Christmas nightmare: Npower to cut 4,500 jobs as part of restructuring process

-

Christmas nightmare: Npower to cut 4,500 jobs as part of restructuring process

Energy provider Npower, has announced it will be restructuring its business which unions claim may put 4,500 jobs at risk.

The company has claimed that their two-year restructuring plan will cost £500 million and by 2022 will give £100 million in profits for Npower’s German owner, E.ON.

Unison, the largest trade union in the UK has labelled this move a “cruel blow” as Npower workers receive this news in the run-up to Christmas.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

The GMB trade union similarly labelled this a “body blow” and said that Npower “is a poorly managed company.”

Johannes Teyssen, chief executive of E.ON said:

The UK market is currently particularly challenging,.

We’ve emphasised repeatedly that we’ll take all necessary action to return our business there to consistent profitability.

The company has claimed that the unions suggestion of 4,500 jobs possibly being cut is accurate.

Dave Prentis, the general secretary of Unison said:

The UK energy market is in real danger of collapse. If nothing is done, there could soon be other casualties. Npower’s demise means there’s no time to waste. It makes the powerful case for bringing the retail arms of the big six energy firms into public ownership. This would preserve jobs, ensure customers get a better deal and allow the UK to meet its carbon neutral targets.

 

Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.

Latest news

Sustainable business starts with people, not HR policies

Why long-term success depends on supporting employees, not just meeting ESG targets, with practical steps for leaders to build healthier organisations.

Hiring steadies but Gulf crisis threatens recovery in UK jobs market

UK hiring shows signs of stabilising, but rising global uncertainty linked to the Gulf crisis is weighing on employer confidence and delaying recovery.

Women ‘face career setback’ risk with flexible working

Female staff using remote or reduced-hour arrangements more likely to move into lower-status roles, raising concerns about bias in career progression.

Jo Kansagra: Make work benefits work for Gen Z

Gen Z employees are entering the workforce at full steam, and yet many workplace benefits schemes are firmly stuck in the past.
- Advertisement -

Union access plans risk straining workplace relations, CIPD warns

Proposed rules on workplace access raise concerns about employer readiness and operational strain.

Petra Wilton on managers struggling with new workplace laws

“Managers are not being given the tools they need to fully understand how the rules of the workplace are changing.”

Must read

Ian Butterworth: Recruiters, are you missing a trick with social media?

There are now over 2.206 billion people actively using social media, with the figure rising 176 million in the last year. But despite people’s obvious love for this digital form of communication, many recruiters are still failing to utilise it effectively.

Duncan Lewin: How to be more assertive at work

Do you always make yourself heard at work? Are you always able to express yourself clearly and openly? If not, Duncan Lewin has some tips.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you