Haden Young announces job cuts

Haden Young is making job cuts as the construction sector remains one of the hardest hit in the current recession.

Both site operatives and office staff will be made redundant in order to cut costs as work continues to dry up.

A spokesperson for the Balfour Beatty-owned firm said: “We can confirm that Haden Young has consulted a number of employees regarding possible redundancies in the UK.

“Where possible the company is seeking to find alternative positions within Balfour Beatty. Consultations are underway with our employees and representatives. Until this process is complete we cannot make further comment.”

Unite Amicus national officer Tom Hardacre said: “We’re seeing redundancies throughout the industry.

“We’re looking at initiatives through the sector skills councils to encourage workers to continue training even if they’re not currently working so that they have something when we come out of the recession and so that the industry will not have lost vital skills resources.

“At the moment, we’re trying to persuade employers to consider arrangements other than redundancy, as they have in the car industry.”

Hardacre did not wish to elaborate on possible alternatives at this moment in time, but inspiration can certainly be found within the car manufacturing industry. Car-makers Jaguar Land Rover and Vauxhall have offered staff sabbaticals in return for 80% and 30% of pay respectively. Honda has announced plans to shut its Swindon plant for February and March and Aston Martin and Bentley have instituted three-day weeks at certain factories.

More ideas on alternatives to redundancy can be found at www.keepbritainworking.com.