Energy Online jobs going but workers kept in dark

Photo / Mark Mitchell

Uncertainty hangs over the future of jobs at Energy Online as the power retailer's operations are moved to parent company Genesis Energy.

Staff were told in October that positions were to be disestablished but a worker who contacted the Herald said that as of Christmas week nothing more had been heard.

"Why is this being done given that Energy Online is far more profitable than the parent company," said one worker who did not want to be named. "Given they are a state-owned enterprise it should be transparent ... but it is not."

A spokesman for taxpayer-owned Genesis said no decisions had been made about redundancies.

However, a letter from the company provided by the worker said Energy Online contracts did not provide for redundancy payments. But a redundancy payment of one month would be made in addition to contractual entitlements.

"For those of you who resign prior to your position being disestablished, you will receive only your contractual entitlements."

The spokesman said no decisions had been made on redundancies although one, possibly two senior staff had left.

Energy Online operations were being folded into Genesis but the brand would continue. "We're taking the operational side of that business into Genesis Energy's operations. As a brand and as a business it's not being closed down," he said.

"We're looking for better commercial outcomes and greater efficiencies for running our business."

Grant Bradley