Talk Talk may bill no-show workers

TALK Talk workers booked into today’s staff party in England who fail to turn up may have to pay flight and other charges, it has emerged.

The company, which announced this week it is to close its Waterford call centre with the loss of 575 jobs, is proceeding with a social day in England for all its staff despite the bad news delivered to Irish workers.

A spokesperson said yesterday that he believed some Waterford-based staff will still turn up for the party — dubbed the “great getaway” by management. Flights and accommodation are being paid for by Talk Talk.

The party was arranged some months ago, before a decision was made on the Waterford call centre.

“Employees in Waterford are still most welcome to come,” he said. “Of course we understand some of them may choose not to.”

Asked if local speculation that anyone who cancels their booking at the party will have to pay for their ticket, the spokesperson said “that’s rubbish”.

However, he added that, while anyone cancelling who informs the company beforehand will not have to pay anything, it may be different for employees who fail to arrive at the party without telling their bosses.

“If people say they’re coming and don’t turn up, we’ll have to take a look at that. We’ve got flights and hotels booked and we’re more than happy if people don’t come.”

He said he had “no idea” how many Irish employees are booked for the staff party.

Speculation that some Waterford workers may travel to the get-together and take the opportunity to stage a protest was discounted by staff in the middle of negotiations with the company regarding redundancy payments.

“There’s no point in us doing that, because it’s only going to make it worse for us,” Alan Roche of Talk Talk said.

He said only a “small minority” of employees who have been offered a redundancy deal are happy with what is available.

An eight-year veteran with Talk Talk, he took a year’s leave of absence to travel to Australia with his partner. He returned home on Tuesday — the day before the news broke.

Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton is due to visit Waterford on Monday to meet workers. He will also meet local politicians and business interests to discuss the worsening employment crisis in the region, which has shed thousands of jobs in the last few years.