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£6.93 redundancy package for paper boy
Bo Wilson30.10.09
A paper boy aged 13 could be Britain's youngest recession victim after being laid off from his £6.53-a-week job.
Kane Middleton was amazed to get a formal letter from his employer outlining a "redundancy package".
He was told he was entitled to "one week's pay in lieu of notice, which equates to £6.93 (subject to tax and NI)." The boy was also told that his employer, Letterboxdirect, had "fully assessed opportunities for redeployment within the company" but had not found any.
Kane had started his job two months ago to save to buy himself a hamster.
He delivered 100 copies of the local newspaper, the Bedfordshire Times and Citizen, in his village of Clophill.
He said today he was "gutted" to have been dealt the same blow as adult workers during the credit crunch. He said: "I felt winded when I saw the letter. I know the job market is tough out there but I want to work. I don't want handouts. All that's available to me now is car-washing and mowing lawns."
His father Peter, 53, an electronics technician, said the letter was "almost comical" in its formality. But his son was worried he would not be able to afford to look after his hamster, Splodge.
Reader views (4)
Another jobless whinger.
Get up off your backside, put down your Big Mac, turn off daytime TV and GET A JOB!
- Anthony, Esher, Surrey
"Gutted" is an understatement. What about his recreational exercise opportunities, free healthcare and subsidised company transport.
This boy should immediately see an employment lawyer to gain a retraining and pension package and sign on in the meantime.
Perhaps he should have previously joined the CWU so that the posties could have extended the strike to cover his delivery responsibilities ?
- James, City of London
What no 'resettlement' package for the poor blighter?
MPs get up to £60,000 to 'resettle' from their current home to their um ... current home?!
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
"£6.93 redundancy package"?
Perhaps this hamster loving child needs to ask his local MP how much severance pay they get in the House of Conmen - currently an obscene £60,000 (with the first £30,000 tax free).
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
