LTB 528/16 – Workplace Adjustments and Assisted Job Search (Formerly EWA/EWR)

No. 528/2016 Ref: DJ/LEL 9 September 2016

TO ALL BRANCHES WITH MEMBERS EMPLOYED BY BT PLC

Dear Colleague,

Workplace Adjustments and Assisted Job Search (Formerly EWA/EWR)

Please find attached the Assisted Job Search (AJS), which is now the replacement to the EWR/EWA process. The BT Personnel Team has been, and still is, in discussions with the company on the contents of this process. The personnel team is still pursuing a number of issues. These issues are listed below:-

• Clarification to be explicitly contained within the EWR process regarding PPP
• Candidates are given priority consideration for vacancies ahead of any general adverts.
• It is increasingly perceived by CWU activists and members that the EWR (formally the MCC) is now a very harsh, unfavourable and unsupportive pseudo-redeployment process, which management are utilising to fast track managed exits in situations where there is no surplus.
• A number of examples are being cited where those placed on to the EWR process are at a disadvantage compared to a ‘redeployee’.
• Medical Retirement, as part of the new process, needs to be reflected within both the Attendance and RITIE policies.
• The up to 6 months’ job search deadline is not acceptable.
• In far too many cases, people are being managed out of the Company using the EWR process.
• The 6 months job search clock’ should not continue ticking during periods of secondments, projects or short-term accommodations.

The next meeting with the company will be in the next few weeks. In the meantime, if Branches have further issues with the AJS process please let me know.

Any enquires regarding this LTB should be to my office in the first instance.

Yours sincerely,

DAVE JUKES
Assistant Secretary