question about employment law

chrisjefc

ok been working at an engineering firm for a couple of months and 3 weeks ago i got a phone call from the boss saying sorry but the firm is closing down

but dont worry because we are hopeing to be bought out blah blah

never thought it would happen but i got a phone call on tuesday saying everything had gone though and we are opening back up tomorrow

ok so thats the story but the thing is my mum and some of the lads there have been there over 10-15 years they have been without money for 3 weeks as they couldnt sign on because apparently you need some sort of letter to say you have lost your job

the company never made us redundant or laid us off they just said the company had gone into adminastration and was hoping for someone to buy them out

so are the workers entilted to back pay from the new company ?

surley if not then they should have been paid out some redundancy

anyone know the laws on this

any advice/help would be great

thanks in advance

olly300

You have been misinformed. You don't need a letter to sign on. All you do is put your ex-employers details on the clam form. The job centre then writes to that employer to see if you were made redundant etc.

Unfortunately a lot of job centre advisers give out incorrect information and I suggest if you ever have a problem with the job centre:
1. Ask for a complaint form in the centre from another advisor - it's amazing how quickly they sort their act out when they realise you are going to complain
2. contract the CAB or a legal centre for accurate advice.

No one can give you accurate advice because we need to know whether it was:
1. Proper redundancy - which means long term employees are entitled to redundancy pay either from the employer or the state
2. A TUPE takeover

I suggest at least two of the group contact the CAB or go to a legal centre as the group may have to take legal action to get what they are entitled to.

Also people in the group should go back to the job centre and ask for their benefits.

McKneff

speak to someone at ACAS or look on their website