Redundancy then 1 month contract

Reds-on-Sea

Hi all,

There's a young girl at my workplace who's been made redundant. Her last day was a couple of weeks ago, and the company offered her an extra 1 month's work to train up other people on how to do her job, so she's stayed for another month.
She's asked today for 2 days off to go to the job centre/apply for jobs etc as she hasn't had enough time to do this and she's only got another couple of weeks left before she's gone and work have said "NO". Is this fair? She hasn't had any other time off for this yet, including during her 1 months notice period.

Is it different rules because she's now on a new 1 month contract?

Aside from that, one of our suppliers have supplied her "replacement" although they (the suppliers) are paying his wages...as long as we stay using that company.

It's all very upsetting and frustrating for her as she loves the company ad doesn't want to leave, and she feels like her job isn't redundant at all as there are still 1-2 people doing all her work.


Any suggestions much appreciated. Are they in their right to not let her have time off?

crapwithcash82

Why has she been made redundant if her position is still required/available?

I'm in an "at risk" category at work at the moment and I'm pretty sure that we could take time off for interview etc during the consultation period. If I am picked for redundancy I have no intention of coming back in to the office to do a handover or anything - especially if they give my job to someone else!!

Reds-on-Sea

crapwithcash82 wrote: »

Why has she been made redundant if her position is still required/available?

quote]

I think she'd like to know the answer to that question too.

Basically work have got another company to place someone in her position (partly) and are paying his wages as long as my company go to them for business. So they get the work for free instead of paying her wage. She's been very good so far as she was hoping to appeal & stay on & she really needs the extra months cash.

crapwithcash82

Thats such a difficult situation to be in, but I take my hat off to her for staying around to help - that takes a big person to be so considerate, especially when the company don't seem to have been very compasionate towards her.

Lets hope things pick up soon, and this recession is over, its affecting so many people, its horrible!

ceridwen

She should look up the T.U.C. website - ie Trades Union congress. There is a specific section there on workers rights and its bound to clarify on this. As my memory tells me - people are entitled to whatever reasonable time they need off work to look for another job if they are made redundant.

So - she just needs to look up the exact wording to prove that fact - and then take it.

Numpty_Monkey

Copied from
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/employment-legislation/employment-guidance/page13852.html
Right to reasonable time off with pay

Employee representatives - whether trade union or not - have a statutory right to reasonable time off with pay during their normal working hours to perform their functions, and also to undergo appropriate training to enable them to do so. The legislation does not specify the amount of time off that it is reasonable to allow since this will vary according to the circumstances. Payment should be at the appropriate hourly rate for the period of absence from work. This is normally arrived at by dividing the amount of a week’s pay by the number of normal working hours in the week.

Reds-on-Sea

thanks Numpty, but I think they're refusing on the basis that she's on a new 1 month contract - I guess they see it as a "new employee" equivalent.

If she'd have gona somewhere new on a 1 month contract, then new place wouldn't have to give her time off to search, they prob think that theydon't technically have to so they won't. Regardless of the fact she worked here for 2 years previously!

I think it's just common courtesy. argh, drives me up the wall.

elsien

This is not something I would normally advocate, but does her new month's contract cover sick-leave? For the sake of 1 day, and given the way she's been messed around, in her position I'd be tempted to pull a sickie.

Pee

If she worked there for 2 years, get her to speak to someone about employment law. It doesn't sound like redundancy and she might well have a claim.

leiela

Tell her to take the time off, whats the worse that could happen?? they fire her??

finding a new job is more important that keeping the old job sweet.

bristol_pilot

Is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking? If I was made redundant I certainly would not come in on a contract to train my replacement!