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Steven Chanyi

I write further to the article entitled ‘Jobs to go at CPA – but global crisis not to blame’ in the Jersey Evening Post on 05 November, which, as one of those affected, I read with great interest.

I think this quote from Mr. Sewell, referring to the redundancies, sums it up quite nicely: “Basically this is something we do periodically and it is no big story”. Well that is a relief. No need to worry about those twenty, or so, employees who have given up the majority of their lives for the past year, five years, ten years, or nearly 30 years – there’s no story there. Put into the context of “record profits last year” and a “flying start” to this year, one begins to develop a picture of CPA under his stewardship. Long gone are the days when CPA could boast that ‘caring for its people’ constituted one of its core values.

I suppose if I were an executive of Mr. Sewell’s ilk, I would not see my employees as the backbone of my company and major contributors to its success. I wouldn’t want to discuss the hardships they may face because of the decisions of my executive team. Instead, I would probably distract you from such unpleasant topics, with things like our shiny new building, our impressive growth, and our global reach. I would ensure that I kept everyone ‘on message’ and behind my primary management priority – maximising the perceived value of my company to prospective buyers. Because, really, that is what business is all about today, no longer about providing a quality product or service, at a reasonable price, backed up with outstanding customer service, and a relationship built on respect, trust, and mutual benefit.

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