More than 100 workers at a major city firm have been told they are out of a job days before Christmas after their employer went into administration.
Staff at Richard Irvin, which provides management and mechanical project services, expressed anger last night over the sudden announcement.
An estimated 110 were informed of the move shortly before 4pm yesterday, leaving some struggling over the festive period.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
One said: “I worked at the company for seven years and now am out of job and pocket.
“Most of the workforce work from week to week so this will be a huge blow.
“The staff were not warned and we are so angry at the company for not given us any idea before yesterday.”
Another former employee had spent “hundreds” of pounds on Christmas presents for his children last weekend, a decision he would not have made if he had known he would be unemployed the following week.
In April of this year, Richard Irvin Aberdeen employed 400 people in operations across Scotland including Dundee, Edinburgh, Elgin, Glasgow and Inverness – and about 35% of the firm’s work came from outside the Granite City area.
Major projects under his leadership included work on the flagship mixed-use Grade A office and hotel development at Marischal Square in Aberdeen, as well as five new primary schools across the north-east.
The firm could not be reached for comment last night
Staff were due to finish tomorrow for two weeks of holidays, and now have been informed to claim any accrued holiday pay through the government.
Sad news about Richard Irvin today.
I feel for all the staff at this time.
If we can be of assistance to any staff please get in touch with our building services team on 015921631644— BlueprintRecruitment (@blueprintrec) December 19, 2018
One woman, who did not wish to be named, is currently appealing online for job opportunities for her husband – to ensure the family have enough money going into the New Year.
She said: “They were called into the office at 3.45 this afternoon and told the company had gone into administration and they had no job after today.
“They have been assured they will be paid for last week on Friday but we are yet to see if that happens.
“Holiday pay for the Xmas period which has been accrued won’t be paid and everyone has been told to claim for this and for their redundancy pay through the government.”
The company’s Aberdeen Facebook page was taken offline on Wednesday night amidst a barrage of negative comments.