What can I add to what has already been pretty grim reading? I'll give it a go though.
I’ve worked for Ingeus for nearly 4 years and in this time I have seen the company go from being a great place to work, to an absolutely dreadful place to work. It is dire. And that is no exaggeration. I cannot speak for other staff members outside of London, but I do know that in the London offices, morale is so low people are praying to leave the company.
If it was just me feeling like this, then maybe you could argue that I'm a one-off. Two of us talking the same, you'd probably argue I corrupted someone's mind. But when whole offices are feeling the same, there is something inextricably wrong with things.
There have been many incidents of inadequate management and I personally have had to endure countless meetings with my PDM to try and progress in this job. Was I successful? Not a chance. After asking for redundancies, Ingeus in London is now left with two PDMs across 6 offices (5 if you don't include Hammersmith).
The PDMs that are now 'running' the entire operations of these sites can only be described as inept, power hungry, inadequate, boring, childish, unprofessional and to be honest, downright What can I add to what has already been pretty grim reading? I'll give it a go though.
I’ve worked for Ingeus for nearly 4 years and in this time I have seen the company go from being a great place to work, to an absolutely dreadful place to work. It is dire. And that is no exaggeration. I cannot speak for other staff members outside of London, but I do know that in the London offices, morale is so low people are praying to leave the company.
If it was just me feeling like this, then maybe you could argue that I'm a one-off. Two of us talking the same, you'd probably argue I corrupted someone's mind. But when whole offices are feeling the same, there is something inextricably wrong with things.
There have been many incidents of inadequate management and I personally have had to endure countless meetings with my PDM to try and progress in this job. Was I successful? Not a chance. After asking for redundancies, Ingeus in London is now left with two PDMs across 6 offices (5 if you don't include Hammersmith).
The PDMs that are now 'running' the entire operations of these sites can only be described as inept, power hungry, inadequate, boring, childish, unprofessional and to be honest, downright horrible people for which to work. Some may find this offensive, but it is how many, many members of staff feel about these managers. And I have spoken to lots of staff across the different sites.
Where once, PDMs used to instil confidence, motivation and a sense of achievement amongst staff, PDMs now resort to tiresome clichés, dreary morning rev ups surrounding performance and not a lot else. The life in offices has been sucked out.
PDMs do not want to hear that clients are difficult. They see the role through rose-tinted glasses and have reached a stage where all they see are closed appointments, forward appointments and job starts. And let’s not forget the ever present reminder for us to see a minimum of 9 clients a day (which many people do and have been doing), but which has now taken a turn towards seeing 9 clients a day up until 5pm. Does Ingeus not get it? Some people work best at different times of the day?
In this role we are constantly reminded of the need to help our clients move into sustainable work. I get that. I buy into that. But not all clients can and want to work. I encounter many clients who simply want to stay where they are. When this is highlighted to management, our competency as advisors is called into question. As if to say, ‘how dare you think our clients can’t or don’t want to work’. Clients’ feelings are very important to Ingeus and I understand this, but when do our feelings get heard? Who is listening to staff about the issues an advisor faces on a daily basis?
Managers need to see that unrealistic targets are killing people. Good people. People who are lovely to alongside with. Does Ingeus care? No way. People feel anxious, worried, and angry even that people’s livelihoods are on the line if we don’t get people into work. Let me say that again. Our jobs are on the line if we don’t get people a job. Think about that. Does it sound ethical?
Staff members are leaving in their droves and from the ones I have spoken to, say they are leaving because the PDMs are terrible and because of the unrealistic job targets. Do they care? Not a chance. Take for instance just recently, a staff member was fired for not performing and the following email was sent out to everyone:
“I wanted to inform you that XXX has left the business today after not reaching the minimum standards needed within EST to pass his probation period. XXX has left the business with immediate effect, myself and XXX are currently speaking to his employers and the message from EST is business as usual we have a fantastic pipeline of opportunities across London that the EPC’s are working on at the moment and as a team we are continuing to push our business development output”.
This is from a manager of supposed repute, sending out an email which basically reads: Ingeus doesn’t care for the work you put in and will sack you should you fail to comply. Cold and callus is all I can say. No professionalism and definitely sends out a very bad message to staff.
I cannot wait to leave this company and am applying for work profusely. In the meantime all I can do is try to get along through each rev up, each appointment, each lame email with gritted teeth. I urge you to write to the CEO, explain how you feel and demand for something to change if you want to carry on working for this company. If like me, you do not, enjoy the time you have left with the people who like working with. I pray you find something really quick.
And finally, to the CEO. You have allowed all this to happen on your watch. You should be ashamed. You need to take a long look at yourself in the mirror and seriously ask yourself what the hell is going on. Don't sit in your ivory tower, pondering on your next move. Take your finger out and get to the offices. Speak to people. Show them you care and are listening. Forget the odd email here and there, take action and be a leader. Listen to what staff say and make changes
