P&O face criticism & negative publicity following their decision to dismiss 800 staff with no notice

P&O have reportedly sacked 800 staff with immediate effect, saying that they plan to replace all staff with agency staff.  Staff reported that they were given no notice and escorted off their ships with immediate effect, being told that cheaper alternatives would take up their roles.  Staff have also reported that they received a video message referring to a “generous severance package” but no details were given.  Trade unions and employees are currently taking legal advice.

This is a prime example of how not to manage a redundancy process effectively and is likely to have commercial ramifications for the company too, as many people say they will boycott P&O in future.  It is not unusual for companies to offer settlement agreements with enhanced payments rather than go through the full process, but this should still be done sensitively and within an initial consultation with staff. 

If you are planning redundancies, whether just a few or more than 20, we would be happy to guide you through the process to avoid similar ramifications for your business.

Contact [email protected] for advice about redundancies