Sort of a personal dilemma...What do you think?

[krhall]

So here's the dilemma (it's not mine):

Work have made both the Senior Manager and Deputy Manager of a department redundant on Monday.

Senior Manager is older and has no mortgage etc. the deputy manager however has a big mortgage and children.

There is no other management in the department.

They did a handover and were gone...

So today an overheard phone call was quizzed and it turns out that a member of the team had called the ex-deputy manager, who cleared his desk out on Tuesday, to ask for advice about a project.

On hearing this the person involved went mad and in no uncertain terms made it clear that the team member should not have done that and had acted really insensitively.

I fully agreed with this and think the person was out of order to do this, the company didn't need the skill and knowledge of this person...

The ex-deputy manager is one of those people who would never say no, as they knew.

The question is:

Would you have made the call to the ex-deputy manager if you was in the same situation?

[fizzwheel]

Depends how badly in the sh*t I was.

One would assume that the handover was thorough and decent, if not, then that leaves a problem.

I'd try to avoid it, and do everything possible to not make that call. I'd definately have not made the call without consulting my team or a manager for advice first though.

[andrewsmith]

Even the most thorough of hand over still misses something and I was getting the odd email for where projects and drawings had been archived on projects that I had done a drawing for a year earlier.

It also depends upon how this person had been treat through the process. A friend was made redundant in March and it was handled poorly with everyone knowing who was made redundant before they were told.

So the 3 people involved literally cleared their desks and dumped the papers/ projects on the section leader and directors desks and walked out on the Friday

[davepreston]

if it was someone i was friendly with id phone ,if not i wouldnt. simply put a mate would help a just fired boss wouldnt, hope that makes sence

[anna]

As has been said it would very much depend on the person involved, the situation and how good the handover was.

The bottom line is though that person is no longer being paid for the job, therefore has no reason to answer any further questions in relation to it.

Therefore if asked it would be entirely down to their discretion as to whether they would answer any questions put to them.

So I guess it isnt a straight forward yes, no thing. Saying that I would go to great lengths to make it the last choice, and would have tried everything prior to picking that phone up to ask.

[arenalife]

It depends on the personal relationship they had, the guy may have offered his number to help out to the person who called him. If that's the case, what's the problem.

[benji106]

It depends on the personal relationship they had, the guy may have offered his number to help out to the person who called him. If that's the case, what's the problem.

+1
I have called people after they have left to ask work related stuff, but only mates who I know will not mind helping out. If I didnt have a personal relationship with the person I would only call them as a last resort and would consult someone else before doing so.

[Luckypants]

Having been on the receiving end of such a phone call after being made redundant, I can say that it was insensitive in the extreme. Mate or not, the company deemed my position and knowledge/skill redundant (i.e. we don't need you anymore buddy!), so they are not going to get the benefit of my knowledge again.

The person receiving the call should have told them to take a hike. (I did!)

Totally out of order IMO.

[timwilky]

I have been in the horrid position where I have been forced by higher management to make a personal friend redundant. The same management have asked me some weeks later has he got a job yet? and do you think he might like to come back for 6 months to manage the systems we didn't know he looked after whilst we get somebody trained to do the job.

You can guess what his response was when I made the call

[Luckypants]

You can guess what his response was when I made the call

Contract rate is £65/hour with minimum 40 hours/week and minimum contract of 6 months?

[collis]

You can guess what his response was when I made the call
"see you in court"

That would open a whole can of worms for a tribunal there proving that there was need for his position especailly if asking them back after only a few months.

[punyXpress]

Contract rate is £65/hour with minimum 40 hours/week and minimum contract of 6 months?
Precisely the reply ex-deputy manager should have given!
Spot on as ever, Mike

[B1k3R]

I contract and often get calls about previous work or stuff that needs doing when people do not know I have finished my contract. My answer, and rate, depends on who is calling!