Company avoiding redundancy

ManicMum

Hello

my husband's company as far as I'm concerned are a bunch of manipulative scammers.

I'm pretty cross so trying to stay polite!

He came back from work Wednesday saying nearly everyone has been temporarily laid off except for skeleton crew of 4. As hubby is most skilled person at the company, this included him. Others are off without pay (other than £21.50 for first 5 days - some allowance or other). However, he has been told that in 2 weeks time, those laid off will rotate and pretty good chance he will then be off for couple of weeks. During this time you are supposed to remain available for work and come in when requested (if requested). They are also asking for loyalty from staff towards company during this difficult period. Excuse me whilst i choke on my own vitriol.

Firstly, apparently you can only claim redundancy if you have been off for 6 weeks (mon-fri) weeks in a 13 week period. Is that true? If so, they have stitched people up true and proper by sending them hoome on a wednesday as this means staff in for 3 weeks in every 4, therefore negating the mon-fri element and 6 weeks in every 13, if they call you in every couple of weeks.

Upon contacting the job centre, you are caught between rock and a hard place. According to them you still have a job. If you leave that job, you are making yourself iintentionally unemployed and can't claim a dime for certain period. I'm thinking that with a mortgage and 3 kids to look after, we might be better on benefits than earning 2 weeks money every month. But then they won't give us anything as we have savings.

I don't even know what i am saying all this for. just needed to have a rant. Please don't say we are better off than some as we have savings. I've had all this before and don't have the energy for it right now. Sooner or later they will run out. Just have to hope he finds a new job but may involve him moving away.

Would appreciate clarification on redundancy criteria.

many thanks guys, as always

jdturk

doesn't sound great but maybe the company are trying to help everyone rather than making people redundant.

If your not happy maybe ask for voluntary redundancy?

getmore4less

Do they have layoff clause in the contracts or is this an industry that normaly lays people off?

A week qualifies if the pay is less than 1/2 so this will help if they layoff mid week and pay less than 1/2.

The 5 guarantee days need paying every 3 months.

ManicMum

jdturk wrote: »

doesn't sound great but maybe the company are trying to help everyone rather than making people redundant.

If your not happy maybe ask for voluntary redundancy?

That is another way to look at it but I think they will be looking to help themselves first. This came days after getting everyone to sign amended T&Cs cutting pay saying this was to avoid redundancies etc. Then they do this. Had it planned as far as I can see.

ManicMum

Getmoreforless

thanks for that. So the week they go in on the monday and tuesday will count as a week towards redundancy as pay will be for 2 days and therefore less than the usual 5 day week?

Does it have to be consecutive weeks or can you count any weeks in a 13 week period?

How do the guarantee days affect the counting of weeks towards redundancy?

Yes, lay offs without pay written into contract. Not usual as it is a permanent role but industry that is suffering due to recession. Don't want to elaborate in case the boss is on here!

Thanks.

outofworksch

Have a read of this http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/DG_10037790 and see if it helps in anyway