made redundant while ill

knighty1

i have been with my company since april last year.i recently went off the sick. that was november. i received a letter informing me the company was in difficulties,
then the following week a letter saying i had been short listed for redundancy . they advised a meeting for me to attend and give my reasons why i should not be made redundant.
the letter arrived 2 days after i was asked to attend a meeting. i emailed work and said, this and they said they would get back to me.
then a few days later i got another letter requesting yet another meeting at work,this also arriving 2 days after the said meeting date.
then a 3rd but the 3rd was 4 days later. eg:-now the post marks on the envelopes are marked after the letter writing date from the work,as in typed on the 1st, but yet post mark on envelope was 4th.
i had consulted each time with my employer and each time as you can see a new letter same routine being late.
now they also kept sending me an email with the letter attached. but i have had mega pc problems and was never able to open attached mail.they say now i am redundant and have 10 days to appeal.although they sympathise that i received posted mail late, i had been receiving emails which,according to them have been read,and if asked too, they can prove i have had plenty notice. but every email i got ,i replied to saying i couldnt open it etc and please could they contact me by phone or letter as i am not always online,but also,as much as i appreciate their difficulties,i was ill, and didnt need this constant contact.
so i replied in an email, stating ,i have been, and still am on the sick. for a further 3 weeks. even given the dates on time,i still couldnt have attended.

so basically. i know they are struggling financially and i appreciate their situation, albeit how much it will affect financially and would like to avoid it , i would like to know my best move now?.
i got a letter today saying they hear me and i should attend a meeting on the 20th febraury.the day after my sickline suggest i could be able to return to work.
but included was a cheque for onemonths lieu of notice,accured holiday pay at 4.5 days,plus statutory sick pay until the 28th january,and my p45 and return sick line as it runs on after my rdundancy date.and i would need it to claim further ssp as they were only responsible til 28th january.

where do i stand? should i put it down to experience and move on by accepting it.
do i qualify for any benefits, as i had only returned to work after splitting from my husband and i am raising 3 children.ages 15, 14, & 9. i really do not want to lose my job, i loved being back to work and cant help being ill.. can anyone please advise me a little. i appreciate any help.
and sorry if i sound vague.

Ewarwoowar2

Three questions:

1.How long have you worked there?
2. Is this a mass redundancy situation or is it just you being made redundant?
3. Would appealing the decision make any difference i.e. is there any chance you will keep your job?

knighty1

1.since april 2007
2.yes.small company,but most are being made redundant
3.no appealing wont make a difference i think.

i just feel though, that the new member of staff got sacked originally due to her incompetance, should also be given notice of redundancy,yet hasnt. also, i have never been pulled up for anything i have done wrong, i also worked a lot of hours without payor thanks for staying an hour after work to help out, iredesinged the staionary and computer systems so everything was more economical and effecitnly run,so no errors would happen again. i feel totally used and abused.

i'd love to stay there but feel the decision has been made. all i really queery is ,if i dont appeal,will i lose any benefits til i can get work again?