Ninety call centre staff from Birmingham Midshires have had their Christmas party cancelled at the last minute by bosses who believe that the celebration may be “misconstrued” in the midst of the global financial crisis.
The £10-a-head disco and buffet was all set to be enjoyed by workers from the Wolverhampton-based bank tonight at Molineux.
But managers cancelled it suddenly yesterday, explaining that they believed it would give the wrong impression to cash-strapped customers.
Angry staff members, who are on an average salary of £14,500, contacted the Express & Star to say that it was never going to be a “swanky reception for executives” but a simple get-together between colleagues.
One worker, who has been in the call centre for six years, said: “We were called into a meeting yesterday and were told it would look like a waste of money in the current climate.
“They were worried it would be misconstrued in the press.
“But the thing is, we’re not high-paid managers – we’re just regular workers who are feeling the pinch as much as anyone and were looking forward to the traditional Christmas do.
“I know there was uproar about the Royal Bank of Scotland party but this is hardly in the same league.
“We’d all shelled out £10 and loads of us had bought new clothes. Everyone is so disappointed, especially as we’re unsure about the future of our jobs as well.”
Birmingham Midshires said today that no-one would be left out of pocket as a result of the decision.
Emma Partridge, a spokeswoman for Birmingham Midshires, said: “For a number of reasons, an event planned is no longer taking place.
“We really appreciate the hard work of our colleagues and the outstanding service that they provide to our customers,” she added. Last week, executives from the Royal Bank of Scotland sparked outrage when they threw a £300,000 secret champagne junket.
It was held less than a month after being bailed out by British taxpayers to the tune of £20 billion.
Bankers and their partners enjoyed a lavish party to mark their “success” at the end of the year which saw the financial industry implode.
The supposedly stricken bank laid on the celebration in secret to prevent details reaching the public.
The bank even switched from the original venue and moved the party 350 miles north to Edinburgh.
7 Comments
At this late stage, I dare say there will be significant cancellation charges payable to the venue, caterers, and any booked entertainment - so they may as well have gone ahead and had the party. I don’t think the public would view a few below average salary workers having a get together as ostentatious. You can bet the bosses will still be having their junkets.
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It’s a pity the party has been cancelled for I
don’t believe anyone would take exception when all that attend have to pay.
If it had been free then the management would have taken the right decision particularly in the economic climate.
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The ‘reality’ doesn’t come in to it where the press are concerned. This would just be seen as “Big Bank Celebrates whilst Crunch bites” unfortunately.
Personally, i’m in agreeance with the bank on this one - plus the fact that ‘Office parties’ are usually rubbish affairs to simply supply boring gossip for a few days anyway.
Nah, i’d call it a lucky escape personally
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I am obviously appalled
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Why wont they just tell us the truth!
Pendeford will be closed in the New Year and everyone there will lose their jobs,its fairly common knowledge-Halifax will look after their own,anyone from a BMBS background will be a lamb to the slaughter.They could at least have given us one last party,most of the cost of which has come from us anyway.IT STINKS!-I’ve worked here since it opened in 1995,before that I worked opposite the Grand for 7 years-IT STINKS-I can see a mass walk-out over this!
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Get over it guys - it was obviously going to happen after the 2 parties massacred by News of the World. You’re not the only ones to have parties canned. As for Lee, what crappy little office parties have you been to, cus ours are usually top notch!
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I don’t think it was fair to cancel it, when the workers forked out the £10 a head themselves.
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