April Smith Made Redundant

[Cricko]

Apes

@apriljlsmith

Oh and for those asking. I am and forever will be involved with
@SouthendUtdLFC

I created it from nothing. Just a dream and now we are finally getting somewhere. Hard work pays off.

 

[Dave Smiths Love Child]

Redundancy is usually made to shirkers, seems to me that she is a striver. I don't know April, but given that this thread is currently at 5 pages then she is clearly somebody who is much loved and respected.

I hope this is an aberration, not a sign of things to come under the club's new ownership.

Absolute bollox, after 20 years service I was made redundant, thankfully pay off was enough to retire, never missed a day work, got on time in to the office, did ad hoc duties which is anything no one else wanted to do and happy times with staff , total shock when called in snd I was the only one in the office, it was purely a business decision. So please don’t say redundant is usually for shirkers!!
It’s insulting to many who face hard times regardless of age and sex when they get the call
I really hope April finds employment and a club that cares as much as she does in a role for the community x

 

[OldBlueLady]

Absolute bollox, after 20 years service I was made redundant, thankfully pay off was enough to retire, never missed a day work, got on time in to the office, did ad hoc duties which is anything no one else wanted to do and happy times with staff , total shock when called in snd I was the only one in the office, it was purely a business decision. So please don’t say redundant is usually for shirkers!!
It’s insulting to many who face hard times regardless of age and sex when they get the call
I really hope April finds employment and a club that cares as much as she does in a role for the community x

You're so right, often, in large businesses, it can be due to age and passed off as "voluntary" redundancy - go before you're pushed! Happened in the Bank back in the early 90s and happened in the Prison Service about 10 years ago too.

 

[Barling Magna]

You're so right, often, in large businesses, it can be due to age and passed off as "voluntary" redundancy - go before you're pushed! Happened in the Bank back in the early 90s and happened in the Prison Service about 10 years ago too.

Age works both ways with redundancy under the "last in, first out" approach.

 

[CanveyCastle]

I was the first one out after I told my boss "put the manual away, see how I work -- in the real world"

It didn't help that I told her she was a useless lump of poo.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Redundancy is usually made to shirkers, seems to me that she is a striver. I don't know April, but given that this thread is currently at 5 pages then she is clearly somebody who is much loved and respected.

I hope this is an aberration, not a sign of things to come under the club's new ownership.

On what do you base this assertion?
Don't normally say someone is wrong, and over 5,600 posts have only said it once before.
Congratulations! You've made it number two.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

You're so right, often, in large businesses, it can be due to age and passed off as "voluntary" redundancy - go before you're pushed! Happened in the Bank back in the early 90s and happened in the Prison Service about 10 years ago too.

It's happened at Waitrose in Southend recently. Lots of the elderly staff on great contracts were nudged into redundancy.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I believe she has been told her "Match Day Liaison Officer" role is being made redundant. Which is weird in itself, because that is not her entire job. Just ask the Senior Shrimpers and the numerous schools she works with. I'm sure @Tinks can clarify.

I think they are backing this role back to the Club, which will be interesting because April is who I deal with for the flags, she also organises mascots and school visits, including escorts.

From what I've heard and from what I can gather, April went above and beyond to organise and sort out an endless list of things. Perhaps a lot more than her bosses realise. They will quickly realise though when staff will be asked why isn't this done? and why hasn't that been organised? And the answer will always be, oh April used to sort all that out. She seemed to be everywhere, doing everything. She's a one off, and an absolute credit to anyone she works for.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

From what I've heard and from what I can gather, April went above and beyond to organise and sort out an endless list of things. Perhaps a lot more than her bosses realise. They will quickly realise though when staff will be asked why isn't this done? and why hasn't that been organised? And the answer will always be, oh April used to sort all that out. She seemed to be everywhere, doing everything. She's a one off, and an absolute credit to anyone she works for.

Great post.

It’s people like April who make this club what it is. People with blue and yellow running through their veins and go well above and beyond the call of duty. They are the sticking plaster who have held the club together during the mismanagement of Martin and I’m shocked that the Consortium still haven’t stepped in to make this right.

In many ways Apes is one of the spiritual successors to Sid Broomfield. I don’t say that lightly but whilst Sid built a ground, Apes built a women’s football team and helped build community.

We need go-getters like that and we need to treat them right. We mustn’t take people like April, like @OldBlueLady with the Junior Blues, like Rylee in the Commercial department, @Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset with SUEPA, @The Watermill Wino with the coaches and a whole host more - whether they are volunteers or employees who go above and beyond - for granted.

There will be players out there on the pitch rightly getting their deserved round of applause for being heroes but there are many more heroes, many of whom I won’t even know their name who also deserve our - and our club’s - appreciation for helping the club survive.

 

[blues exile]

You're so right, often, in large businesses, it can be due to age and passed off as "voluntary" redundancy - go before you're pushed! Happened in the Bank back in the early 90s and happened in the Prison Service about 10 years ago too.

Can vouch for that. Reached 50 years old in 1995 and bank made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Ms Smith's case seems inexplicable on whatever grounds the decision was made and certainly a PR disaster from which the consortium need to distance themselves without delay.

 

[dannypav]

I think the question was asked earlier on here 'Is the consortium/ Justin aware' and the answer was 'yes'.
Can I ask if they were aware as in informed by Aprils boss or only aware when SZ brought it to their attention ?
I understand that the football club , and especially the consortium as they've not yet taken over , are not her direct employers , but this could have a big impact on how the club is perceived etc so I do hope they make their feelings known too.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Great post.

It’s people like April who make this club what it is. People with blue and yellow running through their veins and go well above and beyond the call of duty. They are the sticking plaster who have held the club together during the mismanagement of Martin and I’m shocked that the Consortium still haven’t stepped in to make this right.

In many ways Apes is one of the spiritual successors to Sid Broomfield. I don’t say that lightly but whilst Sid built a ground, Apes built a women’s football team and helped build community.

We need go-getters like that and we need to treat them right. We mustn’t take people like April, like @OldBlueLady with the Junior Blues, like Rylee in the Commercial department, @Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset with SUEPA, @The Watermill Wino with the coaches and a whole host more - whether they are volunteers or employees who go above and beyond - for granted.

There will be players out there on the pitch rightly getting their deserved round of applause for being heroes but there are many more heroes, many of whom I won’t even know their name who also deserve our - and our club’s - appreciation for helping the club survive.

Superb post.

 

[meerkat54]

Did April get her due acknowledgment from the supporters today ?

 

[RHB]

Did April get her due acknowledgment from the supporters today ?

Sadly not, unless I missed it. She walked round the pitch at the beginning of the first half, and later she was with the players group after the game, but no crowd recognition that I heard. (me and her clapped as she went by!).

 

[SUFCbaldy]

Did April get her due acknowledgment from the supporters today ?

I shouted out her name and wished her well, which she acknowledged

 

[Richard Hearn]

She got mentioned by Paul Clark on the radio after the game

 

[Whispering Bob]

She got a pitch side hug from me and Bruv.

 

[Napster]

Hi everyone, hope you're well.

April contacted me and told me her news earlier this week. I've seen the outpouring of incredulity and bewilderment at her redundancy and my feelings in the note sent to her, below, are clear.

I hope the club employs April in a full time role and in my opinion she would make an exceptional and exciting choice as the first woman on the new board. What she doesn't know or understand about the club, the city, the supporters and teams, men and women, should be of great value to the club in the future.

Stay well and enjoy summer.

Stan Collymore.

Bless you Stan and welcome back

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Hi everyone, hope you're well.

April contacted me and told me her news earlier this week. I've seen the outpouring of incredulity and bewilderment at her redundancy and my feelings in the note sent to her, below, are clear.

I hope the club employs April in a full time role and in my opinion she would make an exceptional and exciting choice as the first woman on the new board. What she doesn't know or understand about the club, the city, the supporters and teams, men and women, should be of great value to the club in the future.

Stay well and enjoy summer.

Stan Collymore.View attachment 31821View attachment 31822

Nice one Stan, this is brilliant .. hopefully it’ll make a difference. April is the kind of person we can’t be letting go.

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

She got a pitch side hug from me and Bruv.

I saw her pre-match loitering just outside the Shrimpers, gave her a kiss and a quick cuddle and wished her well. Hopefully fingers crossed she will be back again sometime very soon.