“All of this was handled in a way that added stress for everyone”
Staff at a Belfast-based call centre have shared their “shock and disappointment” at the news that 40 jobs are at risk of redundancy.
Employees at Firstsource Solutions, an international call centre company, who have been working on a contract with Sky Ireland have been told their jobs are at risk.
It has been confirmed that the 40 Sky Ireland roles are being transferred from Belfast to Firstsource Solutions in South Africa.
A spokesperson for Sky Ireland said that Firstsource UK has commenced a redundancy consultation process with its affected employees.
One of the employees affected, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that they have been left disappointed by how the redundancy process has been handled.
They told Belfast Live: “Some of my colleagues were here during the last round of redundancies and can’t believe how differently this has been dealt with. Back then, staff received a much more respectful and supportive package.
“This time, Sky initially told us to take a week, nominate staff reps, and come back with a proposal for what we would like to see. We elected reps with previous experience and put forward something similar to what was offered last time. It turned out to be a complete waste of time – every single proposal was rejected and we were offered the bare legal minimum.
“All of this was handled in a way that added stress for everyone.”
After being told about the potential redundancies last month, they said that the affected staff felt the “final insult” the following day.
They continued: “Firstsource sent a company-wide email praising staff for a strong first quarter, boasting revenue of $259 million. For those of us asking for even a modest enhancement to our redundancy pay, it felt like a real slap in the face.”
A spokesperson from Firstsource said: “Firstsource has begun an employee consultation process involving a small number of roles in Belfast, Northern Ireland. We have informed colleagues directly and are engaging in meaningful consultation with them.
“We understand our responsibility as an employer, and our priority is to support our people with the assistance and guidance they need.
“Northern Ireland continues to remain an important base for Firstsource, serving our multiple clients across financial services, telecom, and utilities.”
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