UK shipping company fires 800 workers in a single day over Zoom call

The UK-based shipping company 'P&O Ferries' had fired 800 of its employees in a single day with a single video. 

P&O Ferries Company

P&O Ferries started passenger ferry service in the 1960s. DP World, then based in Dubai, acquired the shipping company for 2332 million. The company, which serves 103 countries, is headed by Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, head of Dubai Customs Department.

Video Message

The company sent a video message to P&O Ferries' 800 employees last Thursday. In it, a senior executive made the shocking announcement, "The company has made the decision that its vessels going forward will be primarily crewed by a third party crew provider. Therefore I am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy. Your final day of employment is today."

The official also said that compensation would be paid for not giving advance notice. This shocked the employees of the company.

Struggle

Employees of the company are left shellshocked since they were fired without any prior notice. It has been reported that P&O evicted those employees who refused to leave the boats with private security guards.

P&O denied the allegations, saying its security personnel were working peacefully.

Apologize

A senior company official said employees had been informed directly of their layoffs. He also mentioned that the workers were informed by email, post, courier and text message.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Loss

"Currently, P&O Ferris is under loss of £200 million in two years. We had no choice but to make this decision," the official said.

The UK company's layoff of 800 employees with a single video message has caused a stir around the world.