Being made redundant but need advise.

Tracey81

I really hope someone can help me, I have tried to outline my situation as clearly and briefly as possible. I have been told my job will go the 2nd July but not had any letters or a consultancy yet, so I need this info ready for when I do.
I work for a big company that has lots of depots and lots of different contracts.

2 years ago the contract I work on moved 3 hours away and many people were made redundant. Due to the knowledge a few of us have our jobs were kept in the original offices. There were 4 of us but we were told our jobs would be recruited at the new place as and when we left. I am part time, the other 3 full time.
a few months ago we were told that for us to all feel more secure and not left alone the HR manager and team at the offices we are all at would oversee us, so for the last few months any holiday forms, sickness etc and our attendance and overtime have all been signed off by the HR manger or supervisors in our offices.

This year 1 person left. The job was re-recruited at the new location.
At the same time a 2nd person left - there job was replaced in our offices by a temp. Leaving permanent staff of just me and 1 other full timer.

This 3rd person has now given in her notice, so leaving me part time and 1 full time temp who replaced the 2nd persons job.

Because this 3rd person is leaving they are moving all the jobs down to the site the contract moved to 2 years ago. I am in my 5th year there and only worked part time 1 year so I wont get much redundancy. We were also all given a letter advising us in April this year that in July we would all get a bonus due to the company not giving pay-rises for 2 years.

I will miss out on this now and lose my job just because the full timer has a new job. The temp will also lose her job. If my job is still needed and they are recruiting to replace me and I am looked after by the HR within my offices why cant I stay and work my part time hours until I give in my notice? All I can see is that I am being made redundant for 2 reasons, the first because my colleague has a new job and secondly because the manager wants all the jobs in the one place. If a temp was recruited for the 2nd person who left why cant they just recruit a new person here instead of replacing 3 ppl down there?
Does anyone know if this is ok for them to get rid of me because someone else leaves and its convenient for them? The jobs dont need to be at the other location as they would have moved them down 2 years ago with all the others?

I know its a long one but any advise would be great as I get all tongue tied!

Thanks Tracey

kb92830

Tracey,

Unfortunately they are within their rights, they should offer you the chance to relocate but they dont have to stay in the location you currently work in. As far as you rights go they dont have to consult because there are so few of you on the site you work, also notice periods are low for the same reason. The issue you have is that the HR manager etc are only there to oversee you and from what you have said at some point expected their positions to relocate, given this it would seem that keeping the office was only a temporary arrangement which from what you have said is the way you saw it. Unfortunately (again) it will be seen as perhaps they gave you time to seek alternative employment but you haven't taken it.

Tracey81

Thanks for your reply,
we are assigned to the HR in our offices, they are not re-locating, the office has many contracts the site has loads of employers the company has not relocated its only the contract and this happened 2 years ago. I am only losing my job because the other permanent member of staff on the team is leaving her role. The government website says a job is made redundant if work is reduced or the job no longer exists,I also read about a selection process as to why I would be made redundant over other people. but my job does exist and if she wasn't going I would be staying. It doesn't sit right that my job is dependant on someone else and doesn't make sense that they recruited a temp in my office when the 2nd person left, the job didn't re-locate then. I am employed by the company not the contract, this is a very large company so I should surely get a consultancy period and notice, they cant just say bye to me after 5 years?
I think I need to take legal advise on this as I cant re-locate due to child care reasons and there is no reason why I cant go in and work my hours without the other girl being there, our jobs are seperate.

kb92830

The company size is not the issue, its the number of people affected that determines the consultation period, it is between 30 and 90 days dependant on the number, have a look at the BERR website for the exact numbers.

In terms of where they want to run their business from is I am afraid their decision, they can relocate but they should give you the option of moving. As far as selection processes go if they are relocating the position then all are redundant unless they give you the chance to relocate.

It sounds as though you are the last man standing, never a good position to be in but given the law I believe they are within it.

getmore4less

They can move your job and make you redundant.

They should consult on an individual basis, you can argue the case to stay but I think this might not be worth the effort.

They/you should also look for other positions that would not require you to relocate.
If there is plenty of other work/contracts in the office is there something available? I would focus effort on that.


Onto the practical side of not being able to secure the role or get another

When and how did they inform you.
If it was this week then they have given sufficient notice.
When is 5 years service?

You also have 4 weeks redundancy pay capped at £380 unless thay give enhanced packages(5 weeks if you clock another year).
Service over 41 gets a week and half.

If there is a standard redundancy package they probably will not negotiate, but you could ask for PILON, the bonus since you will only miss that by a few weeks, and 5 years service to be considered if close to another year.


From what you have said it would have been clear to me this job was on borrowed time, the others seem to have seen that and found alternatives.

For the lat 2 years I would have been after every other job going at the same office in the hope it would secure the position.