been identified as surplus to requirements, and managers were paying special atten-

tion to trainees. Although Electricorp could not offer them permanent jobs, the company woud assist them to finish their training, or find “other suitable avenues” outside the corporation. They were entitled to apply for voluntary severance, and the Public Service Association was prepared to advise them on the implications of this, to complement the support offered by local managers, Dr Aitken said. Managers have all been required to identify any “at risk" communities affected by the staffing changes.

"One way we can help soften the blow, especially to small communities where Electricorp is pulling out or reducing the jobs available, is to provide a company-funded advisory service on setting up new businesses.

“Another is to encourage staff to use our new Job Bank. This is mainly to help internal redeployment, but we hope that other employers will approach us for information on potential employees who have agreed to let their names be released to other firms,” Dr Aitken said.