Company accidentally sack more than 1,300 workers

More than 1,300 workers at Aviva Investors, the insurer's asset management arm, were shocked on Friday to receive an exit email from the HR department. There was a stunned silence at the London headquarters as staff across the division read the unsympathetic memo - intended for just one employee.

It instructed all Aviva Investor workers to hand over company property and security passes on their way out of the building, and submit all electronic passwords. The terse communication reminded staff not to spill any company secrets.



It read: "I am required to remind you of your contractual obligations to the company you are leaving. You have an obligation to retain any confidential information pertaining to Aviva Investors operations, systems and clients."

Of little consolation, the final line said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and wish you all the best for the future." Minutes later staff were relieved to receive a grovelling message from HR apologising for the blanket email.