AAR Voluntary Redundancies; Another Allens Spy Speaks

We exclusively reported on Monday ‘the rife speculation’ that some of the staff named by Allens Arthur Robinson as having voluntarily accepted a redundancy were forced into that decision by the firm.

In response to that post, we received the following comments:

a voluntary exit

absolutely true, couple of senior associates were put on gardening leave and then mysteriously their offices were clear of their personal effects and next thing you know, they are on ‘the list’.

We obviously cannot confirm whether these rumours are accurate; however, if true, it would be a fantastic way of reducing head-count, maintaining partner profits, and quarantining the firm from the deleterious media coverage associated with involuntary redundancies. Of course, added to that, such a programme would have the upside that any involuntarily redundant employees could inform co-workers and future employers that the decision was their own.

We understand that by potentially exposing such a scheme (note: we do not know whether there is a scheme), there is a risk that the involuntarily redundant workers might lose this ‘upside’. But is it fair that the ‘rife speculation’ be directed at those who truly volunteered?

If you volunteered in a voluntary redundancy scheme that was in truth constituted by several involuntarily redundant workers, would you feel like you should be reimbursed your nightclub entry fee? Send the Firm Spy your news and views!