Collective or individual redundancy? What does 'establishment' mean?

laurz121

"If your employer is making 20 or more employees redundant in one establishment within a 90 day period, this is a collective redundancy."

I've read this on direct.gov.uk (and similarly worded statements on other sites) and I'm just wondering what does establishment mean? The company I work for is planning on making up to 370 people redundant (all at same time), all of which do the same job. The thing is though that these redundancys are spread around the country so will they count as collective or not? Only around 10 to 15 people work in each particular site (or shop to be more accurate) but the amount of shops affected brings the total to over 300.

Would it count as an establishment as it is one company and they were all announced at the same time on the same day? Or will it not count as an establishment as it isn't physically in the same building or town?

thankyou

littlestar1981

I think Collective redundancy means they have to consult your union to discuss the terms... I think, something like that.

littlestar1981

Collective Redundancy – defined under the Protection Of Employment Act, 1977 as any redundancy of 10% of a workforce over a thirty day period. If this is proposed the employer must notify the Minister of their intention, suspend the collective redundancy for thirty days and enter discussions with the employees or their trade union and identify the names and numbers of those proposed for redundancy, the reasons for such action, and possible ways of averting or minimising the redundancies.

Taken from http://www.siptu.ie/YourRights/TUFGuideToLabourLaw/GeneralInformation/Glossary/

jazzyman01

Companies can get away with looking at individual sites if they are responsible for their own accounts etc. Therefore if each individual company has less than 100 posts at risk they will only have to consider 30 day consultation.