Peter Hebblethwaite, the chief executive of P&O Ferries, has resigned from his position following widespread criticism over the dismissal of 800 employees. This mass layoff occurred in March 2022 when the company replaced these workers with less expensive agency staff. P&O Ferries confirmed Hebblethwaite’s departure but did not provide details regarding the reasons for it.
Hebblethwaite faced significant backlash for the decision to terminate the workers, prompting him to testify before Members of Parliament (MPs) where he acknowledged that the layoffs constituted a breach of UK employment law. He argued that no union would have consented to P&O’s plans and that it was more straightforward to offer compensation to the affected workers.
The circumstances surrounding his resignation raise questions about the future direction of P&O Ferries and the company’s labor practices going forward.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrk8j81km2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss