Release, the national centre for drugs and drugs law, has reported a five-fold increase in the number of calls to its drugs helpline in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period last year. In total, 145 calls relating to drugs at work were received, most of them from employees who work in companies that had not previously implemented drug testing for staff.  Any employee that tests positive can be sacked without a redundancy payment.

The debate should examine why employees are turning more and more to drugs and alcohol to alleaviate their work related stress.  In a  review in the use of drug testing at work, an independent body stated that  there is “no justification for it as a means of policing the private behaviour of employees, or of improving performance and productivity”.

Managing restructures and redundancies in a decisive yet humane way will ensure the longevity of a company rather than resorting to cheap tactics.  Employees who survive the cull have long memories and will vote with their feet as soon as the market picks up.

Recrion is a people management specialist and works with employers and their employees to bring about a positive outcome to restructuring.  Visit www.recrion.co.uk or call 01780 484910 to find out more.

Nortel's head office in Toronto has instigated the US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it restructures and aims to come out as a "more focused, financially sound and competitive company."   It would seem that they have been struggling for some time but the credit squeeze has accelerated their demise.

Financial analysts said that this measure gives the company a fighting chance of survival, but in the meantime it is unclear what will happen to Nortel's 2,000 UK employees while administrators Ernst & Young attend to the stricken company.

It is always sad to see a once great company fail, and the effect that it has on people's lives.  I sense that they will be the first of a number of vendors in the technology sector that find life more difficult in a rapidly changing world.

Our redundancy helpline is seeing unprecedented volumes in calls from employers of every size.  When  one of the giant's fall it will no doubt affect their suppliers as well.

Recrion's services in redundancy and outplacements are aimed at minimising the risk and stress to the individual's affected by the global crisis.  For more information contact Katherine Wiid on 01780 484910 or visit www.recrion.co.uk