Impending reduncancy

paint

I work for a company which has recently announced that it intends to make several thousand [strike]reduncancies[/strike] job opportunities in India. Scumbags :lipsrseal.

In my contract of employment my redundancy terms are quite good - something like one month (or 4 weeks) salary for each completed year of service; and twelve weeks notice. However, there are many rumours flying about and I wouldn't put anything past 'em !

Would the company be able to change these terms to the statutory legal minimum (a scandalous £290 for each completed year of service)?

I've looked on the ACAS website but can't locate anything about this specific query, and am tying to find out where I would stand in case they try and pull a fast one!

Please help!

Cheers :beer:.

A_Nice_Englishman

I wouldn't have thought so but the only sure way to find out is to read your contract of employent. There may be a redundancy agreement in force with an expiry date.

I was made redundant and ended up in a job I love (I was beginning to hate the old one), 10 mins walk from home instead of 90 mins bus/train and my mortgage paid off. Look upon redundancy as an opportunity rather than a threat!

paint

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

I wouldn't have thought so but the only sure way to find out is to read your contract of employent. There may be a redundancy agreement in force with an expiry date.

The contract I signed seems pretty straightforward; but you can never tell these days and many of my colleagues seem to think that they can (and will!) vary these redundancy terms. Instinct tells me they're wrong - but they seem pretty convinced; hence my concern!

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

I was made redundant and ended up in a job I love (I was beginning to hate the old one), 10 mins walk from home instead of 90 mins bus/train and my mortgage paid off. Look upon redundancy as an opportunity rather than a threat!

As long as I get the redundancy pay as per my contract, I will absolutely look on this as an opportunity (and will be applying for voluntary redundancy). If they can vary the terms, however, I will sit tight and panic like hell!

They're still scumbags though :laugh:!

A_Nice_Englishman

Are you and your colleagues in a Union?
If not I would strongly recommend joining

paint

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

Are you and your colleagues in a Union?
If not I would strongly recommend joining

I think some are in Amicus but most aren't (I'm not any more since I got utterly sick of them constantly trying to sell me crappy 'special offer' financial services products in 'partnership' with large institutions out to make money out of me)! Sorry, rant over !

So I'd be an immoral hypocrite if I joined now! Still, I could sound out the chaps who are in the union and see if they've posed the question yet.

Cheers.

robin_banks

I would seek legal advice, find a good employment solicitor - i would not use one recommended by a union. They should clarify what is/isn't the case, but please be aware if you have worked there less than 2 years you'll get zip.

Would it be a large insurance company ?.

I took legal advice concerning 'constructive dismissal', and my employer were advised they did not have a leg to stand on.

Good luck.

A_Nice_Englishman

paint wrote:

I think some are in Amicus but most aren't (I'm not any more since I got utterly sick of them constantly trying to sell me crappy 'special offer' financial services products in 'partnership' with large institutions out to make money out of me)! Sorry, rant over !

Unions are not profit-making organisations and the commission they get from these partnerships helps with the running costs and keeps subs down.

paint wrote:

So I'd be an immoral hypocrite if I joined now! Still, I could sound out the chaps who are in the union and see if they've posed the question yet.
Cheers.

Arguably, you could be described as hypocritical for accepting the generous redundancy terms if they were negotiated on your behalf by Amicus or their predecessors.:D

paint

robin_banks wrote:

I would seek legal advice, find a good employment solicitor - i would not use one recommended by a union. They should clarify what is/isn't the case, but please be aware if you have worked there less than 2 years you'll get zip.

Thanks - I've been there almost 5 years so will get something. It's all very much rumours and speculation at the moment - I'll speak with the human resources department on Monday and then take it from there (as you suggest) if there's a problem. It might not be an issue at all (hopefully) !

robin_banks wrote:

Would it be a large insurance company ?.

*cough*Aviva*cough* :rotfl:

robin_banks wrote:

I took legal advice concerning 'constructive dismissal', and my employer were advised they did not have a leg to stand on.

Good for you !

robin_banks wrote:

Good luck.

Thanks!

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

Unions are not profit-making organisations and the commission they get from these partnerships helps with the running costs and keeps subs down. Arguably, you could be described as hypocritical for accepting the generous redundancy terms if they were negotiated on your behalf by Amicus or their predecessors.:D

:rotfl: Indeed! I don't know how I'll manage to sleep at night !