This Monday might be a day for the P45

THIS coming Monday might be a good day to avoid the boss as experts say it is the day in 2011 when hard-pressed employers will be most likely to lay off their employees.

With the season of Christmas cheer now over, Monday marks the start of the first full week.

Employment law consultancy Peninsula Ireland says it received 3,296 calls to its advice line from clients seeking advice on dismissals. In two-thirds of those calls, the employers said they wanted to start the process of laying off staff from January 10.

In all, 68% of the employers said they could not rule out further redundancies later in 2011.

“The festive cheer has now come to an end and some employees will be bought back down to earth with a bump when they are told their services are no longer required,” said Alan Price, managing director of Peninsula Ireland.

“Bosses don’t want to be the Scrooge before Christmas and whilst they are being sympathetic by holding off dismissals it seems that they are only delaying the inevitable.”

He said that as businesses were struggling to cope with the recession and it was important that employers got rid of any passengers in order to improve cash flow.

“The festive break provides bosses with time in which to evaluate their businesses’ performance and more often than not they decide the best way in which to cut expenditure is to cut their payroll,” said Mr Price.

“We’ve received a record number of calls from Irish businesses since the beginning of December regarding dismissals and this is a sign of things to come for 2011.”

He said employees in the struggling firms needed to do all they could to make themselves indispensable.

“Giving 110% to the cause and showing a great willingness to succeed will help to show bosses that their business cannot function without these employees,” he said.

“Employees’ rights have increased significantly over recent years and they are now in a stronger position than ever to impose litigation. With this in mind, it is vital businesses follow correct procedures with regards to dismissals or they could find themselves engrossed in a legal battle which can prove costly, not only financially but also with regards to a business’ reputation.”