Furlough, redundancy and suspended email account mess
Discussion
Good evening all,
I find myself in a position that a few months ago I had no idea could happen.
Back in march I was furloughed and the process so far has been very badly handled. I have still not been told when I might be going back or if the company will be using the furlough scheme until October. Some people have gone back and others haven't but the communication has been no more than 3 emails since march instigated by me.
Last week they announced they were looking to make 99 people from our office redundant (keeps the consultation to 30 days). We were asked to nominate representatives to act on our behalf from our pool and when too many people were nominated they asked us to vote via email (an email address monitored by several people, not at all secure.
They have now decided as of close of business today that anyone on furlough will have their email account suspended. I now have no access to any of my emails which means I can no longer communicate with my colleagues, continue with any email conversations that I have ongoing, including discussions with my line management and a group conversation we have ongoing with representatives and assistants of the redundancy process.
Not all people being considered for redundancy have had their email suspended and not all furloughed staff are being considered for redundancy.
This seams like a right old mess, I am being restricted to who I can communicate with and other people without a work email would be restricted in how they could contact me anyone without an email would likely be left off of any group emails. This is doubly annoying as I was asked to assist the representatives by my team as some of them are working full time and obviously being furloughed I have time on my hands to help.
It also sounds like the criteria they are looking to score on is being made so they can get rid of certain people but I've not had eyes on that yet but I wouldn't be surprised if that's true.
I'm obviously upset about the entire situation, furlough and the prospect of redundancy isn't fun but to be honest if they had a half reasonable package I'd probably take it and be happy to be out of there. Unfortunately they redundancy will be the statuary calculated amount and voluntary redundancies are not being considered at present.
Probably time to crack open a beer and try and digest it all. Anyone out there out any pointers regarding what's going on? I'd lawyer up but i really cant afford too,
Cheers, Matt
I find myself in a position that a few months ago I had no idea could happen.
Back in march I was furloughed and the process so far has been very badly handled. I have still not been told when I might be going back or if the company will be using the furlough scheme until October. Some people have gone back and others haven't but the communication has been no more than 3 emails since march instigated by me.
Last week they announced they were looking to make 99 people from our office redundant (keeps the consultation to 30 days). We were asked to nominate representatives to act on our behalf from our pool and when too many people were nominated they asked us to vote via email (an email address monitored by several people, not at all secure.
They have now decided as of close of business today that anyone on furlough will have their email account suspended. I now have no access to any of my emails which means I can no longer communicate with my colleagues, continue with any email conversations that I have ongoing, including discussions with my line management and a group conversation we have ongoing with representatives and assistants of the redundancy process.
Not all people being considered for redundancy have had their email suspended and not all furloughed staff are being considered for redundancy.
This seams like a right old mess, I am being restricted to who I can communicate with and other people without a work email would be restricted in how they could contact me anyone without an email would likely be left off of any group emails. This is doubly annoying as I was asked to assist the representatives by my team as some of them are working full time and obviously being furloughed I have time on my hands to help.
It also sounds like the criteria they are looking to score on is being made so they can get rid of certain people but I've not had eyes on that yet but I wouldn't be surprised if that's true.
I'm obviously upset about the entire situation, furlough and the prospect of redundancy isn't fun but to be honest if they had a half reasonable package I'd probably take it and be happy to be out of there. Unfortunately they redundancy will be the statuary calculated amount and voluntary redundancies are not being considered at present.
Probably time to crack open a beer and try and digest it all. Anyone out there out any pointers regarding what's going on? I'd lawyer up but i really cant afford too,
Cheers, Matt
Sorry to hear about your situation.
I am taking a wild guess here but it seems a decision has been made to make certain people redundant & also pay them notice pay so that they do not have to work their notice, and hence the removal of email access. Employees would be terminated with immediate effect with redundancy and pay in lieu of notice to be paid.
I do not believe the right process is being followed here but again it would depend on the existing policies. One would expect to be informed the outcome of the consultation, the pay one would receive if made redundant etc.
If you know your HR's email, I would advise writing to them and raising this as an issue. If the way they have acted is against your company policy you are well within your rights to take further action as you deem appropriate.
I am taking a wild guess here but it seems a decision has been made to make certain people redundant & also pay them notice pay so that they do not have to work their notice, and hence the removal of email access. Employees would be terminated with immediate effect with redundancy and pay in lieu of notice to be paid.
I do not believe the right process is being followed here but again it would depend on the existing policies. One would expect to be informed the outcome of the consultation, the pay one would receive if made redundant etc.
If you know your HR's email, I would advise writing to them and raising this as an issue. If the way they have acted is against your company policy you are well within your rights to take further action as you deem appropriate.
Macroni18 said:
Sorry to hear about your situation.
I am taking a wild guess here but it seems a decision has been made to make certain people redundant & also pay them notice pay so that they do not have to work their notice, and hence the removal of email access. Employees would be terminated with immediate effect with redundancy and pay in lieu of notice to be paid.
I do not believe the right process is being followed here but again it would depend on the existing policies. One would expect to be informed the outcome of the consultation, the pay one would receive if made redundant etc.
If you know your HR's email, I would advise writing to them and raising this as an issue. If the way they have acted is against your company policy you are well within your rights to take further action as you deem appropriate.
I think regardless of company policy its definitely against the guidance on how a redundancy consultation should be conducted. I've emailed HR and my line manager outlining my concerns.I am taking a wild guess here but it seems a decision has been made to make certain people redundant & also pay them notice pay so that they do not have to work their notice, and hence the removal of email access. Employees would be terminated with immediate effect with redundancy and pay in lieu of notice to be paid.
I do not believe the right process is being followed here but again it would depend on the existing policies. One would expect to be informed the outcome of the consultation, the pay one would receive if made redundant etc.
If you know your HR's email, I would advise writing to them and raising this as an issue. If the way they have acted is against your company policy you are well within your rights to take further action as you deem appropriate.
If you are on furlough then strictly speaking you are not working, so there's a logical reason to suspend the email address.
It may be simply that someone (perhaps in IT) noticed all the emails suddenly flying around, asked the question "er, are these accounts not people on furlough?" and so someone panicked and shut it down.
Although, pessimistically, I think we can see where its going. Most consultations are to comply with the law, not to actually consult.
It may be simply that someone (perhaps in IT) noticed all the emails suddenly flying around, asked the question "er, are these accounts not people on furlough?" and so someone panicked and shut it down.
Although, pessimistically, I think we can see where its going. Most consultations are to comply with the law, not to actually consult.
It's pretty standard to restrict the email accounts of those on Furlough. It protects the company should there be an investigation later (one of the steps take to ensure employees cannot work), equally the employee, and is also sensible just in case someone gets the hump, or decides to move to a competitor.
However, they should have established alternative methods of communication. I talk with my team on via phone, whatsapp and personal email if required. All documentation is also sent via the post. Those running the consultation do the same.
From a practical point of view, I would be dusting down the CV and job hunting. It sounds like they have shown little concern to you, and you are not enamoured with them.
However, they should have established alternative methods of communication. I talk with my team on via phone, whatsapp and personal email if required. All documentation is also sent via the post. Those running the consultation do the same.
From a practical point of view, I would be dusting down the CV and job hunting. It sounds like they have shown little concern to you, and you are not enamoured with them.
Removing email access is not unusual for furloughed staff.
You should not be working, ergo to prevent that; they have removed your email access.
You need to separate the furlough process from the redundancy process.
If your work email has been removed, they need to contact you by other means to set up your consultation for redundancy.
Try to go with the flow. Appreciate it’s hard in these really uncertain times and that you don’t have a timetable for when things are happening.
Meantime, get CV and contact base up to date for next role.
You should not be working, ergo to prevent that; they have removed your email access.
You need to separate the furlough process from the redundancy process.
If your work email has been removed, they need to contact you by other means to set up your consultation for redundancy.
Try to go with the flow. Appreciate it’s hard in these really uncertain times and that you don’t have a timetable for when things are happening.
Meantime, get CV and contact base up to date for next role.
I appreciate that they are suspending the emails for practical reasons.
Issue is I'm now preventing from communicating with my colleagues and vice versa. There is a consultation skype meeting today but I do not have the invite as it was sent to my work email yesterday and accounts were suspended at 19.00. Its not given people the chance to plan ahead. It feels like some of us are being prevented from taking part in the consultancy process (whether it makes much difference or not). The very ones that are most likely to be made redundant.
Issue is I'm now preventing from communicating with my colleagues and vice versa. There is a consultation skype meeting today but I do not have the invite as it was sent to my work email yesterday and accounts were suspended at 19.00. Its not given people the chance to plan ahead. It feels like some of us are being prevented from taking part in the consultancy process (whether it makes much difference or not). The very ones that are most likely to be made redundant.
MonkeyMatt said:
I appreciate that they are suspending the emails for practical reasons.
Issue is I'm now preventing from communicating with my colleagues and vice versa. There is a consultation skype meeting today but I do not have the invite as it was sent to my work email yesterday and accounts were suspended at 19.00. Its not given people the chance to plan ahead. It feels like some of us are being prevented from taking part in the consultancy process (whether it makes much difference or not). The very ones that are most likely to be made redundant.
Why would you need to consult with your work colleagues if you're not at work? If they're personal communications, you should use personal means rather than work emails. If they're work emails, you're being paid not to work and shouldn't be working.Issue is I'm now preventing from communicating with my colleagues and vice versa. There is a consultation skype meeting today but I do not have the invite as it was sent to my work email yesterday and accounts were suspended at 19.00. Its not given people the chance to plan ahead. It feels like some of us are being prevented from taking part in the consultancy process (whether it makes much difference or not). The very ones that are most likely to be made redundant.
Sorry if that sounds blunt, not meant to criticise you at all, just a logical look at it.
We had all work access severed when we were furloughed.
We’re now going through redundancy consultation. This includes a good proportion of people who weren’t furloughed. We have a representative per department and contact details for all those affected (as long as you agree and provide an email address). For the consultation period it’s important people can communicate.
It’s a crap situation, but at least our company appears to be going out of its way to do things right.
We’re now going through redundancy consultation. This includes a good proportion of people who weren’t furloughed. We have a representative per department and contact details for all those affected (as long as you agree and provide an email address). For the consultation period it’s important people can communicate.
It’s a crap situation, but at least our company appears to be going out of its way to do things right.
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
MonkeyMatt said:
I appreciate that they are suspending the emails for practical reasons.
Issue is I'm now preventing from communicating with my colleagues and vice versa. There is a consultation skype meeting today but I do not have the invite as it was sent to my work email yesterday and accounts were suspended at 19.00. Its not given people the chance to plan ahead. It feels like some of us are being prevented from taking part in the consultancy process (whether it makes much difference or not). The very ones that are most likely to be made redundant.
Why would you need to consult with your work colleagues if you're not at work? If they're personal communications, you should use personal means rather than work emails. If they're work emails, you're being paid not to work and shouldn't be working.Issue is I'm now preventing from communicating with my colleagues and vice versa. There is a consultation skype meeting today but I do not have the invite as it was sent to my work email yesterday and accounts were suspended at 19.00. Its not given people the chance to plan ahead. It feels like some of us are being prevented from taking part in the consultancy process (whether it makes much difference or not). The very ones that are most likely to be made redundant.
Sorry if that sounds blunt, not meant to criticise you at all, just a logical look at it.
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
It just sounds like you need to be involved in redundancy matters through your personal email.
How do I join skype meetings regarding the consultancy process? I cannot access the company folder that contains all the redundancy documentation? How do I email my colleagues who are going through the redundancy period? there are lots of reasons why this is a problemMonkeyMatt said:
How do I join skype meetings regarding the consultancy process? I cannot access the company folder that contains all the redundancy documentation? How do I email my colleagues who are going through the redundancy period? there are lots of reasons why this is a problem
It doesn't sound very well handled. What did work say when you explained this to them?If you think you are going to be made redundant, then silence may well be your best position here. You cannot be fully informed, if you are not invited to meetings, and have access to the documentation. And right now, you aren't invited, you can't access the documentation. So you are in a great position to appeal, or possibly (at your cost these days) go Tribunal when it happens. Have a little think about that before trying to regain access. If you still want to, a single email to HR stating the above will do it.
You have a right to access communication regarding consultation and participate in the process. As one of the employee reps in my company I am well aware of how this can fall though cracks.
With Skype meetings there are dial in numbers so you can at least participate to the calls. Ask your employee reps for details.
Secondly raise this with your employee reps and ask them to pass this formally to the company. Employee reps can state that they are unable to communicate effectively with many employees (assuming you are not the only one) and they can aks management to suspend the consultation until all Employees can participate. Get this minuted and that will help.
With Skype meetings there are dial in numbers so you can at least participate to the calls. Ask your employee reps for details.
Secondly raise this with your employee reps and ask them to pass this formally to the company. Employee reps can state that they are unable to communicate effectively with many employees (assuming you are not the only one) and they can aks management to suspend the consultation until all Employees can participate. Get this minuted and that will help.
xyz123 said:
You have a right to access communication regarding consultation and participate in the process. As one of the employee reps in my company I am well aware of how this can fall though cracks.
With Skype meetings there are dial in numbers so you can at least participate to the calls. Ask your employee reps for details.
Secondly raise this with your employee reps and ask them to pass this formally to the company. Employee reps can state that they are unable to communicate effectively with many employees (assuming you are not the only one) and they can aks management to suspend the consultation until all Employees can participate. Get this minuted and that will help.
this has been done, hope the reps will pass on the concerns in an official manner, don't have much confidence in them at the moment. They are more concerned in finding alternatives to redundancy rather than making sure the process is fair and transparent (although this is a separate and frustrating issue).With Skype meetings there are dial in numbers so you can at least participate to the calls. Ask your employee reps for details.
Secondly raise this with your employee reps and ask them to pass this formally to the company. Employee reps can state that they are unable to communicate effectively with many employees (assuming you are not the only one) and they can aks management to suspend the consultation until all Employees can participate. Get this minuted and that will help.
MonkeyMatt said:
xyz123 said:
You have a right to access communication regarding consultation and participate in the process. As one of the employee reps in my company I am well aware of how this can fall though cracks.
With Skype meetings there are dial in numbers so you can at least participate to the calls. Ask your employee reps for details.
Secondly raise this with your employee reps and ask them to pass this formally to the company. Employee reps can state that they are unable to communicate effectively with many employees (assuming you are not the only one) and they can aks management to suspend the consultation until all Employees can participate. Get this minuted and that will help.
this has been done, hope the reps will pass on the concerns in an official manner, don't have much confidence in them at the moment. They are more concerned in finding alternatives to redundancy rather than making sure the process is fair and transparent (although this is a separate and frustrating issue).With Skype meetings there are dial in numbers so you can at least participate to the calls. Ask your employee reps for details.
Secondly raise this with your employee reps and ask them to pass this formally to the company. Employee reps can state that they are unable to communicate effectively with many employees (assuming you are not the only one) and they can aks management to suspend the consultation until all Employees can participate. Get this minuted and that will help.
Edit: corrected typo
Edited by xyz123 on Tuesday 21st July 20:47
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