A COMPANY in Trowbridge has come under fire from staff over its public handling of redundancies.

One employee at Axxis International at the White Horse Trading Estate, were given the news in a glass-walled balcony office, in full view of others working below.

The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "The fact that one is made redundant is bad enough but what really affected me was to see the harrowing ordeal of witnessing staff members in tears.

"Surely this indignity witnessed by all below while they were doing their work should not have been exposed and kept in the confines of a private room.

"The lack of feeling by management for the persons' dignity has left a sour taste in my mouth."

The room in which the interviews with management took place is commonly known as the 'Goldfish Bowl'.

The room is surrounded by glass and overhangs the process department, where those working below were able to oversee the whole spectacle.

"Everyone was looking on to see who was next. It was like watching a show or a movie.

"To be exposed like that and see it was awful."

Human resources manager Carole Reeves said she was not aware that any members of staff had complained about the way the process was handled.

She said: "We had one-to-one meetings in the meeting room.

"If someone had come forward with a complaint I would have discussed it with them. I am surprised to hear about this."

The company, which has nearly 450 employees, has made four people redundant, after scrapping one shift as part of an internal reorganisation.

Production director Paul Taylor said: "It is a change of shift patterns. A small number of people have been given options of changing shift patterns, moving to other areas or taking a redundancy package."

Axxis International is one of the country's leading manufacturers of own-brand cosmetics and toiletries.

It was formerly known as Peter Black Toiletries, changing its name in 2001 following a merger with Hexel International.

The company opened its factory at the White Horse Business Park in 1999 and, three years later, closed its factory at Frogmore Road Westbury, merging both operations at the Trowbridge site.