Public sector redundency?

Apolonation

Has there ever been any forced redundency in Public sector?

Given what's going on with economy etc... what's the odds of some government either current or some conservative government using forced redundencies to save public expense?

If that happens - do the people getting made redundent get any 'payoff' or are they just shown the door after x amount of months?

Interested to hear what people that know about redundencies think about this!

viktory

Apolonation wrote: »

Has there ever been any forced redundency in Public sector?

Given what's going on with economy etc... what's the odds of some government either current or some conservative government using forced redundencies to save public expense?

If that happens - do the people getting made redundent get any 'payoff' or are they just shown the door after x amount of months?

Interested to hear what people that know about redundencies think about this!

Yep, loads. My department has been forced to cut five posts in a year - and two senior members of staff have chosen to leave.

My LA offer redeployment in the first instance (moving to another post that has become available in another department that matches your skills). If that is not possible you are offered a redundancy package. How much a person gets depends on length of service (in part).

Redundancy is a long drawn out process taking about 4 months from start to finish.

Apolonation

Thanks Viktory to voluntarily leave sounds fare enough - but its the forced aspect that would concern me. I've only recently started working for a large gov department and have a permenant contract. I was just trying to get a gauge on how likely a forced redundency would be. I read crown and civil servents dont qualify for SRP however nothing in my contract mentions redundency pay.

Hmmm i need to get away from these forums... all the joblessness and redundency talk has me paranoid I think!

Andy_L

Apolonation wrote: »

Has there ever been any forced redundency in Public sector?

Yes, although they generally ask for volunteers first as its easier.

Apolonation wrote: »

what's the odds of some government either current or some conservative government using forced redundencies to save public expense?

High, although it takes a while to see savings as you have to pay redundancy. Tradationally they then realise that they've "thrown out the baby with the bathwater" and then have to re-recruit/get soem contractors in.

Apolonation wrote: »

If that happens - do the people getting made redundent get any 'payoff' or are they just shown the door after x amount of months?

Their contractual redundancy (better than statuatory) and notice/PILON. Thats why this is happening:

"Government HR chiefs will be forced to delay an expected jobs cull across Whitehall until drastic cuts in Civil Service severance pay are imposed, making the redundancies far cheaper, according to experts."

http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2009/04/06/50161/civil-service-job-cuts-delayed-pending-reduction-in-redundancy-package.html

VfM4meplse

Andy_L wrote: »

Yes, although they generally ask for volunteers first as its easier.

Although expensive. Natural wastage is always the first option, and then not recruiting into vacancies. The jobs will be back, it's just a question of when.

LaDiva_2

Our LA did the same-they were looking for 200 voluntary redundencies and received requests in the thousands :rotfl:

I'm hoping jobs are safe for us for at least the next 2 years.x

Apolonation

I wonder how they decide who to make compulsorily redundent, when they take that route?

Also a question. If your made redundent do you get your pension contributions in a lump sum? or do they sit somewhere until you reach retirement age?

exil

They have to do it on some logical and fair basis, ie oldest first, or last in first out. However if a particular job actually disappears ie by being relocated to somewhere else then that's it. If your job is outsourced or privatised you may be able to claim redundancy as an alternative to transferring to the new company or accepting another job in the public sector though this is not guaranteed.

Pension rights are preserved. However if you're old enough you may qualify for an immediate pension - currently 50 but shortly to rise to 55. Some government bodies add your redundancy payoff to your pension rather than give it to you as cash.

This is a general statement - different parts of the public sector have different rules - eg the NHS, teaching, local government, armed forces, civil service, police

Rosie75

There are lots of redundancies currently being made in the university sector, just not being reported in the press. It is up to individual universities to target redundancies as they see fit within the organisation, usually closing departments or research centres or merging them with others. "Restructuring" is what they like to call it.

Apolonation

What does pension rights are preserved mean? Sorry for being a bit dense - say you're 35 and get made redundent and only been working with the dept for 1 year, what happens to your pension contributions you've been paying in every month?

exil

If you only have a year in the scheme you usually have the option
of taking the money out again as a cash sum. After 2 years you can preserve your pension until retirement, or transfer it to a new pension scheme. But please see the rules of your pension scheme!