Had the call today-redundancy

[Steviesam]

Had a call from my director this morning saying my job is at risk. Great.

They indicated that they would like the consultancy period completed in 30 days.

I have only been there 7 months, so am I entitled to anything re redundancy pay?

And how much notice do they need to give me? Probably not related, but under "normal" circumstances, I would have give them 3 months notice, and they would have to give me 3 months-however, I have no idea if this applies in the case of redundancy?

Thanks for any advice.

[StevieBee]

Check in your employment contract. This will set out the arrangements.

'At risk' is different to 'you're redundant', albeit by not much.

Either way, good luck!

[stevemcs]

Start looking for something new, don’t see it as a negative, see it as something new, it nearly always works out for the best.

[Flooble]

Depends on the firm.

I was lucky once when very young and despite not even having a years' service got a nice payout as they needed me to loiter a little to finish a project - as it was, I had nothing else to go to so they were actually doing me a favour in asking me to work longer than the contractual notice (and then chucking in a bonus on top). Kept me going until I found something, without it I'd have been in trouble.

You may be lucky. Either way, get your CV out there now and start interviewing. That way when the axe falls hopefully you already have something. And don't forget you can counter-notice so sensible firms won't force you to work the whole three months if you have a new job to go to.

[Steviesam]

Thanks guys.

Already been calling the agencies who I have used in the past and CV been updated today.

The contract states if under 2 years, 1 weeks pay. Pretty clear.

What I am unclear about, is the 3 months notice period. |Does that apply as well, or does the above 1 weeks pay make the 3 month notice period null and void?

[Steviesam]

Not too stressed, life's too short.

Strangely I got a pay rise and bonus level increase yesterday from HR because they were so pleased with my work

[Marcellus]

Does the contract really contradict itself?

If it says you and they have to give 3 months notice then that’s what they must give.

So after consultation when they decide there is no role for you then they have to give you your notice, they may or may not require you to work it.

ianal.

[Steviesam]

That is why I am cinfused. Below are the 2 sextions from my contract-they are exactly as they are laid out, one after the other. All I have done is copy directly to here.

19. Severance Terms
If it becomes necessary to declare redundancies, the following severance terms will apply for employees who have 2 years continuous service:-
(a) for each complete year of service up to age 21 - 1 week’s pay (b) for each complete year of service between age 21 and age 40 - 11⁄2 week’s pay (c) for each complete year of service over age 40 - 2 week’s pay.
20. Notice of Termination and Garden Leave
Your employment by the Company may be terminated at any time by the giving of three (3) months written notice by you or the Company. The Company is under no obligation to vest in or assign to you any duties or to provide any work for you and may, after notice has been given by either party to terminate employment, at its discretion, suspend you from some or all of your duties including requiring you not to contact any customers and/or any employees of the company and/or exclude you from the premises of the company and/or require you to work from home provided it continues to pay your salary and provide your contractual benefits during that "garden leave" period (but you will not be eligible for any bonus payment). You will continue to be an employee and will comply with your obligations under this agreement and your duty of fidelity to the employer during such garden leave period.

[CharlesElliott]

So from the point they confirm you redundant, you will be due 1 week's salary plus 3 months salary. Of course, they could require you to work the 3 months so you only get 1 week 'extra'. In reality, you will probably only need to work none of / a small amount of the 3 months.

[Marcellus]

I think that means you get no redundancy/severance pay but you still get your notice period.

[Steviesam]

Thank you.

3 months is good, I will negotiate over gardening leave.

[Gargamel]

You are contractually entitled to the 3 months pay, once your redundancy is confirmed.

Statutory redundancy is then the one week pay (usually one week for every year employed up to 12 max

Some companies pay well above stat, so you never know they may give you an enhanced offer.

There are usually a few options once you get into discussion with them.

Bad times OP, but can be the springboard for better things !

[miniman]

Gargamel said:

Bad times OP, but can be the springboard for better things !

This.

It may not be much consolation now, but everyone I know who has been through this has come out the other side better off, myself included.

Good luck.

[james-witton]

You are not entitled to redundancy pay I’m afraid as you have less that 2 years service. That might make you a cheap option to lose, sorry to say.
But you never know. They may really like you.
I’ve been made redundant, at the time it felt awful but, as many will say, it was the best thing that could have happened.
Redundancy is a process, it’s how you deal with it that makes all the difference.

Good luck.

[Gargamel]

james-witton said:

You are not entitled to redundancy pay I’m afraid as you have less that 2 years service. That might make you a cheap option to lose, sorry to say.
.

Ah, I had missed he had less than two years service....

[Terminator X]

Start looking so you can leave just as soon as anything is resolved. Under 2 years service and you can be ejected for almost anything as long as not discriminatory.

TX.

[towser44]

Not much I can add, but feel for you. I've only had 2 jobs since leaving school and was made redundant after 12 years from my first job and had our first child due 5 months after I left too. Was an awful time and I dreaded finding something else, but walked into another job that started 3 days after my leaving day that brought with it a near enough 10 grand pay rise to boot and I've been there 9 years now, so definitely see it as an opportunity, because I'd still be at the same place if I hadn't been forced to find something else through redundancy.

[RizzoTheRat]

Can't help with the specific questions, but a couple of tips from my own experience of redundancy some years ago:

• If you're offered any kind of mentoring service take it, I had a few sessions with a company who helped fine tune my CV by giving me some really useful feedback on it. They also did practice interview sessions and other useful job hunting stuff.

• Sign on with the job centre. If you're in any sort of technical role they'll be useless at finding you a job, but if you've paid NI for the last 2 (I think) years you're entitled to JSA and your NI will be paid while you're on JSA so you don't' have a hole in you're contributions.

• Think of the positives. I used it as an opportunity to have a go at self employed contract work, as the redundancy pay meant I could survive several months without work.

[Ej74]

Some tips from me as i have been through this several times - not stating this is the best approach :

• outplacement service : I have stated i dont intent to use the service can you compensate me in accordance with no use of the service
• hit the phones and contact straight away do not wait
• notice period is effe ctively gardening leave - i left the office and only retuned to drop my laptop off
• take it as a positive and move on