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IBM staffer at risk of redundo? Capita will wipe away your tears

That isn't a joke – they run IBM's Employee Assistance Programme

The thousand-plus IBM UK Global Technology Services peeps at risk of redundancy need fear not – caring corporation Capita has been contracted to provide support services for those affected by the process.

The Global Technology Services arm at Big Blue last month put 1,352 staff at risk of redundancy as it trims the local wage bill and offshores some more work to its International Delivery Centre. Some 185 jobs in the division are expected to be cut.

The staff at IBM will know by the middle of next month if they are to lose their jobs. Affected people are expected to leave the firm 12 weeks later.

Staff have formed an Employee Consultation Committee as a formal means to raise issues, and one such IBMer asked if management were concerned of the potential impact job cuts will have on workers’ mental state or on their families.

In its response, seen by us, IBM said it was unable to speculate on how staff will be affected, but added:

“As a responsible employer, IBM are concerned for the welfare of all employment and offer support via the Employee Assistance Programme. This confidential service is run independently of IBM by Capita plc.

“The service provides employees with high quality and immediate access to independent, professional advice and support at no cost, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” the ECC document seen by us stated.

Less scrupulous publications might point out that IBM sending its staff into the arms of Capita might be enough to tip them over the edge, but we couldn’t possibly comment.

El Reg wonders if Capita runs such a service for its own staff, some of whom have been placed on the chopping block in the last five years – whether it be the O2 call centre workers or hard pressed folk in the IT Services business unit. ®

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