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Volume 5, Wednesday March 25th, 2009
You’re fired - now what?
Of the 285 workers believed to have been shed from Olympic Dam since last November, 85 of them were directly employed by BHP Billiton.
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By Zak Zeptner
HP Billiton should be better looking after the employees they have retrenched, says a former employee of Olympic Dam. The employee, who prefers to remain anonymous, spoke to The Monitor over concerns the multi-million dollar company BHP Billiton has no care for the people they have cut. “I think it is poor of BHP for not following through with the people they have fired,” said the former employee. “There is no support, no alternatives; it’s just a simple redundancy package, which will keep you going for only so long.” “Why?” is the question being asked by these former employees. Why me? Why my position? What have I done to deserve this? Unfortunately with no true answer in sight, many people are suffering depression and feeling animosity towards the company. “Everything was done so impersonally,” said the former employees when describing the process BHP used to retrench workers. “You were treated like a criminal: marched off the premises, told to walk behind the manager; it was despicable. “It was all so impersonal; you’re treated like a
number, not a person. “I don’t know where my life is headed anymore. You start work there thinking this is the beginning of my new career and then they tell you you’ve been fired. “You end up walking around the house all day with nothing to do and by Friday, you feel almost suicidal. “People’s lives are being played with here.” Richard Yeeles, Manager Corporate Affairs – BHP Billiton Uranium Australia, agrees redundancies can be stressful, emotional and difficult for all involved. “The wellbeing of employees being retrenched at Olympic Dam was a priority at all times,” he said. According to Mr Yeeles, the process by which BHP Billiton announced its retrenchments was carefully organized to ensure the upmost level of compassion. “Managers prepared carefully for their discussions with impacted employees to ensure the process was handled professionally and compassionately.” Mr Yeeles said the employees who had been retrenched attended a meeting with Human Resources representatives on-site where they were notified their position had been made redundant due to the economic downturn. Employees were then notified of their comple-
tion date, with some being escorted off site for “safety issues” and others were allowed to remain for the remainder of the day or for their notice period. Family and Youth Officer, Tom Beever, has been in talks with many of those who have lost their jobs at the Olympic Dam site, discovering there is little or no offer of support for those affected by the job losses. “I am perplexed there is no support offered for friends or colleagues or partners of the people who have lost their jobs,” he told The Monitor. “The loss of a job is high up on the list of traumas; people feel shock, anger, resentment and confusion and there are no answers for them.” Mr Yeeles, however, stated there was a great deal of support for retrenched staff. “In the first instance, all redundant employees were offered access to outplacement (ie. career transition) and counselling support, and urged to utilise these services,” he said. “They are also eligible for relocation assistance including flights for them and family members back to a place of hire or any place in South Australia, transfer of household effects and belongings, temporary accommodation, lease termination costs and temporary car hire. “BHP Billiton Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support also continues to be available to employees and their family. We have also pro-
vided Superannuation, Centrelink and Financial Planning seminars both in Roxby Downs and in Adelaide.” While Mr Yeeles detailed the support offered to former employees, he had little to say about their families, friends and colleagues. “Olympic Dam employees can always access counselling support through our company professional provider or through other services available locally. “If they wish, family members of redundant employees may access the counselling services available in Roxby Downs.” Tom Beever commends the former employee for coming to him and talking about the issue at hand and together, they have come up with the idea of hosting a barbecue for those retrenched and their friends and families. “I can offer words of advice but ultimately the biggest comfort will come from those who understand what people are going through; that’s where the real support comes from,” said Tom. “It’s the personal touch they need, not so much the professional counselling. “People who have lost their jobs, and their friends and families, are all suffering, so this will be a great way for them to come together and form a connection.” For more information, contact Tom Beever on 8671 2892.
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