Possible Job Cuts, Unpaid Leave for TNS UK

In the UK, TNS has told 'a small number of employees' in its Custom division that their jobs are at risk, and has made a more general request to employees to take a fortnight's unpaid leave during the second half of 2009, as it tries to avoid further cuts.

UK CEO Andrew Czarnowski said in a brief statement: 'Like most UK businesses we have not been immune to the effects of the economic downturn. It is with reluctance that a small number of TNS UK Custom employees have been notified that their roles are at risk of redundancy. In addition, employees are being asked to take two weeks unpaid leave between now and December 2009 to reduce potential for further redundancies.

'The actions we are taking are balanced so that we can address our short term business pressures and retain our talent to ensure that we are in the strongest possible position to respond to recover from the recession.'

TNS, which now forms part of Kantar within WPP, recently merged with Research International. WPP has been cutting jobs to match a fall in revenue, as outlined in comments made by CEO Sir Martin Sorrell in March. A revenue drop of almost 6% was announced in late April, followed a week later by the news that having eliminated 3,600 positions in Q1, the group planned to cull as many again in the remainder of 2009. A month ago, Sorrell announced a 6.7% dip in like-for-like revenues for the first four months of the year.

Web sites: www.tnsglobal.com , www.kantargrouptns.com .