Redundancy - Standard Contract?

lucyblue2

Hi

Can anybody help me please? I have a friend who has been made redundant from a sales position. He's now been asked to go in and sign a "Standard Contract" which has to be witnessed by a solicitor. We have no idea what this is and obviously are trying to find out before he has to go in.

Can anybody tell me what this is please?

Thanks an advance.

LB2

Pete111

Its a compromise agreement.

If they want your friend to sign this make sure they are getting an enhanced package - they will be signing away various rights so need to ensure they are recieveing more than statutory redundancy pay.

P

lucyblue2

Thanks Pete.

Unfortunately he's not getting any payout, he only joined the company in January 2008!

LB

Pete111

In which case he should not sign anything!

What process did they use to identify him as redundant? If they didn't they could be at risk themeslves...

lucyblue2

Pete

Apparently there are about 20 of them being made redundant. They're saying that the company is restructuring the department that they all work in. It's a German based company and they're restructuring this particular department worldwide. That's all we know, there are people from all departments going including others from the same department as him - that is sales.

The company wants him to take it to a solicitor and get it signed by the solicitor and by him. They are saying that it has to be done within 7 days from receiving it which will be Monday 12th.

They didn't tell anybody the process or criteria used to decide who was going, just that they were restructuring the departments.

Would you have any idea what we should do please?

Thanks again.

LB

Pete111

With 20 or more redundancies the company need to run a formal consultation process. Written notification to all those under threat needs to be given and a series of evens should unfold from there. From the start of this consultation to the date of the first termination under redundancy there shoudl be a gap of at least 30 days. Staff should be given the opportunity to elect staff reps to consult with Mgt and receive individual consultation also. They should also be given the right to appeal when finally notified of redundancy

See the Yougov website under 'redundancy' for more info

Did any of the above happen? If not the the company are potentially in a world of cr*p....

Also, what are they offering your friend? If it's nothing (just contractual notice pay for example) then why on earth would he sign his rights away?

lucyblue2

Thank you Pete, I'm extremely grateful for this advice.

LB2 :T