On a personal basis
I'm not too worried. I've got skills, a broad employment background and I live on the Leeds/Bradford border - Leeds hasn't been too badly hit.

Probably 33% of the current warehouse workforce are Eastern Europeans, who will either find somewhere else in the UK or head back home - many already have.

The remaining 66% are buggered. Bradford was an economic desert even before the "current downturn", and many of these people have come straight from school and have no other particular abilities.

Cheating Rabbit will doubtless verify that a job with Grattan used to be seen as a job for life, and there are people now at risk who have followed parents and grandparents into the business.

I have the thankless task, as a fairly senior manager, of making these people redundant. So far, those that have gone have either wanted to go or deserved to go. Soon we'll be getting into the emotional stuff and I'm not looking forward to that.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:24, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Economic desert
About right..., since the collapse of the wool industry in the late 70's

As for "Jobs for life" at Grattan - I can't confirm or deny, but I'd suspect that it was the case.
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:35, Reply)

Are these people who work there aware of the situation?

( fuck shit up the best you never had, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:43, Reply)

Very much so
Which makes it all the harder.

They'll still work their arses off to get the orders out if they have to.

Quite a few seem to be "in denial" - they really don't think they'll ever loose their jobs.

Others are working harder than they've ever worked before as we sell stuff for a pittance, and take in the stock that the Peterborough warehouse (which is closing sooner than Bradford) can't sell.

As above - I'll get along. If you want to worry, worry about the staff.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:51, Reply)

This ^
As above - I'll get along. If you want to worry, worry about the staff.
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:57, Reply)

I wont worry as I'm sure you'll be fine
I just find it sad when people who've worked hard for so long end up out of a job because of the economic climate. Not many shops where I live have closed, but further out towards college there are so many shops lying dormant now.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 21:02, Reply)