TalkTalk-Tiscali merger proves fraught

Axe falls

Tiscali staff have turned to their lawyers after managers from TalkTalk arrived wielding the axe.

Tiscali became part of the Carphone Warehouse group back in May, but the expected cuts only began this month.

With very little warning, a human resources team put most if not all of Tiscali's technical managers at risk of redundancy. The move and the way it was done has sparked serious resentment.

Such is the upset among Tiscali's technical managers in Milton Keynes and Stevenage at how their new owners are handling the cuts, that at least 26 have taken legal advice for potential unfair and constructive dismissal claims.

Several who have spoken to The Register claim proper redundancy procedures have not been followed and talked of a "bullying" attitude from the incoming management. Many have been told to report to junior staff within TalkTalk during the reorganisation and allege a deliberate lack of communciation from senior ranks.

Asked for the firm's comment on the ongoing ructions, a TalkTalk spokesman said: "We are surprised by the comments given we have received no formal claims and believe we followed our legal obligations."

Carphone Warehouse paid £236m for Tiscali, which had teetered on the brink of administration for several months. It's planned that once it has integrated the acquisition, TalkTalk will be spun off as a separate company. ®