So what is the job market like at the moment.

[fizzwheel]

Those of you that know me, will know that I was put on the "Your jobs at risk" list just after Christmas. Not nice. Luckily enough I kept my job, but was TUPE'd across to a new company which is based in Southampton, I am still at the moment based in Yeovil.

Its still not set in stone whats going on 3 changes of management later and still nobody has made along term decision over where I'm going to be located. Latest head of department paid us a visit last Friday and set out his vision etc etc. He's made a promise that he will be in a position by christmas to tell us what will happen with our jobs.

So I'm going to be faced with a choice soon.

1. Relocate to Southampton
2. Take Redundancy and try and find something else.

I work in IT. I specialise in Windows Servers, VMware and data centre managment. I've moved away from support in the last couple of years, and have been doing alot of design / infratructure / architecture work which I love.

I keep reading / hearing in the media, about how we are in a depression and that theres no work. I havent had a job interview in nearly 11 years and I dont want to jump ship now as I could find myself in a similar position. Staying put means if I do get made redundant or choose not to relocate I could stand to get a considerable sum of money in a redudancy pay out.

So what is the general job market like, whats IT recruitment like at the moment, be good to here from the real world, rather than the media hype that generally seems to be going on at the moment.

[shifter]

Id hang out for the redundancy if I was you. It could take a long time to find a new job at the moment and you're better off doing it with a wod of cash in your pocket.

[fizzwheel]

I'm trying to decide whether I want to take the relocation to Southampton or take the redundancy and then find another job. My fear is that if the market is that depressed I may not be able to find another job in the area I live in, where as relocating would mean I kept my job, but theres the possibility it'll be more of a support role which I am not sure I want to go back to.

Its a case of playing it safe and taking the relocation or risking not finding another job...

[Specialone]

Put your feelers out now for work and see whats about for your type of work, if its bouyant then wait for redundancy then get a job, you may get lucky and walk into another job with a lump sum behind you.

Could you freelance your services?

I see more freelance becoming popular as the recession means they wont wanna commit to new staff but still need help which they can lose easily if times get tight.

[gruntygiggles]

Get the right agency and it's not as bad as the media are protraying it in terms of jobs available. Difference mainly is that there are more people going for those jobs. Many not because they are out of work, but because they have had hours cut or are faced with being TUPE'd like you and so are looking for something else. Add that onto the already unemployed and redundant looking for work and you are faced with is more competition.

I would advise you to spend this time looking at the jobs that are available and in what sectors. Pick the jobs you would least like to do or that would not pay you enough. Get yourself some interviews that don't really matter to you and you can use those interviews as a chance to brush up on your interview skills and get yourself back into the candidate frame of mind.

Those interviews will serve to highlight any weak areas in your CV that you can work on, any answers you give that don't get recieved the way you expected and make sure you get feedback from them, whether it's going to be good or bad.

In sales, when you have something to sell to another company, you first try and sell it to the people that you don't really want to sell it to. We call them "burn leads" as you know you're going to fail to make a sale or that they won't pay you what you want...but they allow you to iron out the kinks in your sales pitch so that when you do go for the big sales, you have a polished presentation ready. This is what you need to do, only difference is, you are selling yourself.

PM me if you want any specific advice, I've been helping rather a lot of orgers with this lately and I'm happy to carry on :-)

[gruntygiggles]

Its a case of playing it safe and taking the relocation or risking not finding another job...

Relocation for a great job that you want to do is fine. Relocation for a job that you don't really want to go back to could leave you unhappy and resenting the upheaval.

The job market is competitive, all that means is that you need to ensure you stand out. That doesn't mean by being like a car salesman in an interview. It just means by being polished, going for the right jobs and tweaking your interview skills a little.

[fizzwheel]

Could you freelance your services?

I could freelance or go contracting with no trouble at all. I'm just not sure that I want to.

I've been procrastinating about the whole thing, we were settled for a while and I could see that all that had changed was the logo on my payslip, but it would appear that now isnt a good time to be complacent about it.

I've been looking at agencies and the job sites, trouble is I cant really afford to take a big pay cut either so whilst I dont want to be picky, I dont want to nobble myself either.

I guess I am lucky, I work 2 miles from home, so I dont have a big commute, I can work reasonably flexy hours and I get a buzz out of my job and I like the work I do. I'm having to face the possibility that that is all about to end...

[squirrel_hunter]

Had this recently. Took the redundancy option, the signing on and the stress. But the move has been better then just sitting it out.

There are jobs around in the industry but I don't know what your area is like. And I'm not sure what your location will offer. Not really much I can add as most of it is down to you deciding what you want to do as it sounds as if that is what you need to decide above all else.

My only advice would be while it's not a question at the moment of having to find a job to survive go out and get some interviews as you will be even more out of practice then I was. You'll get a lot of experience of what companies are looking for so when the time does come you know how to handle yourself.

[Biker Biggles]

I know nothing about your type of work,but I would say to try to stick with something you enjoy doing even if that means less money,or a bit of travel.Theres nothing worse than hating your job and dreading the next day at work however much the pay and status might be.

[hongman]

Fizz, I do the same type of work you do, amongst other areas.

I worked for an IT Company as a Junior 5 years ago, got trained up, and left to start my own business 2 years ago. Since then I have never looked back. Been the most rewarding time of my career to date, but hand down the most stressful.

Here is my take on the economy, first hand of what I have experienced.

At first I thought it was going to be impossible with the recession kicking in, but I actually found it helped a lot for my business.

All companies are now looking at how to reduce cost or improve efficiency.

SMB's typically look to outsoruce their IT, as they cannot justify paying the full time wage of an In house IT expert. Or they are trying to grow in this turbulent time and know they have IT issues that needs addressing - this ends up being outsourced most of the time.

Larger companies are looking at ways to improve their IT, be it infrastucture, TCO of hardware, whatever.

So its not all doom and gloom if you want to go freelance.

I'd agree in saying take the plunge with redundancy and looking for a job you like - doing a job you dont like is much worse. I dont know of your commitments or anything so speaking strictly as what I'd do type thing.

Given your skillset, with VMWare in particular, if you can find the right contacts, it could be a VERY good opportunity for you. As you know with the ever increasing pressure to consolidate hardware, reducing carbon footprints etc.

One of my colleagues from my old company left to specialise with another company in VMware, based in London. I can probably arrange for contact to be made if they have any work going on in your area, if you want - PM me.

Good luck.

[keith_d]

One of my colleagues recently pointed out to me that Rackspace (http://www.rackspace.co.uk/rackspace-home/careers/find-a-job/) were looking for just those kind of skills. They're based in West London, so it would mean moving, but it might be worth a look.

[SoulKiss]

you're better off doing it with a wod of cash in your pocket.

No-one gets a "Wad of Cash" any more.

Been there Fizz, done that, got the T-Shirt.

If there is a risk, get looking now and you are in control of your destiny - best case you get an offer that when you hand in your notice you get an offer to stay that gives you security and anything else you want.

Too often I stayed too long, so if the getting is good, get out.

Jobs are not THAT hard to find, I found 2 in 8 months :)

[Ed]

Fizz - if I were you I'd stay put and wait see what happens. A lot of people can't cope with change but if they are going to dump you they will have to pay you off. You have some highly marketable skills and I wouldn't be worried if I was you.

Since I let the law firm go, I'm looking for a job too. Not in private practice I might add. I'm registered with several agencies, they all seem to have jobs that I could do but somehow none are suitable and I wonder whether they really exist. I have a few irons in the fire, and whilst I could do with an income I'm not that concerned at the moment, Anne and I have lived on next to nothing for the last 2 years and we are used to managing on a tight budget. Baked potatoes with tuna and a bag of salad don't cost much:D I still work in Liverpool part time and also I'm the builder's mate, doing a bit of plastering, fetching and carrying, brewing strong tea, and sweeping up. I can honestly say that I love it - after 30 years behind a desk of some sort I love the physical challenge, the craic, and the feeling of really being part of a team. I've never had that before. So much so that I'm asking Ian to shout if he needs some help on any work he's got. I'm learning so so much:D

There is more to life than money. We have lived here in Baschurch, in rural north Shropshire, since May. We cross the road and go along a path into a huge field, and then walk across it for about 15 - 20 mins until we reach the pool. It would be great on a quaddie but I think it's a bridleway rather than a 'BOAT' - byway open to all traffic. And then we sit on the grass and watch the herons and the dragonflies, today we saw a cormorant. And at night I gaze up at the sky and feel very small watching the Great Bear and the shooting stars.

And... when all else fails, I have my bike:D:D:D:D

[Richie]

There is more to life than money. And then we sit on the grass and watch the herons and the dragonflies, today we saw a cormorant. And at night I gaze up at the sky and feel very small watching the Great Bear and the shooting stars.

And... when all else fails, I have my bike:D:D:D:D


:0) Nice.
Chilling on an evening just star gazing :0)

Love to do that again...

[fizzwheel]

Back from work now. who said I.T. was a 9-5 job !

I know what I dont want to do, so I can rule a few things out.

I dont want to move or work in London, its just to hectic a pace / way of life and after a few days I feel completely stressed out. At heart I am a west country boy and I like the slower pace of life in this area of the country.

I dont want to run my own business. My dad ran his own building company and whilst I was growing up I never saw him, we neve went on holiday and as I got older I realised just how hard dad worked. He worked 8-5 came home had his tea, got showered and then would be out most evenings till 9pm maybe 10pm talking to customers or doing paperwork quotations for work etc.

Any money he did have went into the house we lived in or back into the business for tools, supplies, running the vans etc. Its only now being older I appreciate just how hard he did work and I dont want to be in that position. I like coming home and switching off.

I dont wish to sound ungrateful, to those of you that have offered to see whats about, its just something that I know that I dont want to do.

I at the moment, dont want to jump ship and then find myself in a similar position. I've been at my current company for over 10 years. I worked it out that according to HR, if I have my figures right, redundancy payment would be the equivalent of 6 months salary plus the money I have invested in the share save scheme, thats alot to throw away without some serious consideration.

In the meantime I am working hard to boost my profile amongst my colleagues already working in Southampton, making contacts and trying to find away to work together. I think I am achieving this and have had some good feedback on my performance so far.

If I did get relocated it would depend on the job role I got offered, I do alot of project / long term work. I dont do hardly any support or face to face work, when I do that, the sh*te has right royally hit the fan, which makes it interesting and its never dull and I dont want to follow process / carryout repetative 1st or 2nd line support work ( I forgot my password, I have deleted my files type of stuff ) I get the opportunity to really use my skills and I've delivered on some fantastic projects which I can see the benefit from. My level of job satisfaction is high. Something that is important to me. Vmware, server builds, infrastructure and architecture design is what really interests me now. I'm working on a project to relocate 250 windows servers into a new datacentre at the moment and have pretty much free reign to plan, what moves, how we move it etc etc I am even having input into the netowrk design even though thats not my skill set.

Theres a job in Weymouth doing what I do now, same sort of salary and responsibility which tells me that there is work out there, just not much which means competition will be heavy.

I dont want to be in the position where I have my choice taken away from me. So I will get my CV up to date, and get it uploaded onto the job websites and see what comes my way.

I am thinking worst case, theres always the option that I stay based in Yeovil, which would be ideal, but I cant rely on that happening. Moving to Southampton for the right job I'd be happy with, but it has to be the right job, if you understand what I mean.

[gruntygiggles]

Fizz, just knowing what you don't want will help you enormously in any decision making. I personally don't think you'll have too much of a problem, but you do need to get out there and get some practise interviews under your belt.

[Quedos]

Fizz, got an idea what your going through - this week is the crunch for us to find out whether I have a job or not. the job market is dire well up here and only had one interview out of 10 app's.
As GG said knowing what you don't want is a great help. Personally I would see what they offer you first and try relocation if the job is what you want.
I'm a cycnic when it comes to TUPE's and only ever seen the bad side of them
I do thimnk however you are doing the right proactive course and wish you the best of luck.

[Viney]

Fizz of the wheel, i hope to be in such a situation like yourself in the very very near future. as you know i work for Xerox, who run contract print rooms for other organisations. Over the past year, they have been doing a tender for supplier of a new service. Well that came to a head last week and we lost. So i have the great prospect of being TUPE'd to the new company, if Xerox can not find me something else. However, there are all manner of things that may prevent this. I am meeting with Xerox HR today for some reason. If they offer me redundancy, then i will bite thier hand off. I will retrain thats for sure as i am sick of working in an office. But i really dont think that thats going to be an option. If i did, then i would get about 35 weeks money, plus i may get an additional 12 as im close to my 12 years. As i say, thats not certain in anyway. So after about 11am today i should know something. I know that i dont want to work for the new company as i havent heard a good thing about them. They generally pay less than Xerox(Which i didnt think possible) and theri prospects within thier company are few and far between. So dont know. I feel your pain though.

[timwilky]

Fizz

your skill set is relevant and marketable.

Probably more appropriate for larger enterprises. In which case you would have to be prepared to travel (Within europe is the norm). I would envisage you would be looking for some form of systems architect type role. Yes my company does employ that type of role, but unfortunately for you, is more than likely Rugby based.

I can keep an ear to the ground and have a word with the relevant people. We tend to promote good staff rather than bring in fresh blood. So unfortunately vacancies tend to be in junior positions, or specialist ones where no suitable internal candidates exist

[fizzwheel]

Tim, yep thats the sort of role I'd be looking for. I got mine by working my way up the chain internally, similar kind of thing that your company does is what Screwfix have been doing. i.e. promote internally rather than going ut to market for staff where possible.

[Skip]

I at the moment, dont want to jump ship and then find myself in a similar position. I've been at my current company for over 10 years. I worked it out that according to HR, if I have my figures right, redundancy payment would be the equivalent of 6 months salary plus the money I have invested in the share save scheme, thats alot to throw away without some serious consideration.

Wow the joys of working for a bigger company! We have had some redundancies here and I know that all they have been offered is the statutory amounts which IIRC are £300 or so for every year you have worked. We had one lady leave who had been here 17 years and I think all she got was about £6000! Shocking - but then we aren't a massive company with big reserves to draw on.

Sounds like you are making a sensible decision Fizz - keep plugging away at your current job and "network" with those Southampton people and hopefully they will keep you in Yeovil and it wont come to any of your worries - if they do suggest redundancy if it comes to that then you know there is a large sum waiting.

Good luck.

[BigBaddad]

I think the prices for jobs are dropping thanks to the influx of eastern European ladies.

[fizzwheel]

Wow the joys of working for a bigger company!

That wouldnt apply to everybody, it has alot to do with my job roll some of it is based around the fact that my company like to retain my services, so I am on a long notice period etc etc.

[Skip]

That wouldnt apply to everybody, it has alot to do with my job roll some of it is based around the fact that my company like to retain my services, so I am on a long notice period etc etc.
Unfortunately the same applies here no matter what level - they have tried many times to get me on a 3 month notice period but I have always shied away from it.

[MR UKI (1)]

I know your predicament here Fizz, I'm in a remarkably similar position. Been at company just over 10 years, it's a 15 min walk from home. My role was redundant in April last year but I managed to get another in same company but it was only a stay of execution. I knew the new role would end the same at some point and it is now. I got my finishing month last week, so I will be redundant in May next year with no chance of getting a role again like last year as the whole place is closing by the end of next summer. I will have the option of applying for a role in Swindon and therefore relocating or taking redundancy. I'm nervous about finding something else given the current climate (especially as I work in Financial Services :D) but I am sure there are jobs out there so am sticking it out for the pay off, which like you equates to over 6 months pay. Maybe slightly short sighted, but I can't bring myself to jump ship earlier should an opportunity arise elsewhere and walk away from that sort of lump sum, but the temptation is certainly there to do so. It's hard though, as who knows how secure the any new job would be anyway? :(

[sv4me]

I think the prices for jobs are dropping thanks to the influx of eastern European ladies.

Someone should tell Rooney that :smt042

On a serious note, i'm 1 exam away from being a chartered accountant and was made redundant in June this year (for falling out with the boss, funny that :smt097) and really struggled to find work through the agencies. I'm not sure if because the jobs I was applying for were unqualifed, I was seen as a short term fix so near to qualifying and would soon want a big payrise I was turned down for the positions. I have to say though the people at the agencies I went through were not just a complete waste of time but oxygen as well.

I've ended up getting something decent part time while I get this last exam passed purely through contacts and people putting in a good word for me. I am now slowly building up a bit of a client base for myself so ideally I will never have to go for another job interview ever again or go see any god damn agencies! :smt013

My advice to you would be if your confident enough in your own abilities then make a go of it own your own. It'll be full of uncertainty but in the end it'll be worth it, my dad has always said being your own boss is the only way to be.

Give us a shout if you need help with your books :-dd;)

[fizzwheel]

Unfortunately the same applies here no matter what level - they have tried many times to get me on a 3 month notice period but I have always shied away from it.

But then it the longer notice period might give you more breathing space or a bigger lump sum should you find yourself in a position like me...

But then in a buyant market it can make it harder to jump ship. Personally at the moment I'd be pushing for the 3 months notice period.

[Ed]

I applied for a 2 month job with Birmingham City Council, would have tided me over nicely till Crimbo, but today they have decided not to take anyone on cos their funding is so uncertain. So not rejected, job don't exist. Nothing else on the immediate horizon. Oh well, I'm enjoying using the kango hammer:D

[yorkie_chris]

And... when all else fails, I have my bike:D:D:D:D

http://pod3.tv/files/ogri.jpg

[fizzwheel]

I'll continue my jibber in this thread...

I had chat with my manager this morning after some of the stuff thats going on recently. I feel that we may be going in the wrong direction. I raised alot of things and was quite frank with him about the technical direction I find myself being pushed down. He agreed with me on alot of things, and said that he wanted people working for him that spoke up and voiced their opinion.

We talked about my job role and what the future might bring. Basically theres a job going at Southampton at the moment that he told me "You should apply for that job"

I'm not sure what to make of it really.

One part of me thinks, well he must want me in his team long term if he is telling me to apply for a job down there working for / with him. Which if that is the case I think is quite a positive note / good place to be in.

The other part of me isnt sure whether I want to let go and actually make the jump and move.

He confirmed my thoughts, although he didnt actually say it out loud, but basically there wont be a job in Yeovil for me much longer and if I dont do something about it, I will get made redundant.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Well Fizz, only you and Liz can decide that. So are the options, try and line up another job and take the redundancy package they offer, or move to Southampton and continue workng with them?

I presume you have been looking at the job market around your specialism for a while, is there anything much available?

If you do move, is it going to be a secure position or are they going to put you through this whole thing again in 12 months time??

[Skip]

Thats a fair old commute unless you up sticks and move though Fizz - what do think about a 130 mile round trip everyday?

[fizzwheel]

MBK - Theres not alot around here and if I move, I am a small fish in a big pond, which have many opportunities in it. The long term thing about being made redundant again, well yes that could happen, but if I am in the central pool of IT staff, I would be one of the last people it happened to as they are centralising all the support.

Skip - We'd have to move, I am not doing that everyday. Theres a possibility I can work from Yeovil on some days. Whilst we found somewhere to Live etc etc. I could commute it for a while, but its not a long term option really.

[Milky Bar Kid]

MBK - Theres not alot around here and if I move, I am a small fish in a big pond, which have many opportunities in it. The long term thing about being made redundant again, well yes that could happen, but if I am in the central pool of IT staff, I would be one of the last people it happened to as they are centralising all the support.

Skip - We'd have to move, I am not doing that everyday. Theres a possibility I can work from Yeovil on some days. Whilst we found somewhere to Live etc etc. I could commute it for a while, but its not a long term option really.

I dunno then, think I would be tempted to take up the offer of the move to Southampton. But depends what both you and Liz think.

[timwilky]

I know how you feel Fizz, I too am being pushed in directions I am not happy with. Apparently we have all been graded, and I am judged overpaid for my grade. Hence I am to loose my car. I have argued that I have been given a role in the new organisation below where I was, with less responsibility. No management function etc. I am judged to be technically excellent and as such at the top of the technical grades.

So no scope for salary improvement. No available management positions to move into etc. They seem to find work for me and keep telling me there is nobody else capable of doing this when I ask why me with some of the horrid jobs.

However, they also know. I have 25 years in. I am not going to vote with my feet, I am interested in looking after my pension entitlement etc. They also know I am not going to easily walk into a 60 grand job in the current economic climate so they can treat me as they want.

whatever you choose. I hope it works out for you.

[Daimo]

www.jobserve.co.uk (http://www.jobserve.co.uk)

Is your friend.

But as i've been finding out, the market has gone down, as have wages.

I took a serious paycut to come work in the local area again, leaving my big company job in the city. Now im looking back at the city, to find the pay has gone down to what im on working locally, hence meaning im stuck.

[squirrel_hunter]

The long term thing about being made redundant again, well yes that could happen, but if I am in the central pool of IT staff, I would be one of the last people it happened to as they are centralising all the support.

But if you do want the redundancy then think long and hard about it as once you move I doubt very much they will give it to you. This sounds a lot like the company I dealt with a few months back. You are TUPEd over and then offered a new position at a different location that will also entail a contract change. Once you move they will not make you redundant as they will have to pay for it, at the moment your previous employer will have to foot the bill...

[-Ralph-]

In Managed Hosting (Cloud Computing Services) we couldn't be busier Fizz. I've been working, eating and sleeping and doing nothing else for about three weeks now, but I'm also signing most of the contracts I put my mind to, so companies are spending on IT again, and playing catch up after two years of spending nothing. The place is crawling in contractors to deliver it all because we don't have enough resource. Completely the wrong end of the country for you though.

[fizzwheel]

I dont think I want the redundancy, its to risky at the moment to be out of work and I always think its easier to find another job if you are currently employed.

Because I have been Tupe'd across my length of service continues whilst I stay employed by the current company. I need to find out what happens to that if I decide to take a new job in Southampton.

Its the fact I have a long length of service that makes my redunancy package favourable so I think I need to protect that. The fact that I would be staying in the same company I think protects that.

Ralph, thats interesting to know that you are busy. Perhaps a sign that things within the I.T. industry are picking up, which helps answer my other thought in my head, so take the relocation when offered keep in in employment and then see if things pickup.

So my only question now really is

1. Do I stay in Yeovil finish the 3 big projects I am working on which makes my CV look good and gives me time to build up a working relationship with my colleagues in southampton and also prove my worth

2. Do I take a 3rd Line support job in Southampton now take my Screwfix knowledge with me and then cross train onto the B & Q systems. I've looked at the 3rd line job role, its pretty much what I do now, but with less responsibility, but has all the aspects in it that I like doing.

Needs some more thought I think...

[-Ralph-]

Managed hosting is the place to be at the moment, I don't know if 'business booming' is true elsewhere in the company, but I can ask around (ie: on-premise professional services, product supply, etc).

[fizzwheel]

But is that just because its the "fashionable or in thing" at the moment.

Is managed hosting something thats here to stay or will it change again in a few years time when the I.T. Industry gets bored ?

If you dont mind having an ask around Ralph, I'd appreciate it. Just to get a flavour of what is going on.

[-Ralph-]

But is that just because its the "fashionable or in thing" at the moment.

Is managed hosting something thats here to stay or will it change again in a few years time when the I.T. Industry gets bored ?

If you dont mind having an ask around Ralph, I'd appreciate it. Just to get a flavour of what is going on.

I think it's here to stay, because once companies outsource a service, it's actually pretty difficult to take it back in house. Over time people move on, or forget stuff, and the skills get lost.

Companies are also coming to a realisation that IT is not what they do, and rather than have to expend time and money, running IT and worrying about racks of servers and everything that goes with them, all they actually care about is making flugelbinders and that when the user sits down at their desk they get the application they need, available, reliable and performing as it should.

It's also cheaper to outsource to a managed hosting provider if you calculate your TCO costs properly. Turns sporadic and expensive capital expenditure (Head of IT goes to the board begging for money every six months), into fixed predictable operational cost, in the current economic climate that's key. Expecting to see a flood of public sector business at the turn of the year.

The market for it will reach a saturation point, just like server virtualisation a couple of years ago, where everyone who is going to do it has done it, then it will just be contract renewals. When/if that happens, I'll just move onto whatever the new latest and greatest is.

[-Ralph-]

I know how you feel Fizz, I too am being pushed in directions I am not happy with. Apparently we have all been graded, and I am judged overpaid for my grade. Hence I am to loose my car. I have argued that I have been given a role in the new organisation below where I was, with less responsibility. No management function etc. I am judged to be technically excellent and as such at the top of the technical grades.

So no scope for salary improvement. No available management positions to move into etc. They seem to find work for me and keep telling me there is nobody else capable of doing this when I ask why me with some of the horrid jobs.

However, they also know. I have 25 years in. I am not going to vote with my feet, I am interested in looking after my pension entitlement etc. They also know I am not going to easily walk into a 60 grand job in the current economic climate so they can treat me as they want.

whatever you choose. I hope it works out for you.

Tim, is your car a 'company car', or it it a 'needs based' pool vehicle?

I'm no HR person, I'm sure there are others who can answer this more authoritatively, but I have spent my whole career in outsourcing, (and unfortunately) seen a lot of change of roles and redundancy for IT people.

I'm 80% sure there is legislation that says if that is a company car, or it's a needs based car that you have had for a considerable amount of time, that it makes up part of your salary package, and they can't reduce that without your agreement.

Don't also forget that on your salary and longevity of service, you are a very expensive person to make redundant, and you hold a huge amount of skills and experience in that company. They may push you in different directions, but it would be a pretty bold move for them to push you out of the door. Cheaper perhaps just to keep you until you retire?

I had an outsourcing project where jobs were going out to Poland, and the guys in the UK were reassigned. They were getting new jobs, but no longer had to be on call. They (quite rightly) fought the removal of their on-call payments and overtime, because they had had it for so long, basically they had planned their mortgages and family budgets around it. They won and their base salaries had to be increased to compensate for the loss in income, even though they no longer had to be on call. This was in a large multi-national that thought nothing of making a thousand redundant at a time and are notoriously hard nosed, but the law was the law and the employees had them banged to rights.

I also had a similar thing when I was an IT support person with a 'needs based' car, but I had had it for three years. I moved role, which was my choice I applied for the role, but after it was all agreed they said I no longer needed my car for work so would loose it. I said if I didn't get to keep my car I would stay where I was as I needed the car to get to work and didn't have the spare cash to go out and spend £200 per month on a new car. They conceded and I moved to the new role and I kept the car, but that was a slightly different circumstance.