Remploy cutting costs? Not for managers

~ March 25th, 2008

credit: recompose

State-owned company Remploy provides skilled jobs for disabled workers and make a range of goods. Recently the company has been ‘restructuring’ which is involving the voluntary redudancies of 2,000 of their workforce.

Luckily the financial difficulties don’t go all the way to the top, and Remploy’s managers are still able to afford their swanky company cars (phew!).

The Guardian has reported that 441 managers and sales staff at the head office have company cars - and the top 50 are able to indulge in expensive sports cars, 4×4’s and people carriers.

While the Chief Exec, Bob Warner, blusters on that the majority of the company cars are Ford Focuses or Fiestas the facts speak for themselves. Only 3 of the 441 cars cost below £10,000! This is in itself shocking, but the comment from Mr Warner that “If we took away the cars, there would be no jobs for anyone” defies belief.

How can Remploy justify this £8 million of expenditure for a company supposedly in dire straits? Surely managers are able to drive around equally reliable but far cheaper cars?

It must be hard to stomach for the 2000 people who are out of jobs, while the Exec’s swan around in their Jeeps and Mercedes.

We still think Remploy employees do a fantastic job, and want to support them so do have a look at the range of businesses and services they offer (and try to put thoughts of fancy cars to the back of your mind) to see if you could support these hard working people.