GBP26k for 30 years of service is harsh. M&S have scored a PR own goal with this one.

Fred, Sydney, Australia

Buster I emphathise with you. I am no socialist but I agree with people being treated with respect and not shoddily. Sledom do we hear of these failed leaders of globalist corporatists falling on their own swords. It is the little man that pays each and every time. vote ukip

R McAuley, Antrim, UK

A company that has lost its way. It used to be about its people, now it resents its people by doing things like this. i shop with them less and less as it is just not what it was.A pity.

Johnny Norfolk, Mileham, England

t is about time Marks and Spencers acknowledges failure by the bosses.
Sue, Southampton, Hampshire

Do you EVER read the financial pages? Do you have ANY idea what you're talking about?

Marks and Spencer's has been brought back from the brink. Share price, dividends, profit, employment... Success!

James, London, UK

Don't the employees have a contract of employment that stipulates redundancy pay levels ?

Ifan Morgan, Muscat, Oman

Marks and Spencers should be ashamed of itself. They pay their bosses far too much. They are overpriced and hypocritical. Ladies clothes are disgraceful and very poorly made. Customer Service is appalling. It is about time Marks and Spencers acknowledges failure by the bosses.

Sue, Southampton, Hampshire

What grubby behaviour from a so-called British institution. I hope other former customers of Marks and Spencer make their views known to the company's senior management. But Laura from London's comments are quite incredible - the sort of thing a particularly arrogant and out of touch manager says.

Paul, Leeds,

Buster of Birmingham: Why should you complain about others receiving more redundancy pay than you? Pure unadulterated envy is a sickness that is helping to ruin the country. If M&S staff can negotiate a better deal, good luck to them I say. It's no skin off my nose, nor yours Buster.

Stuart, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

I received the basic minimum redundancy package when I lost my job after 25 years, and I don't see why anyone should be entitled to any enhanced payments, No-one. It should be a level playing field.

Buster, Birmingham,

MS is a commercial organisation that was making a legitimate and legal change to its policies

The employee who was in a position of trust should be dismissed for breach of confidentiality of company information. He/she cannot be considered a whistleblower.

A Harris, Kettering, UK

The statement from M&S that they are ahead of the UK average doesn't wash. The UK is the poor man of Europe when it comes to redundancy pay. e.g. In Belgium, the 49 year old quoted in the article would get roughly 2 years pay as a minimum with many blue chip companies paying significantly more (3yr)

Steve, Basel, Switzerland

So, what difference has a Labour government made in the last 10 years - none whatsoever...The workers get hammered, the incompetent bosses a huge payout. This is your legacy Mr Brown, Mr Blair et al. Nothing to be proud of, is it?

Dean, Manea, England

Why has this M&S whistle blower been suspended. Surely this policy should be debated in open forum, and staff feedback should be possible on these changes.
What are the board trying to hide?

Stewart , Belfast, United Kingdom

I see other comment just ignores the fact that terms and conditions (however generous) which people sign up to can be thrown out when it suites mangement. The original generosity is part of the contract not to be discarded on a whim. Bullying whistle blowers just confirms poor management practice.

mikegee, bournemouth, uk

well that will save rosie a 25 year redundancy payment wont it,just sack the person instead,hope he/she doesnt need to sell his/her shares though -what are they at the moment - oh yeah about 2 quid.

david devonport, Great Yarmouth, UK

The reason that senior executives receive large sums when dismissed is because one day it will happen to them and there is no incentive to change the current practice.

Brian , Baldock,

M+S is the iconic store of the 21st century. A smoothly plausible but ineffective boss; boring, vastly over-priced goods; an unrealistic view of its position in society; and, as now revealed, a culture of cover-up where an employee trying to warn colleagues about a lying management is 'disciplined'.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Is there not a law that is supposed to protect whistleblowers?

martin, sheffield, uk

It should be illegal to fire employees for publicly discussing pay and conditions; firms should not be able to use the threat of dismissal in order to pay unfairly. All companies should be expected to have a transparent pay spine including inflationary increments and a fair system of bonuses.

Helen, Oxford,

In the USA a contract is a contract. A company can bring in a new contract but it only applies to new workers. The old workers retain their rights offered when the joined unless they volunteer to take a retirement package.

wxalexander, Delta, Canada

"Why do people at the bottom get the sack on the cheap while the top bosses get large payouts even when they leave having messed up?"
Ironically, to keep their mouths shut!
wouldn't want "whistle blowing" at the top, would we?

Graham , Littlehampton,

If the redundancy package had been cut to Statutory Redundancy Pay, then employees of M&S would have cause to complain. The terms of SRP are 1.5 weeks pay per year over the age of 41 and one week per year between 22 and 40. The 49-year-old in the example would get less than 11K

Andrew, South Croydon, UK

Even with the cuts to M&S's redundancy policy the amounts payable are extremely generous when compared to similar employers. Breaching confidentiality is usually gross misconduct. And yes, job cuts may well be on the way - it is called recession, folks.

Laura, London,