CABLE & Wireless Guernsey is asking staff to volunteer to lose their jobs. The company wants to ensure it has the right people in the right places. It is also trying to reduce the age profile of its 268-strong workforce.

‘This is not a compulsory or even a voluntary redundancy scheme, which addresses company structure by reviewing individual posts,’ said a C&W spokesman.

‘Instead, it seeks to deal with the issues of resource and skills requirement in a pragmatic way and with the full knowledge and involvement of our staff.

‘We have decided to offer employees the opportunity to leave the company voluntarily in return for payment.’

Staff wishing to apply have until Friday 16 April to do so.

For those aged under 40, the payment is equivalent to three weeks’ pensionable pay per year of service up to a maximum of 52 weeks. For staff aged 50 to 58, it is a maximum of two-and-a-half times salary.

The scheme is not offered as part of a redundancy programme.

C&W said it had an ageing workforce and needed to develop younger employees who could help the company grow.

Additionally, it intends placing greater emphasis on performance management for staff.

‘We are looking at the resources and skills needed to meet the challenges ahead, such as changes in technology, new markets and increasing customer expectations. We are looking at achieving this by working with our staff and giving them choices,’ said a spokesman.

Asked whether any staff would lose jobs and what would happen if there were no volunteers, the spokesman said: ‘There is no predetermined outcome. We are looking at our workforce in order to become more efficient and effective in the face of competition and to realise new opportunities.

‘If someone is accepted for voluntary release, we will look at whether we need to replace them or introduce new skills either directly or elsewhere in the company on a case-by-case basis.

‘This has been developed in close co-operation with our staff and relevant parties. Our commitment to training and development is unabated and will be reinforced.’

C&W said it had worked with the union Connect, which represents the vast majority of its staff, and it had welcomed the voluntary release scheme.

‘This is a creative and sensitive approach to dealing with changing business conditions and reflects best practice in other companies where Connect is recognised,’ said Connect national officer Steph Marston.

C&W said that the outcome had not been predetermined but would allow it to consider applications for voluntary release from staff, based on what is best for the company, its staff and customers.

It believes the issues it faces are common to many companies in the Bailiwick.

‘It will give C&W Guernsey the flexibility to compete in new markets and allocate resources where they are most needed to meet changing customer requirements,’ said its spokesman.

The Board of Industry’s Industrial Relations Service declined to comment.

* In November 2002, 35 job losses were announced by C&W as part of restructuring following its takeover of Guernsey Telecoms. This followed earlier fears in the States that up to 60 could go.