British call center employees working at internet service provider Virgin Media, part of Liberty Global, have expressed concern following an announcement that some customer contact activities will be outsourced. The company's employees were told last week that the company plans to outsource its telesales and retention teams to outsourcing company Sitel. These are teams based in Teesside, Manchester and Sheffield, where Virgin employs a large number of contact center agents.

Virgin Media has confirmed that employees will continue to sell Virgin Media products and services only. Furthermore, the employees are transferred on the basis of the UK TUPE scheme (Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of Employment), which is comparable to a transfer of undertaking. According to Sitel, employees retain their rights and teams continue to work in the same locations.

Human Resources