Can anyone confirm that Accenture are making redundancies or is this just rumours? There seems to be no public or internal announcements. I ask because I have been on the bench a little while and whilst my ratings are good; im worried with the lack of work out there
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watch this space...email just delivered to consulting work force that 3-4% has to go. panels being set up to discuss things like criteria for redundancies etc.
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I am sure the leadership at accenture will axe jobs. It seems like they have been considering this for a while.
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This is what they call "Performance. Delivered." is it?
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apparently all such emails go out on friday, so you can cool off over weekend
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"email just delivered to consulting work force that 3-4% has to go. panels being set up to discuss things like criteria for redundancies etc."
Are you sure about that? I'm in the consulting workforce and I haven't seen any such thing.
Being on the Bench is not a bad thing on it's own. I would worry more if you have a lot's of company, or if you are offered roles that you are not accepting (or are trying for and not being accepted).
Anonoman
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sorry..they are focusing on SIT, ACG and TOP
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Crazy timing. Im in SI&T - currently on the bench - have been for a little while so little concerned. If they go on ratings then I should be ok but seen as im not chargeable that may work against me. Lets wait and see...
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there are some job posts right here on this website, directly from Accenture. as we continue this thread.
so it cannot be true that jobs are being cut and being hired at the same time, most likely in the same practise areas....
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Don't get confused by the churn (& redundancy) and the recruitment model; they are totally different.
Yes acc is planning for 3-4% redundancy for the above mentioned groups whilst the recruitment is an on going process.
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I'm an analyst and just recently been put on the bench. I'm pretty worried because i was only rated as consistent with.... what exactly do you think is the criteria to be put on the list of people that get made redundant?
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im a c2 who got a below last yr...kiss my job goodbye?
might not be such a bad thing, i was looking to move out, anyone know how this affects references or if a voluntary redundancy maybe offered?
cheers
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hmm, it's a bit meaningless "targetting" ach, si&t and top. that's basically all of consulting.
i am in si&t, but all my roles have been in AIMS.
i should transfer to AIMs ASAP I think :D
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you are deluded if you think SI&T or AIMS is consulting
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Anyone know what a typical redundancy package is? Does it get taxed? Does it come in a lump sum?
I'm in ACG.
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It varies i believe according to how long you have been in the company. bear in mind that by law if you have done less than 2 years you qualify for nothing at all. Having said that, when i start someone in my starter group got counseled out at 13 months, and got 6K and didn't have to pay back the second tranche of the bonus. I also know someone who left 2 months ago and got 50% of the yearly pay having been at ACN for 3 years. The payout is tax free up to 30K
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i heard its 4 months pay, standard for all.
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is it going to be LIFO - last in first out ?
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nono FIFO - Fit In or F@#! Off!!!
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LIFO would not make sense, considering graduate recruitment is continuing as per usual.
analysts are cheap
and how is SI&T not consulting? my job's fun, i like it. my role is delivery focussed. i did a strategy piece before where we did workshops and wrote documents. i imagine it was more "consultanty". if that was the case, then consulting is boring. delivery is fun!
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Not LIFO. A % will need to go at each level.
In the last big round (2001) it ended up being a bit random, a few analysts did go (including ones who were staffed !)
As for the criteria. FIFO is a fair summary however it is obviously indirect via the performance process.
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what are SIT, ACG and TOP
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Systems Integration & Technology (SI&T), Analyst Consulting Group (ACG) and Talent & Organisational Performance (T&OP....
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how quickly is this going to get done, i know they said consultations etc in the coming weeks? i should really start looking for a new job now i guess..
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How buoyant is the consulting job market right now? Would it be beasy to leave as an analyst (at promotion) point and get a job as a consultant elsewhere?
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So which do you think the e-mail meant:
- x% out of UK total employee numbers, or
- x% out of UK Consulting employee numbers?
Makes a big difference...
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Oh boy Accenture on fire....
Panic attack for all yeah. Just start kissing up and you will be fine just as most kiss up to get good appraisal
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3-4% of UK total workforce but only in SIT, ACG and TOP so that means upto 20-30% in those groups...it was well dressed up..
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Can anyone tell me what the mail said? It must have only gone to certain groups since I didn't receive anything...
Anon
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Mail only went to people in the three groups affected.
But surely you've heard of something called the tinterweb: go to google news, type Accenture, and select the first article.
By my calculations, would be more like 15-20% of the groups listed.
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15 -20% of the group wow impressive....so....
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if 10% of thhe SEs and 20% of the Snr Mgrs are made redundant that will solve the problem that way the L2 can go golfing
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Was ZB made redundant i have not heard from him regarding this message from uncle thomlison
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ZB was in Solutions, so he must already have been let go a few weeks back.
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Not much more I'm afraid, given cost pressures, uncertain and sinusoidal market sentiment, gyrating capital flows and the belated but insightful realisation that project management, change management, IT strategy, IT architecture, IT sourcing, process mapping, process optimisation charlatans are NOT really worth much value to client, particularly clients with a modicum of business consciousness and economic literacy
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ZB was not and never has been in solutions !!!
He worked at PA Consulting, but they kicked him out for performance reasons
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ZB seems to me more like a grammar school teacher not a consultant...always think is about pulling his dictionary and putting words on the forum
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I thought the original ZB was Zbigniew Brzezinski. He's on LinkedIn and, apparently, "Who is who Poland 2005"...
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apparently 400 ish people will go according to accenture's spokesperson.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39498924,00.htm
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ZB - 10 years to complete a PHD????!!!!!!!!
Even a process mapper could do it, part time, in 5.
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"the belated but insightful realisation that project management, change management, IT strategy, IT architecture, IT sourcing, process mapping, process optimisation charlatans are NOT really worth much value to client, particularly clients with a modicum of business consciousness and economic literacy"
It's traditionally strategy consultancy that's hardest hit in downturns, presumably because these clients with a modicum of business consciousness and economic literacy think that actually delivering real change rather than just talking shop is actually a reasonable thing to do.
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so its pretty much established theyre making cuts...im a consultant, recieved a below at the end of last year, however im 118% chargeable and havent been on the bench in 3 years....what are my chances of staying? or will they just target people on the bench? .... im scared for my job...should i be looking elsewhere?
thanks
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I think one should always be looking somewhere if one is in accenture.
Dont think there will be any specific targets like bench, oviously bench first then check if that person is good...
Seems like the bench is getting warm and warm in accenture so the door is the next option
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about the join my band of merry brothers and sisters on the bench..good times ahead! though will give me plenty of time to brush up the CV.
Que Sera Sera.
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You might be running out of time on the bench hurry
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Seems like you folks are back to CV writing and working hard in order not to get fired innit
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They may have announced 3-4% redundancies now but they've been moving people out for months already.
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I'd like to go voluntarily. what's a guy got to do to get made redundant around here!?
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hmmm...I was supposed to be starting in the ACG, aligned to Strategy, this coming January. Which ACN have now 'deferred' to late august/september 09.
I'm aware that to maintain a certain level of 'churn' they'll keep recruiting at a very minimised level - but does anyone have an idea if being 'tagged' as strategy in the ACG is likely to mean a longer wait to start or get onto a project? I know it's a pretty small part of what ACN do.
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I'm in the same boat as TT. I was supposed to start at the beginning of November then rang up yesterday to find that they had kindly postponed my start date until august/september 09. Nice little bomb to drop within weeks of starting
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Po,
Were you supposed to be 'aligned' to strategy as well?
Yes, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth once you've already sorted an apartment etc. Ah well, time to start applying to other stuff I guess...find something constructive to do for 09!
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are solutions affected as well - they got the update email today? didn't know solutions fell under SI&T..
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and exactly where did you think they fell? under MCIM?
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p.s. yes they are affected
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fair enough..i also thought it was only the consulting workforce..
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As far as I know solutions does not fall under SI&T: SI&T is a Consulting Growth Platform.
The redundancies announced last week were specifically for SI&T consulting.
However, Solutions has been undergoing a completely separate redundancy programme over the past few months.
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Accenture UKI 101
Solutions is owned by the UKDC
UKDC is in turn owned by SI&T
ergo Solutions is in SI&T
ergo Solutions is affected by the SI&T culling
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I would definitely worry for your job if you are unable to spell 'its' or 'lots'.
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thanks for that constructive input.
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To echo that well done B, high performance delivered and valued added - you must br one hell of a consultant
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does anyone know when this process is going to kick off properly? tired of waiting to see if i am going to be on the hit list...want it over and done with already..put us out of our misery!
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did one not get the email giving details of the process?
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the email basically states the group consultations start on friday 17th. other than that..no indication of timeline of future activities...
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well at the acg event they intimated that if you are on the hit list you'll find out in the first week in november....
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Will the suit against acn make them increase the % to 10% of workforced made redundand?
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Perhaps the one filed by Chrysler. But completely irrelevant.
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Any news on the first batch to be sent packing or good ols dave is still trying to figure it out
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voluntary redunancy offered, with same terms as compulsory:
minimum 4.5 months salary, but can be more depending on time of service
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Voluntary redundancies allegedly went out today to Consulting staff.
Anyone got any clue about other growth platforms?
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Strange the breakdown and number of consultants and SM's leaving in SITs
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anyone from acn who has been counselled willing to share what the terms and conditions are? have a new job and well the timing is just perfect to opt for volulntary redundancy? just want to know if there are any non compete clauses
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How will they know if you have joined a competitor?
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Answer: Eventually, the competitor will phone up your boss and ask for a reference.
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Eventually: You boss might be your pal and you can tell your boss to say you left
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Most bosses aren't 'friends' and will gladly dish out the dirt during a telephone reference if it's 'off the record'. Don't forget, it will probably have been your boss that didn't stick up for you during the "who shall we get rid of this month" meeting, hence why the axe landed on you and not somebody else.
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Somehow disagree with youcos the SEs make that call all the time they rarely even ask the SMs for opinion before firing anyone even the low performers, so I think you are wrong here.
If the individual decideds to put an SM that is his pal then most likely he/she will stand for you.
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Actually, the standard policy is to refer anyone who calls for a reference to HR who then provide a standard response. Standard ass covering to avoid being sued...
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'Suppose' yes supposed to informa HR but wonder how many things we are supposed to do and we never
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I'm A2 about to go up to C1 in March. Considering the voluntary redundancy. Reckon it'd be easy to get a job as a consultant fairly quickly right now? The redundancy is only worth it (financially) if that's the case.
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No. I doubt you will be able to go through application and the 2 rounds (generally) of interviews before the November volunteer deadline. I applied for couple if places at the start of October and its's taken till yesterday and today to hear back. Eitherway, the major players are hiring, depends I guess on what you have to offer
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What us the redundancy package for the A2?
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not for an A2. redundancy pay is tax free upto £30K
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Ok that will pi$$ us off in Revenues and cutoms....that you lot will work away with a lot
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Well umm HMRC set the rules, just following the law book
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OK can you lot keep it on the hush so that taxman will not have to come in and take some for the banks (bailout)....
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Ho will this affect march and september promotions because looking at the direction the market is taking I dont see it getting better in the next 1 year?
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Also, will there be a blanket ban on March promotions?
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We were told (Analyst) that March is still going ahead. Hope it will still be a decent promotion round as I'm hoping to go up.
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Depends on who mentioned this to you ie march promotion will go ahead. I doubt if there will be any march promotion
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Promotions will be for top performers only, but there won't be a blanket ban - after all, it costs nothing to dole out job titles. Similarly, PIPs will be more widespread for low performers.
Pay rises are another matter - promotion and pay will be delinked for 2009 (i.e. if you go up a grade there won't be an accompanying pay increment).
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Re promotion for top performers -will this apply only to those banded "at the very top" or will the "significantly above" also sneak in for promotion in March?
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To me it seems like lot of folks are leaving or taking the VR is that as a result of the R or just normal
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5 left this week and is just starting
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I was one of the first in the UK to take VR at the end of September. It was a pretty good package and I negotiated it up (Remember you can do that !). For those considering I am now a contract consultant for an oil company that ACN does work with !
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I think the best people that will enjoy the VR is those that have a good business idea and are looking for a capital....So ACN boys and girls put the VR package and start something maybe compete with ACN
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The earlier you take advantage of VR, the more generous the payoff structure. The value of VR diminishes over the course of the programme (this isn't unique to ACN - it's a common effect). I'd recommend anyone looking to take advantage of VR to do so before the end of 2008 to maximise the value of the deal.
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Will be a useful smokescreen for people who have got counselled out - most of them always describe it as VR anyway to spin their departure - this time there is actually a VR programme so gives them cover.
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eventually it gets out that the VR program is a november only, so when you start hearing about these VRs from any other time take it with a pinch of salt.
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Enough said when someone thinks that 20-30% of the comany was in scope... Does no one have any idea about the company they work for...
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does anyone know any more about the t&cs? How much tenure do you need to qualify for more than 4.5 months?
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it's across the board regardless of time. i take it you either arent at ACN or not within scope for the redundancies.
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So has anyone been offered the redundancy payment?
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well deadline for response is monday, so your question would probably get better a answer (if not a few) then
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just got my VR acceptance!! quite pleased
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Just had mine rejected - not sure how I feel about it to be honest.....
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yeah there were more than anticipated apparently and also yu had to effectively convince your project to let you go too - not the easiest thing
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I heard that the level of request for VR was a lot higher than expected and may have caught management a little by surprise. This could have a positive impact on the number for compulsory now.
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What were the terms for the VR?
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the terms (well one of them) were not to talk about the terms, beyond ACN.
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I thought the terms were not to talk about the terms to the media.
Does this website count as the media?
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I thought this website was anonymous?
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I've got a feeling that a lot of people are going to be made very happy or not, depending on what CR news they are given in the very near future!!
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Oh come on, someone tell!
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what terms are you after?
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do you want the numbers or the terms one had to sign to accept it is what i am asking
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go ahead and post both if you know!
the numbers are more interesting though
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Sorry surfer dude - had to take that posting down. Please don't post anything on this forum that you have specifically agreed not to disclose. Thanks, Bryan - Top-Consultant.com
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I wont say what I got but suffice to say I got less than you
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aaah technically though you only arent allowed to discuss the terms if you agree to accept the VR, if you don't agree, they have negelected to include a sepearate clause to say that even if you dont accept it you cant talk about it
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Regarding negotiating the redundancy package up, since they have now said that everyone (whether VR or CR) will get the same number of months pay as compensation depending on level, do you think it is still possible to negotiate the amount up? I have just been accpeted for VR and am wondering whether I can do this. I am aware that some people in the past at my level have received 1.5 months salary more compensation than what is being offered to people at my level right now... and I'm wondering whether it is possible to get that too!
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no room for negotiating vr
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does anyone know if there'll be another round next year? i didn't take it this time but would like to next year.
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Bryan from TP,
Don't you think that is a little unfair. What ever happened to free speech.
If I were to say that I can afford to travel for 6 months and not be out of pocket, would you still delete my post.
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hmmm business or cattle class?
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Due to the demand for VR coupled with the planned CR round that were rolled into Monday. The total number that went was 500 ! This means I wouldn't expect another round in the new year but thats not to say there won't be one in 2009.
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hmm - you have to wonder why in the current climate c.700 people applied for VR so they could get out of accenture.. Half of those were turned down.
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Its definitely not the company it was. I have only been there for over 4 years but have taken VR at SM. Most of my company mates have taken VR as well. I'd find it hard to recommend to experienced hires !
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Anyone received any information today about the CR? It's happening today, isnt it?
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You're a bit late mate.
They must have missed you. Did you check your voicemail on Wed?
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What is interesting, well at least it is to me, is the number of people who would have been targeted for CR, who were saved by overwhelming VR applicants. And... I wonder if ACN leadership in uk will actually do something in response.
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There were not targeted CR redundancies based on performance but a targeted number of people to shed from the ACN payroll. So if this done via VR or CR it doesn't matter
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surely you read the criteria for selecting people for CR, how can you say it was not based on their performance, 2 out of 3 of the selection criteria were indicative of performance; and they did have a targeted CR list which was ready to go by the time the VR deadline came along
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I agree that criteria for selection have been based also on performance (obviously). What I mean is that the problem is in the numbers - too many people in a slugghish market - and not in having low performers to make redundant. Get the numbers right through VR or CR does not make any difference to this aim
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aaaah my remark wasn't about acn performance, but normally when you get oversubscribed on VR it is indicative of the sentiment of your workforce; and i was pondering if the leadership would see it this
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aaaah my remark wasn't about acn performance, but normally when you get oversubscribed on VR it is indicative of the sentiment of your workforce; and i was pondering if the leadership would see it this
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Will be any other VR in immdt future in ACN ? Will package for VR be better or worse ? I think I should have applied for VR, but missed it..:-(
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I'm pretty sure that the leadership already know that employee satisfaction is low, so don't need the VR stats to tell them this. What the VR figures do say is that ACN is still overstaffed and under-employed. If utilisation were higher, people would be more inclined to stick around and develop their careers. The fact is that they see more opportunity in a rich payoff now than sitting on the bench for another 12-24 months. This is (believe it or not) good news - the more people clear out voluntarily, the quicker the rest of the business can recover.
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I don't agree with you POW.
Utilisation is only slightly down on last year so there are not that many people sitting around on the bench, If there were then VR/CR numbers would have been much higher.
This is really an indication of people's unrest working for Acn. They believe a generous payout is better than working there any longer.
I'm tempted to agree with them !
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Just wondering whether anyone knew if any people are leaving through VR or CR at Director/Partner and whether they are still hiring at that level.
Thanks.
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no Vr/CR at that level it was only Senior Manager and below
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You don't make partners redundant as they have such a large equity share. you council out poor performers who don't make target.
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ACN Senior Execs don't have as large a hand as Partners would in a partnership, as they are employees rather than owners. However, like senior executives in industry, they're unlikely to be made redundant and more likely to be paid off, take early retirement, leave to spend more time with the family, or other methods that allow both the individual and the company to save face.
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So are VR and CR going to find their way into Enterprise and Services too, I wonder?
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Just met somebody from ACN Dublin on my way home, email went round the office the other day saying 70 VRs.
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Heard that next round will not be 'full time' workers, contractors and agency to avoid any negative press.
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Well you're source is full of crap.
The open message given as part of the previous round consultation process in Nov was that the leadership had already taken all possible actions to preserve full time jobs, and one of the specific things done was cut down the use of external contractors to the absolute minimum .
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Just heard today that ACN Irish practice has let all the grad intake from Sept 08 who were on the bench/non chargable go. I understand that this was a sizable proportion of the September intake and the cuts were across SI&T and also MCIM.
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well I heard that all the non chargeable or benchers in Ireland were put on flexi-leave til september on 30% pay so who knows what's happening! My money's on a June round of redundancies.....
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ummmm so June 09 another cut if the market does not pick up
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Thank god for a devalued £, or the irish bench would still be staffed and the UK bench would be out to grass.
Dont think Gordon meant it though :)
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Looks like we're in for another ride. Just heard another round of cuts for March. Hoping someone can confirm this?
Cuts also happening in the US with a layoffs started last week and continuing through this week - targeting %10 workforce.
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Everyone needs to calm down. Rumors and uncertainty are just turning into what people think is 'truth'. I heard direct from the horse’s mouth that there are no plans for a March redund round - but of course they will continue to monitor the situation. Just like any other company at this point in time. All this speculation is just causing unnecessary stress to everyone.
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New set of redundancies currently underway in BPO mobilisation - people will find out Monday.
Redundnacies likely to happen later in the year (which many are pleased about) in ACG - the main HR head hinted at this
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Hey Camster, what do you reckon the chances are that Accenture might make some redundancies sometime in the next 20 years?
(Having sooooo much fun trying to imagine your reaction to this...)
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LOL! What a great thread :)
Well Cool, I will have to tweak my model. It will have to take into account discount rates of each year from Y=0 to Y=19, present values, then throw in my modified "redundancy equation", etc. Let me know of you want the details, but since it's automated, I can tell you the answer.
It is..... 167%, i.e more than likely to happen. Oh wait, this is post #167. What a coincidence!
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Mr Cool
Outrageous and underhand tactics being deployed here - just to knock Camster's thread off top 15 threads of the month.
What's really bad is you must have had to click through pages and pages of threads to find this one ! takes ages (just tried it and got bored in 2006 threads :-) )
Now do I go and add to the other thread to try and counter balance these tactics - actually Camster will be Online soon so will probably do it anyway only 9 or so behind this one ?
DC
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Someone hasn't found the sort by post count button.
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That's why I'm a Detiolet Consultant and not an MC :-)
DC
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DC
Lol! I have to admit, I was sitting on an interminable conf call musing about how long it would take to generate a post to overtake camsters when I had the brainwave of simply reawakening this one.
Thanks to you and tom1 for joining in ( and to Camster who took it well). You've bumped it on a few more posts...
But yes, in the end a pretty sneaky underhand tactic, so barring a genuine massive redundancy cull at Accenture, I shall refrain from further boosting of this thread.
Mr laughing his head off to the point of not being Cool
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Touch wood! But things are looking up. Am getting positive vibes from the UK/continent. Let's hope that it's proper green shoots, to go with spring. Touchwood again!
OK then, have a good weekend, guys. Time to enjoy the golf, and finish off some work. Was hoping to have a break north of here, but had some new stuff dumped on me :(
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Just thought I'd rejuvinate this thread for hell of it - if only to get a Camster response, can also see all those new people to the forum who work for ACN's faeces when they see this and the amount of responses. Only kidding guys.
DC
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Just thought I'd rejuvinate this thread for hell of it - if only to get a Camster response, can also see all those new people to the forum who work for ACN's faeces when they see this and the amount of responses. Only kidding guys.
DC
I was begging for a redundancy round for the last year I was there, when I saw this thread appear I was about to cry thinking about the £££ I gave up resigning the normal way...
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