"460 firms answered the survey - 35 per cent had less than 10 staff, 33 per cent of them employ between 10 and 49 staff, 12 per cent had 50 to 99 employees"

It would be nice to know if this "half of uk firms" is from the 35% that has less than 10 employees which is laying off staff, or if it is that 20% with over 100 employees that is laying off staff. With only 460 firms answering the survey, anyone know how the results relate to the country as a whole (regarding numbers of employees)?

There are lies, damn lies and statistics.

If you have a truly random pool of companies, then the 460 firms is a large enough sample to get a good idea of what's to come.

And that is a big *if*.

Andrew Moore has the right idea in that talking about laying off staff is a way to start negotiations for reduction in salaries and benefits and to roll those cost savings forward.

The economy has bottomed, however that doesn't mean that you can't still be laid off or that your company that you work for will be viable long term.

Here in the states, I've seen a 30-35% reduction in salaries being offered where companies are bottom feeding.

The irony is that the young, non-technical puke in HR has the gall to ask ... "... I don't know if you're right for the job. I mean ... how do I know that you'll stick around once the economy turns around? " (Actual quote)

I would have to say that anyone who still has the doom and gloom vision, should get over it because their competition is getting ready to eat their lunch.

But...

the economy is going up, isn't it? The house prices have started to rise again, which is the most important bit, isn't it? Who needs exports and manufacturing and trade, when the house prices are rising? We'll all be rich soon again.

Oh, wait, I'm renting. Blast that.

I'll just hope that my company doesn't lay off too many people then.

as someone in a pretty secure but low paid job I'm always happy to see other people lose their jobs.

they give you the smug "eeeww I'd never work for your money" attitude then the next week they're carrying their crap home in a box. Serves 'em right really.

AC obviously

In ANY recession companies have to put plans in place to attempt to cover whatever they think could come along. Clearly that has to include the number of people you employ. It also includes strategies for keeping everyone employed, such as delaying the VAT return by a month and such things. Companies don't need an excuse to get rid of people that they don't want. If you just consider the cost of inducting people into a company so that they actually become useful and worth their money, then you will see quite a high cost. Companies are loathe to get rid of useful/skilled people because they lose those skills which cost so much to acquire in the first place.

The article suggests that more than half of UK companies have NO PLANS for trimming their workforce. THAT is the MOST worrying factor shown here and THAT is why British companies are so often poor performers in difficult circumstances. They haven't bothered to make any plans!