The Great 'What to do in the event of redundancy' Hunt

fishsmoker_2 · 4 October 2006 at 2:09PM

As has been mentioned before, don't panic! You are not the only one, and (unless you did,) nine times out of ten you'll have done nothing wrong either! Just keep sensible and you'll be OK.

First thing to do is to inform the dole. You are now unemployed. Do it the same day you're kicked out of work. Don't leave it, as if you do, eventually you'll run out of money and will need to sign on. 90% of the time, they won't back date it so sign on straight away. The same thing applies to applying for housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Here's a tip - if you are living with someone, THEY TAKE THEIR WAGES INTO ACCOUNT. If you put down that you are shared tenants with them, THEY DON'T. DO NOT put that you are civil partners etc - put yourself as a shared tenant. This way they will judge your benefits on your income (or lack of it,) alone. And because you're on Job Seeker's Allowance, they have to seriously consider you.

Don't be ashamed to sign on, you have been working all your life (usually,) and you have been paying National Insurance Contributions - so you are ENTITLED to claim them back, usually for up to 6 months to a YEAR - before you have to switch to Income Support (which is slightly different to them, but to you it just means you will have more interviews to try and find work, which is no bad thing if you're prepared to do anything.)

Apply for EVERYTHING - even if you get a load of letters saying thanks but no thanks, still apply for everything - you will need these letters later so best to start NOW. Obviously especially apply for jobs you can do or want to do - why not make your application stand out? How about getting a fresh pizza box from your local takeaway, and then putting your application in a pizza-shaped envelope, inside the box? It's more likely to get read - and in a better frame of mind than just the normal "Oh, here's another applicant...yawn" - show some initiative! GET THE JOB YOU WANT!

Lastly, STOP WASTING MONEY ON SHOPPING. This is VERY important. Do not look down your nose at this bit, I've been through it and you should listen to me. Immediately stop buying brand-name products like Heinz, Fairy, Persil etc (other brand names are available,) and start buying the budget stuff. I'm talking Tesco Value, Morrison's Bettabuy, Asda Smart Price etc - here is a fact, I heard a lorry driver on the radio the other day, explaining that IT ALL COMES FROM THE SAME FACTORY! He went to one part of the factory for the brand name printed stuff, another for the "supermarket" printed stuff, and a third part of the factory for the budget stuff! It's all the same stuff but with different labels! OK, some of the tinned meat stuff isn't amazing, but when was tinned meat ever amazing? I've tried them all, and of all the supermarkets (I live near a Morrison's so I wanted their stuff to be best, but it wasn't,) ASDA Smart Price stuff is the tastiest and best, nutritionally, compared to the other supermarkets.

Think back over the years and figure out how much you've wasted on shopping now that you know that a can of beans is really only 15p. Tomatoes, 13p. Washing up liquid - a whole litre for 13p!! It washes the dishes! It goes down the drain! Bleach = a quarter of the price! Toilet roll (again, goes down the drain, who cares if it's got flippin puppies on it???!) only a quid FOR TWELVE! Disinfectant, 30p. Rice, 50p for a huge bag. DON'T BE SNOBBY ABOUT THIS - YOU WILL SAVE A PACKET! Washing powder, 50p a box!! Fish Fingers - 17p FOR TEN!!! The best value thing I've come across, is the Smart Price "Super Noodles" but they're not called that - if you are used to eating Bachelors Super Noodles (or your kids are?) then get the Smart Price ones - get this, Super Noodles = 50/60p, Smart Price Noodles = 8p. EIGHT PENCE!!! Get a trolley full, they're great on toast. Cheap lunch! Bottled fizzy water = 17p!

Seriously, try it - experiment with it (I ate Heinz beans ALL my life, yet I prefer the Smart Price ones now! A THIRD of the price!) there may be some things you don't like, but 90% of it is a-ok, fine, healthy and nutricious food, you only have to get used to your kitchen cupboards being full of red & white! I wasn't a fan of the ketchup so that is my treat, to get the Heinz ketchup, but the brown sauce, the mustard, the jams, the lemon curd - Smart Price all the way, and tastes just fine! :T

If you have any habits, like drinking or smoking, STOP NOW. You're wasting your money. You don't need to smoke - you're paying five pounds a pack to kill yourself, mess up your fingers and stink. And you p!ss off everyone else. Stop it now. With drinking, again, you don't NEED to drink - have a cup of tea! Save up for a bottle of wine at the weekend! Keep a tenner back for a bottle of wine and a luxury takeaway on a Friday or Saturday. There is no reason you should live like a peasant.

Get your gas and electricity put on keycard meters - this way, you won't be surprised by huge £100 bills when you least expect them - think of it as "Pay As You Go" Energy! And why not?

Above all else please remember that it's NOT YOUR FAULT. But EVERYONE goes through it. If you are sensible, then you'll be just fine. Just keep telling yourself that everything will be fine, and keep applying for that dream job. Push yourself. No-one else is going to. And no-one else even CAN push yourself like YOU can, so do it. DO IT NOW!

Good luck.

smithsw4 · 4 October 2006 at 2:14PM

1. Check to see the company has followed the new statutory disciplinary & disciplinary procedures (these came into effect last year). A breach of the DDPs can give you an uplift of up to 50% of compensation given for unfair dismissal.

2. Does the selection seem fair? If not, ask to see the selection criteria, your scores and (no harm in asking) the scores of the other people if it's a head to head with others for remaining jobs. Discriminatory selection criteria render the redundancy automatically unfair, eg sex discrimination, because you are part , age discrimination etc. This can also really bump up the compensation as it is uncapped. Even asking for them, and making a little bit of a fuss, can bump up the amount offered.

3. Has adequate consultation been carried out. If over 20 redundancies within 90 days, collective consulation has to be undertaken (appointing representatives, lots of meetings and lots of paperwork). Also, individual consultation has to be done properly. Failure to carry out proper consultation bumps up the compensation.

4. Suggest ways around it, eg working part-time, working flexible hours, taking a lesser job.

5.Ask for retraining and outplacement.

6. Ask for benefits (or pay equivalent) as well as pay if given pay in lieu of notice.

7. Ask for the pension contributions the company would have made on your behalf during the notice period (if not worked).

8. Remember it's not binding unless you sign a compromise agreement, counter-signed by a practising and insured lawyer. Ask for the company to pay your legal fees.

9. Try and be reasonable and unemotional.

10. Ask for an agreed reference.

11. You'll get through it - keep positive!

SS (a lawyer)

sunny2day2 · 4 October 2006 at 2:58PM

Honestly, it was the best thing that ever happened to me in terms of my career. It was a shock at first but I realised that I should see it as an opportunity.

I wanted to keep things on friendly terms, so I went to an employment solicitor and instructed him to draw up a Compromise Agreement between me and the firm I worked for. This only took a week or so and the legal fees were charged to my firm.

I was in a £26K a year job, had only been there for three months, and had secured another (better paying) job to start the day immediately after I left. I walked off with a cheque for £4K and a much better job.

scylla_2 · 4 October 2006 at 4:16PM

First action is sign on at Job Centre - even if you have notice/holiday pay etc as not doing makes things difficult later. If you have no savings, look into Income Support and other benefits at the same time but be aware your mortgage will not be paid for 9 months

Second, advise any insurance company you have appropriate cover with to get claim forms rolling

Thirdly set up a daily routine so that a fixed amount of time each day is spent on your job search but not to the exclusion of all else. Set targets for home jobs/exercise and do not cancel all social events because of cost.

Fourthly tell friends and family - it is not your fault and their support will be invaluable.

Finally you will have bad days but try to be positive - I should know, I've been there 4 times and it's not easy

magicgenie · 4 October 2006 at 4:26PM

Hi everybody

I used to work for a corporate monster.

I was constructively dismissed, the company whom you will all know called it redundancy. It was the worst 3 months of my life.

I'll try and tell you briefly and then offer a few points of advice when being made redundant if you think it is not fair or legal.

My Creative Director had bullied me for about one to two years, he also bullied others in the department although less so than me, because they freely allowed him to use and abuse them because they were scared and were unsure how else to cope.

I worked very hard for the company and had done a great job. The General Manager had rewarded me financially and within 6 years had upped my wage from 20k to 30k.

It was announced there were to be redundancies because there was not enough work to go round, we were all upset. Although the small department I ran - 3 people (within the main department - 20 people) was not in the 'pool' of proposed redundancy candidates because our jobs were different, we breathed a sigh of relief. A week later we were added to the pool because the union complained on behalf of the other colleagues that the pool was not correct. 'Alleged' consultation began regarding the pool and which 2 people the company proposed would be made redundant, I had no say in this 'alleged' consultation.

It was proposed I was to be one of the candidates to be made redundant. I was told by my line manager and Personnel - I nearly vomited all over them both when they told me in shock.

At this point, fortunately through a friend of the family i began taking superb legal advice over the phone every day.

From this point on I never attended a meeting or spoke to anyone in the company without taking legal advice and I told them this was the case. If they asked me to a meeting I asked them who was going to be in the meeting, what the meeting was going to be about, who I could bring and I asked for this in writing, I then said I would let them know if i would attend after I had taken legal advice.

It was awful, I was scared, alone, tired.

Most people around me were burying their heads in the sand. Shxxt scared of what was happening around them, what could potentially happen to them. I was asked to a meeting to listen to the case for why i had been chosen to be made redundant. God, it was awful, lies, lies, lies. Very clever, though. Very very clevrly put together.

My health deteriorated. I couldn't eat, without being sick. I went to the nurse cos' i had chest pains, I thought, I'll just get checked out, you know. She checked my blood pressure and couldn't believe it, she called the doctor and recommended calling an ambulance (my pressure was through the roof.)

Anyway, I'm rambling.

To cut a long story short, I was 'made redundant'. I put an application in to the Employee Tribunal for unfair dismissal. The company at first dismissed it, ACAS became involved. But they soon realised I was so angry and upset over what had happened during the redundancy and the fact that I had been 'successfully' removed, from a good job with a good company and one that I was good at, I wanted to see them in court, even if it meant i lost money because of it.

They ended up settling out of court.

It was the most unpleasant time I've ever experienced. And i wouldn't have gotten through it without friends and family.

Advice:
1. Make notes every day, make copious copious notes, write them up at night if necessary, cos chances are your company will not be making you redundant correctly in line with employment law.
2. Get legal advice, get the best you can get. If you have no money/friends in the profession - use the internet, I was on it every night researching bullying and Employment law. Make notes.
3. Keep every single e-mail and letter you receive, every single one. Even if you think it has no significance. Buy a file from Woolworths, put them in it, in order.
4. If you feel ill at all, anything at all. See your doctor straight away. Put it in your 'bullying' diary.
5. Get help from everywhere possible, friends/family/colleagues/internet/neighbours/discussion boards.
6. If you're not in the Union - join it. Don't trust Personnel, however sincere they may seem (they work on behalf of the company - get it?.)
7. Try and eat, try and sleep. Try your very best. Get fresh air as often as you can - it helps you to think clearly.
8. Look for other jobs if you can - it makes you feel better.
9. Stay positive, I know it's hard. Don't you dare for one second begin to doubt yourself. Remember the company you are working for has a 'Duty of care' to ensure the place within which you work is healthy and safe. If you are being bullied they are not running their business in line with employment law.
10. Do not, ever, rely on colleagues. However sincere they may have seemed before 'it' all began.

Magic

tomh_2 · 4 October 2006 at 5:01PM

I work in the outplacement industry, and having also been made redundant myself, have seen it from both sides.

For anyone facing redundancy, the following should help:

1. Keep notes of how it all works, and discuss with an employment lawyer whether your employer has breached the required regulations. If there are grey areas, talk to your employer about a "compromise agreement" - it's a legal agreement between parties to ensure everything is dealt with fairly.

2. You deserve and should ask for as much of the budget they have as possible. Company laptops, leased cars, phones, etc. but also the cost of training courses, outplacement, pension contributions, etc. This is a commercial transaction with a company, not taking money out of your bosses pocket!

(Outplacement is where your company pays a third party to assist you with your job search. Just remember, don't be forced into using their preferred supplier, ask what the budget is and meet a number people to find one you feel comfortable with!)

3. As said before it's the role that's made redundant rather than the person. Keeping your confidence up and treating your job search as another 'strategic project' will pay dividends.

4. Do plenty of research and have interesting conversations with people. If you go to people knowing what you are interested in doing rather than asking them to give you a job, you will receive a much greater level of assistance.

5. Don't go out and get really drunk when you're told, it'll invariably get rather messy!!

jimmy_2-2 · 4 October 2006 at 5:01PM

I was made redundant about 10 years ago. Loads of money was given to me by way of reduncany pay etc which was all very nice while it lasted.

However, its unusual to get made redundant and get escorted from teh premises to it's likely you have loads of time to get your ex employee's names/phone snumbers/addresses.

These people are likely to be your best bet if you are to stay in the same trade as your ex-employee's customers dont really want to pay top wack for you do to your job, you may well find that they would be quite interested in employing you to do exactly what you use to do for them, but simply cutting out teh middle man.

Justin_Madders · 4 October 2006 at 5:32PM

One thing many people miss is that if there are more than 20 people being made redundant in one place then the employer has to do a number of additional things in terms of consultation. Failure to do this can lead to a "protective award" by an Employment Tribunal of up to 90 days pay! Many redundancies are badly handled and I offer 30 mins free advice to those affected. Email me at justinmadders@whittles.com for help!

Murtle · 4 October 2006 at 5:34PM

Having been made redundant twice through different reasons, but ultimately that there was no role left for me to do.....and supported OH through it once, I have learnt that redundancy is a very personal thing and will affect people in a variety of ways depending on their life style, career plans, personal plans etc.

The first most important thing which will happen way before redundancy is check/negotiate a good redundancy package into any new contract! I was amazed to see what some of the packages people had managed to negotiate as to be honest I'd never thought of it.

Immediate reactions to redundancy will differ mine have been elation and frustration. However, don't worry cause they have a habit of changing as you move through the process, sometimes for the better sometimes for the worse, but there is light at the end of the tunnel even if it feels like a train at times....

What to do?
Well there are many things you can do, but what do you want to do?
Now is a good time to reasses where you are, who you are etc. Are you happy in your career/job? Is now a good time for a change? Do you need a break? If you've never done a 5 year plan, now is a really good time to do one. If you are lucky your company will organise some career guidance, mine did on both accounts. The first company were so good, I could pass on a few tips to the second company who weren't quite up to speed.

There are two elements to redundancy, the practicals and the wishfuls

The practicals are the bills that need to be paid, the wishfuls are the if I have enough money left over (because you've negotiated a lovely redundancy payment) these are things I've always wanted to do, nows the time!

Work out the minimum you can live on monthly, not survive but live normally. Then look at your redundancy package, and if necessary any savings - how long with this last for? By the end of that time period you will need another job!

If there is money for the wishfuls, excellent, this is what I did! I wrote a list of things I'd always wanted to do...the careers advisor gave me permission to start things, and if I didn't enjoy them to quit them....she was rather :eek: at the loooong list of things I want to do...and the complete randomness of them and the fact that there is no priority over them!!!

Some of the things I did; holidayed on my own, visited friends I hadn't seen in ages both local and at a distance, took a TEFL course, took a French language course, took some other short courses I'd always been interested in, parachute jump, put some money aside for savings, put some money aside for a deposit for a house went clothes shopping. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to complete my list before I decided to look for another job, just to test the waters, that came around very quickly.....but the list was still there.

Thankfully, cause I was made redundant again

This time round, I went straight into working for myself, and then was able to have a longer break when things settled down. Then I relaxed and used this link

www.i-2-i.com wonderful for ideas of things to do!! I still have things on my list to do, but I know what they are now!

Not sure how useful this is, but it's a different perspective to batten down the hatches, but this does depend on you responsibilities.

The people I have been made redundant with have all gone on to better things, some through career changes, some career advancements where the redundancy was what they need to kick start them, some just cause they are great :rotfl:

Countertenor · 4 October 2006 at 7:15PM

Firstly, negotiate the best possible severance deal you can with your (ex) employer - try & get them to pay for Outplacement assistance - a company to help you get back to work. Also, check all your credit agreements for Payment Protection insurance - if you've got it, it may cover some of your repayments but just as importantly, it may also include help from the insurer/their supplier to help you with job-hunting.

The Great 'What to do in the event of redundancy' Hunt

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