Did say it was all change here? If anyone has any knowledge of TUPE (Transfer of undertakings - what a new employer has to offer you when they take over your current employer) I’d be interested in your comments.

I’m glad of the protection we have in the UK - a lot of guys over in the states are just out on their ears. Basically the law says the new employer has to continue your employment with as good or better terms & conditions as you had. However, easy as it sounds it’s a bit more complicated than that. What about all the stuff that is not in your contract but accepted practice - do you pay for tea & coffee? If the office moves (a short distance) what about extra travelling time / costs? If the office moves a long way do they have to offer relocation or can they just make you redundant?

Then there are share options. I had a load of share options at $15, I sold some at $25 last year (making $10 a share - hurrah!) and saved the rest for when they were worth $100 (ever the optimist) or at least $25+. Because the company no longer exists these were automatically sold at the take over price of $16 - hence I’m a long way short of what I was hoping to get. The problem(!) is I’m actually  a few quid better off than I was so I probably don’t have a complaint in law - I’ve just lost the hope of having a good deal more. It’s a bit like the shopkeeper giving you your lottery stake back - yeah you haven’t lost but you were expecting to win.

Anyway, I don’t think I’ve ever received “free money” with such a bad taste in my mouth.