Redundancy advice

[BucksFizz]

My employer wants to downsize the department I work in by half, to do this they have told us we are all at risk and we all have to have a consultation(s), there will be a scoring criteria and the half that score highest will be kept, the other half will be let go (there is no where else in the company for them to work).

While I definitely feel like one of the stronger employees the people who are scoring us are all new to the company and have no idea of who people are or what their work is like, so all bets are off.

I'm just looking for some general advice from the wise people on PH on how to handle the situation, I definitely feel like I need to keep my wits about me given everything is unknown. E.g. will there be a generous redundancy package or just the statutory? Whats the norm these days?

It's ironic that I have been having discussions with my employer regarding a payrise, if I do get kept on and I absorb everyone elses workload I would feel a pay rise is more in order than it already is. Is it worth bringing this up in the consultation?

[rufusgti]

Sickness record is pretty key in keeping your job. Although that won't be stated.

[BucksFizz]

That's a good idea however my employer stopped keeping track of sicknesses a few years ago because the person who's job it was were made redundant...

[edc]

You can see the criteria. You should ask yourself and as part of the consultation why the redundancies are happening. That will steer you about your future pay rise success. Don't bring it up during this process.

[xjay1337]

edc said:

You can see the criteria. You should ask yourself and as part of the consultation why the redundancies are happening. That will steer you about your future pay rise success. Don't bring it up during this process.

Forget it.
Im nearly all redundancies the people who are going have been decided prior to the "consultation".

Don't wait around. Get your CV out there. If they do make you redundant you then get your payout and walk into a new job.

[rog007]

It's a bit like an actor auditioning for a new role. If you 'fit' then you get the role. If you don't, don't take it personally, just move on.

Do you want to remain with the organisation? Does the role and the future excite you? Are you good at what you do and do you have stretch potential?

If you can say yes to those, then you should be in with a good chance unless there are others who are even better and more excited about staying on.

If you're not to bothered, then prepare to move.

Good luck!

[jet_noise]

If you do get made redundant it's an opportunity not a setback. Although it almost certainly doesn't feel like that at first.
I've been made redundant twice and both times resulted in a leaving bonus (or redundancy payment as they're otherwise known) and a better job with no break in between!

CV update time. Nothing to lose by looking around. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

[BucksFizz]

Thanks for the advice so far all.

Unfortunately I am one of the low scores in the redundancy pool and I have been provisionally selected for redundancy, I tried to argue that the way they are handling the selection process is unfair because they scoring criteria is subjective. Not only that but the time frame used to mark employees is too short and the evidence is mere opinion, not only that but the score totally contradicts my yearly appraisals and the quality of work I complete.

Unfortunately I am arguing with judge, jury and executioner and there is obviously more sinister going on.

While this is definitely the topic of another thread I now have a new issue, we are half way through the consultations (some staff have yet to have theirs and nothing is finalised) but I have now fell ill (physical condition, not stress) and will not be able to work for at least a couple of weeks.

What happens next? Can my employer still bin me off without completing the consultation progress? I am conscious all decisions are going to be made without my right to appeal/object/seek clarity before I am dismissed (they want everyone gone in a week or so).

I would really appreciate any advice, thank you.

[condor]

Going off sick for a couple of weeks isn't going to help, even if the cause of sickness is genuine. Number of sick days taken have been a low redundancy score marker for well over 20 years. Wanting a pay rise is probably a negative scorer as well.
Best idea is to take the redundancy payment and get another job.

[BucksFizz]

No it won't do me any favours. Ironically sickness, time keeping, performance etc., are not part of the criteria because my employer does not keep formal records so my exemplary track record counts for nothing.

Still my question remains, can my employer still process my redundancy while I am off sick without finishing my consultations? I have not been formally told my role is redundant and I have no leave date etc.

Edited by BucksFizz on Sunday 17th September 18:04

[xjay1337]

BucksFizz said:

No it won't do me any favours, fortunately I was with a colleague at the time I had to go to A&E so I have a witness (beside a doctors note) that I am physically impaired.

Ironically sickness, time keeping, performance etc., are not part of the criteria because my employer does not keep formal records so my exemplary track record counts for nothing.

Still my question remains, can my employer still process my redundancy while I am off sick without finishing my consultations? I have not been formally told my role is redundant and I have no leave date etc.

Yes. They can.

As I said the minute it's mentioned it's straight into LinkedIn .

[ruggedscotty]

Well I was made redundant around this time last year,

Just one of those things and you have to pick up the pieces and get on with it. 15 years and the letter arrived, put at risk of redundnacy options were redeployment or voluntary redundancy. the payoff was good so I put in for voluntary and got out. Got to the point I hated where I was anyways and it was like a breath of fresh air. new lease of life.

Linkedin

recruitment agencies

get in and see a career coach - see if the company will give you help etc.

get a few mock interviews under your belt and as said get on with it, we can get too complacent and believe that we have been done wrong etc, all that does is cloud the issue and you can spend too much time flogging a dead horse. spend your efforts constructively and put it all into getting another job.

[Sir Bagalot]

BucksFizz said:

Ironically sickness, time keeping, performance etc., are not part of the criteria

Don't be so fking stupid. Of course they are!! Well, maybe not officially, but they are

[DukeDickson]

xjay1337 said:

edc said:

You can see the criteria. You should ask yourself and as part of the consultation why the redundancies are happening. That will steer you about your future pay rise success. Don't bring it up during this process.

Forget it.
Im nearly all redundancies the people who are going have been decided prior to the "consultation".

Don't wait around. Get your CV out there. If they do make you redundant you then get your payout and walk into a new job.

This. Unless you have an almost demented will to fight the system, a big bag of money from elsewhere, or some occasinoal other reasons to fight it, the vast majority of the time, your best bet is to take the Christmas/birthday Brucey bonus and go find a better alternative. Some people love the fight, but for most people, the best option is to run ever so slightly faster than those who would like to make you run a bit slower.

[andy-xr]

I've been made redundant three times in the last 5 years. First time hurt, I took it personally (it was actually personal on both sides). Second time I saw coming and was mentally ready for it and the third time caught me by surprise, but having had some experience in it, had a rough idea of what to expect.

My advice is
1. Dont blink first - this isnt something you proactively want to investigate.
2. This is a test of patience as much as anything, so keep your cool as much as possible. Sit back and wait
3. Have a few things going on in the background for new opportunities, but dont do yourself out of a redundancy payment

Edited by andy-xr on Monday 18th September 08:53

[BucksFizz]

Sir Bagalot said:

BucksFizz said:

Ironically sickness, time keeping, performance etc., are not part of the criteria

Don't be so fking stupid. Of course they are!! Well, maybe not officially, but they are

Not really, the scoring criteria makes no mention of it, not only that but the people doing the scoring are asset strippers new to the business, they've only joined a couple of months ago and they work from home most of the time so they have no idea about sickness, punctuality etc.

I am surprised so many of you are suggesting rolling over and taking it, it's not like I am getting a huge redundancy payout (works out about 3 months NET pay). I have no doubt there are better places to work but I guess I am worried I may struggle to earn the same salary as I do now.

[randlemarcus]

BucksFizz said:

Not really, the scoring criteria makes no mention of it, not only that but the people doing the scoring are asset strippers new to the business, they've only joined a couple of months ago and they work from home most of the time so they have no idea about sickness, punctuality etc.

I am surprised so many of you are suggesting rolling over and taking it, it's not like I am getting a huge redundancy payout (works out about 3 months NET pay). I have no doubt there are better places to work but I guess I am worried I may struggle to earn the same salary as I do now.

It's not rolling over and taking it, it's accepting the reality. Way up thread, someone said that most of the time, the folks who were going to be made redundant were known before the scores rubbish started. It's true.

What exactly are you trying to fight? They have decided that their business would be better off without you. What's your argument here? Bob doesn't know me, and I would be brilliant for the business, aside from the couple of weeks I won't be there, and the fact I want more money when you are obviously struggling?

[andy-xr]

BucksFizz said:

I am surprised so many of you are suggesting rolling over and taking it, it's not like I am getting a huge redundancy payout (works out about 3 months NET pay). I have no doubt there are better places to work but I guess I am worried I may struggle to earn the same salary as I do now.

I think firstly you need to consider whether you want to fight the redundancy, as to whether your role is redundant. This is probably pointless as there's likely nothing else you could do or could have done differently in the lead up to where you are now.

Negotiating a settlement is different, and if you have the opportunity to do that then you should absolutely do it, either on your own or with insured advice.

[xjay1337]

BucksFizz said:

Not really, the scoring criteria makes no mention of it, not only that but the people doing the scoring are asset strippers new to the business, they've only joined a couple of months ago and they work from home most of the time so they have no idea about sickness, punctuality etc.

I am surprised so many of you are suggesting rolling over and taking it, it's not like I am getting a huge redundancy payout (works out about 3 months NET pay). I have no doubt there are better places to work but I guess I am worried I may struggle to earn the same salary as I do now.

I took a 13k pay cut when I was made redundant. I struggle but manage.

[anonymous-user]

BucksFizz said:

Not really, the scoring criteria makes no mention of it, not only that but the people doing the scoring are asset strippers new to the business, they've only joined a couple of months ago and they work from home most of the time so they have no idea about sickness, punctuality etc.

I am surprised so many of you are suggesting rolling over and taking it, it's not like I am getting a huge redundancy payout (works out about 3 months NET pay). I have no doubt there are better places to work but I guess I am worried I may struggle to earn the same salary as I do now.

How long have you been employed there? 3 months net pay might be a 'good' deal.