Former Newark Thomas Cook employee discusses her emotional turnaround after finding work at Hays Travel
A former Thomas Cook employee has spoken of her devastation at the collapse of the company — and relief at finding work again.
Lyndsey Newton, who spent 14 years at the travel giant’s Newark premises, said employees were left in the dark after the company suddenly collapsed earlier this year.
She said the Newark team, which was made up of five employees, were finding out information on the future of their careers by watching the news and checking social media.
“We had absolutely no idea it was going to happen,” said Lyndsey, who travelled to work in Newark from her home in Cotgrave.
“We were trading on the Sunday before and it was business as usual. We knew as much as the public,” she said.
The 178-year-old holiday firm went out of business in late September, leaving thousands without work and more than 150,000 holidaymakers stranded.
“I was left with bills to pay,” said Lyndsey.
“I woke up on Monday morning to the news that it had fallen through.
“We were told to join a conference call where they told us we were redundant and that we had to go to the job centre.
“They told us thanks for your service, now off you go.”
Lyndsey said she did not know how she was going to provide for her two children, without the burden falling entirely on her partner, Paul.
But soon after, Hays Travel agreed to take on 550 Thomas Cook stores in the UK, including Newark, where Lyndsey now works.
“We heard that Hays were taking the shops back and so I rang Hays recruitment,” said Lyndsey.
“I gave them my personal details — what branch I was at, the hours I did, what my salary was — and they basically said great, we will get a contact over. It was as easy at that.
“They knew there were talented people out of work who weren’t at fault and they were keen to snap them up as quickly as possible.
“Personally, it gave me a sense of relief because I have been doing this job since I was 16 and I loved it.
“The thought of going through job sites and going to countless interviews petrified me, so when I got the call (from Hays) it was relief.
“I could go back to my shop, I could see my customers and pick up where I left off, but with a new name.”
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