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Rep: How do you feel about the fact that the package demonstrates that DLA values its fee earners and support staff less than other firms in the City?

Rep: This process will move on and in a month's time this will be a very different place. The talent left, those you want to keep, may be doing the work of many and there is a danger that you'll start to lose what you have left, and then you'll struggle.

Usher: We ask you to retain confidentiality and to ask your constituents to do the same.

Rep: I'm happy to ask my constituents but I know that the response will be the firm is treating us poorly so why should we do what you want.

HR Manager: I assume you mean in relation to the package on offer, but the answer to that is that the firm is in line with the statutory redundancy regulations.

Rep: You have to comply with the statutory regulations.

HR Manager: Yes, and we're doing that. Shall we move onto the next point?

Rep: Everyone is very pissed off to see their mates dumped out with nothing and there's a level of disdain compared to other firms.

HR Manager: We know and the partnership as a whole knows that there will be some work to build bridges at the end of the process, and there will be a number of steps taken to do that. I can only reiterate that if the firm had another option than to do this, we would do it.

Rep: There is an option, raise the package.

HR Manager: The firm has made its decision in relation to that.

Rep: So there's been no consultation on the redundancy package?

HR Manager: No, there's no statutory requirement to consult on the redundancy package offered.

Rep: Why are we offering the package we are when DLA US are offering 3 months?

Usher: I can't speak for the US, they're a different partnership, I have no idea about that.

Rep: [in response to a suggestion by HR Manager that some team drinks might improve morale] I'm astonished by that. I'm not sure you appreciate the level of anger on the floors.

HR Manager: We are very much aware.

Rep: No amount of drinks and the opportunity to talk to your partner are going to compensate for seeing a quarter of your mates leaving on poor terms.

Rep: This is a different climate to six months ago. The likelihood of getting another job is unlikely. The package only takes you to one month, people are at risk of losing their homes.

HR Manager: We are aware of that, and as I said, if there was any alternative the firm would be doing something different.

Rep: You do have an option: raise the redundancy package.

Usher: That's not the decision that's been made.

Rep: You mentioned giving help for securing alternative employment, what will that be?

HR Manager: There are various things we can do, firstly every individual has the option to use the Employee Assistance Programme provided by Lifeworks.

Rep: What's that?

HR Manager: It's an advice line for individuals who've been made redundant and they can provide guidance about the impact of redundancy and what to do next.

Rep: A helpline?