Wouldn't want to know that I lost my job this way....

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1092425,00.html

STAFF SACKED BY TEXT

Thousands of employees learnt they were about to be out of a job - via a text message.

Staff at the Amulet Group, parent company of the Accident Group, discovered the situation when 2,500 of them were sent a text message saying their salaries would not be paid.

The group, which provides legal expenses insurance for personal injury claims, has been placed in administration with accountancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers in charge.

The niche market was created when the Government abolished legal aid for personal injury claims, allowing solicitors to pitch for business on a "no win, no fee" basis.

Amulet issued a statement which said it had faced increasing difficulties "on a number of fronts" in recent months.

Accident Group operates on the basis of customers taking out insurance to cover them for personal injury claims.

Their legal expenses - instead of being covered by legal aid - are then covered by the insurance.

If the customer wins, the insurance amount is claimed back through through the victor's solicitors.

Employees at The Accident Group were told of their fate by a text message with a number to ring at head office.

An answer machine message from administrator PwC said: "All staff who are being retained will be contacted today.

"If you have not been spoken to you are therefore being made redundant with immediate effect."

It added: "Unfortunately there are effectively no funds available to pay the salaries for May."

Staff have been told to make claims for arrears of pay, outstanding holiday pay, pay in lieu of notice and redundancy pay to the DTI.