The Great 'What to do in the event of redundancy' Hunt

diddlydiddlydo

I got made redundant two years ago from a major insurance company that is meant to 'make you happy'. Best thing that ever happened to me, as i moved to New Zealand for a year (got a fab job) and have now moved back to the UK and started a business with my partner.

if you get told that you are at risk its ok to be angry and wonder why you, why not ask to leave work for the day as you need to think (you won't work just !!!!!).

The main thing i found that is that you should sit down and spend time on your CV, as most cv's are very dated and are based on what people were told at school, so not great. There are loads of books out there which you can buy or borrow from the library or even go and read in borders and make notes. I spent about 12 hours doing my CV and going back to it to amend over time, as this gets you the interviews.

Take the time to work out what you want to do, make that career change if you want as you have the financial backing to do it. I went to Right Coutts who my company paid for me to go to, but i spent a long time doing additional work on cv and looking for the right job and career move.

Its not the end of the world just the start of your world!!! think yourself lucky to be made redunndant. i NOW PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH A COUPLE MORE REDUNDANCIES AND 4-5 REOOrganisations in the last 2 years, not good for your health! but mine is brilliant

Chezza71

I have been made redundant once in 1999 while I was on maternity leave. This was expected as the bank I was working for were getting rid of all their secretaries and as I wanted to remain a secretary, there wasn't a job for me to go back to so I was quite pleased. I didn't want to go back anyway!

Anyway, 7 years on, I have a part-time job at a place where compulsory redundancies are likely to be made. I'm a single mum getting working tax credit, child tax credit and some housing benefit (not my whole rent payment). If I was to put my head above the parapet and go for Voluntary Redundancy, how would that affect my benefits? Would I be able to claim more (such as Income Support, more Housing Benefit + Council Tax benefit) or would "they" say you made yourself redundant - tough.

blackshaw

I am under notice of redundancy and have been offered 12 weeks PILON.
Can anyone tell me if I have entitlement to my benefits (ie to buy company shares, contribute to pension, avc's etc) during PILON.?

tamste

Not a definitive answer, but I beleive that if you are paid in leiu of notice, the day they pay you is the end of the contract and this you lose entitlement to your benefits package. If on the other hand they place you on "garden leave", you are still employed and they pay you but you don't go into work (unless they specifically request it). In this case you are still employed and thus should be able to access your benefits package.

As I say, this is not a definitive answer, but I'm in the same boat and this is my interpretation of what i have read.

Frozzy

I wish this thread had been around a few weeks ago as I wish I'd known about or even thought about some of the things mentioned in the thread. i.e. about asking for more redundancy money etc. The firm gave me just slighty more than the statutory redundancy amount it wouldn't have hurt them to be a little more generous, I'd been with them 8 years. I was made redundant at the end of September. However I've been lucky and have managed to get another job starting this Monday.

As is mentioned in thread get in touch with ACAS and find out what you are entitled to also get in touch with the job centre on your first day after finishing work as your claim for Job Seekers Allowance runs from the day you first contact them.

IAGpro

Joolsey wrote:

Hi,
I was given notice by my employer two weeks ago that my job may be made redundant. I am currently on maternity leave for the next 5 months - my daughter is only 3 weeks old so got the news at the worst time.

Can anyone advise me as to the companies responsibilities regarding continuing to pat stat maternity pay etc?

I am one of a team of 8 sales people & I am advised that the company needs to cut the team down to four. I fully expect to be one of the ones to get their P45 as they were very unhappy when I told them of my pregnancy & made life quite difficult for me, despite being one of only 3 people who hit their annual sales target last month.

I would be grateful of any advise - Thanks.

To make you redundant because of pregnancy is illegal. If you can prove it, go the the CAB where you can see a barrister or solicitor for free. There may be a case for a tribunal. Alternately, you may like to try the 'stress' route. If you are stressed by the situation and your doctor will support this, you could see if there is a 'loop-hole' via the Health and Safety at Work act as well as Equal Opportunities legislation. You need to decide if you want to keep working for such rotten employers or not. If so, try these 'tricks' to keep your job and, then, leave when you are ready. Quite frankly, though, it sounds like you'd be better off out of it. There really is a lot of work out there. See my other posting, too.

IAGpro

MSE_Martin wrote:

Have you ever been made redundant?

The Great 'What to do in the event of redundancy' Hunt

This is a special plea. Recently in the 'suggestions for major articles' discussion someone asked for one on what to do in the event of redundancy.

I think it's a great idea and plan to do it. However beforehand I wanted to get personal experiences and tips from people who have been through it - to help those who have it to come. Please help.

Click reply to leave your suggestions - on as wide an amount of info as you like.

Martin

I am an Information, Advice and Guidance Practitioner with experience of Redundancy Counselling and training in Job Search, etc. I have, also, been made redundant more times than I care to remember. The advice given, so far, is very good, but, if you are made redundant there are some things you need to know and some you need to do.

One important question, are you the only one being made redundant or are you part of a 'major' or 'mass' redundancy?

'Major' or 'mass' redundancies are defined by the impact the redundancies have more so than how many people have been made redundant, for example, the redundancies at Rover had a major impact because there were so many made redundant, equally, a small business making 10 people redundant when the staff have been 12 and they employ most of the 15 people in the area, that is, also, 'major'.

If it is a 'major' redundancy, the employer should inform the Job Centre. They will, probably, come to some deal with them as to what is on offer, eg visits from counsellors, Job Centre staff, immediate access to re-training, job search, etc. There may, even, be other payments for a variety of reasons.

Whichever is the case, the first thing to do is contact the Job Centre. If possible, contact them before your last day, then you can get on with the process of making a claim. Some Job Center staff are not familiar with all of the rules as they can be quite complex (for them). If you have been given severance pay, etc, you will be asked to fill in some forms and you may be told not to go back for so many weeks/ months. Tell them you want to make a claim. You won't get any money if you've been paid severance pay, and you may not even qualify for stamps, but there are opportunities that will be available to you after a qualifying period, so you want that to start as soon as possible, so MAKE A CLAIM.

If you are alone in your redundancy, except in certain circumstances, there is a wait of six months before you can get training or help with job search, this is why you make a claim straight away. There may, also, be discretionary payments towards clothes for your interview or new job, health and safety equipment, bus fares, travel to interview, etc. Ask what is available.

If you have any health problems, tell the Job Centre. It is your responsibility to tell them. A Person With Disability can mean you if the problem has lasted for more than a year or is likely to last more than a year and affects the things you can do. You judge it on your worst day and ignore the effects af any appliance or medication. If you have arthritis, diabetes, learning difficulties, dyslexia, dyspraxia, asthma, etc, you should tell the Job Centre. (Wearing glasses does not count, however, partial sight does, of course.) Health issues is one of the exceptions to the six month qualifying period for training and help with job search.

If you have health problems, you may be able to have the help of an Disability Employment Advisor. This person can guarantee you an interview and, should you need any equipment to aid you with your job, provided that it is applied for within 6 weeks of starting your new job, will be free to the employer. The equipment will be yours, not the employer's and should move with you when you move jobs (if practical), for example, special software for you to access IT, a special chair, an induction loop, etc.

Other help which may be available, to all, not just 'disabled', Employer on Trial, Work Trial - let you show your worth without messing up your benefits. Back to work bonus - if you get a part-time job (ie fewer than 16 hours pw) it may affect your benefits. Part of the money that is stopped will be set aside and if you, later, go into full time work (ie more than 16 hours pw) you may be entitled to a lump sum payment.

In England those over 25 can contact the Information Advice and Guidance Partnership for free help. Under 25 contact Connexions. In the rest of the UK contact your local Careers Service or equivalent. Again, the Job Centre or library can help.

A good contact is Funderfinder. They are on the net and details of them should be found in the library and IAG. They do ask strange questions but that is beacuse of restrictions on the money available.

I hope this snippet is useful. Any other questions in this vein and I should be pleased to help.

anney

I lost my job several months ago via a carefully worded letter that did not mention 'redundancy', but cited 'lossmaking' & 'needs of the business' (Funnily enough this was 2 days after I voiced an objection toward a violent loss of temper on my bosses part). I was given 4 weeks pay in lieu of notice. The citizens advice people were not really much use, all the chap I got could do was read out some information from a book he didn't really understand & tell me to see a solicitor. The job centre told me to contact ACAS but a very bored sounding girl said I should contact my previous employer & arrange a meeting! As I was unwilling to pay a solicitor if I had no case I contacted one of the 'no win no fee' agencies specialising in employment law. They advised me that as my employer had flouted just about every rule in the book regarding my dissmissal I should have a good case, so we sued for unfair dismissal & much to my surprise he eagerly settled before it went to a tribunal & the lawyer managed to significantly bump up what was originally offered as well as getting it in writing that I had neen made redundant. To be honest, confrontation is not my style & I was very tempted to just let this all go, but reading Martin's website over the last few months has made me realise that you should always have a go if you think you might be entitled to something. The jobcentre people have also been very good, although I am only entitled to jobseekers allowance for 6 months it gave me a great summer with my little girl, not having to find alternative care for her, I saved loads on petrol not having to get too & from work & I am now about to start up my own business after getting on some free start-up courses run by a local enterprise agency. Best of all, all the stress of working for an evil bully has gone. Redundancy may be scary & hard but sometimes it is a shove you need to get something better.:rotfl:

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

I was made redundant just recently - only made aware a month beforehand and not at all in writing (just chasing up on my rights about this so if anyone has any info i would much appreciate it). Also i had just given birth to my daughter so was on maternity leave and unable to go and search for a new job at all. I did not recieve any redundancy payout as our company changed hands within the last 12 months and we were made aware of the terms. 1000 jobs were sent to India- all being our office in Croydon (it is a major massive household insurance company and it was on the news recently).

I had to tell my partner to move back home with his parents so that i could go onto benefits. Now we are no longer living together though he stays with me and baby at weekends - Not too much of a problem at the mo as his work hours are long anyway! So then i confirmed this with all of the benefit departmants and now i get help with rent, C-Tax, I also get child tax credit and a set amount from my partner each 2 weeks.

I have taken the opportunity to go to college and do a part time Beauty Therapy course that will allow me to work for myself and i am able to do treatments as i progresively qualify throughout the course whilst my partner is saving for me so i have a start up funds to begin my business in two years time - It is difficult at the mo as i dont particularly want to leave my privately rented property for a council flat - but hopefully everything will work out well in the end.

If you can, use this to your advantage. My only advice is make sure you do this correctly and declare what you have to - never con the system as i know people who have and are now facing the consequences.
:rotfl:

A_Nice_Englishman

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote:

I was made redundant just recently - only made aware a month beforehand and not at all in writing (just chasing up on my rights about this so if anyone has any info i would much appreciate it). Also i had just given birth to my daughter so was on maternity leave and unable to go and search for a new job at all. I did not recieve any redundancy payout as our company changed hands within the last 12 months and we were made aware of the terms. 1000 jobs were sent to India- all being our office in Croydon (it is a major massive household insurance company and it was on the news recently).

I had to tell my partner to move back home with his parents so that i could go onto benefits. Now we are no longer living together though he stays with me and baby at weekends - Not too much of a problem at the mo as his work hours are long anyway! So then i confirmed this with all of the benefit departmants and now i get help with rent, C-Tax, I also get child tax credit and a set amount from my partner each 2 weeks.

I have taken the opportunity to go to college and do a part time Beauty Therapy course that will allow me to work for myself and i am able to do treatments as i progresively qualify throughout the course whilst my partner is saving for me so i have a start up funds to begin my business in two years time - It is difficult at the mo as i dont particularly want to leave my privately rented property for a council flat - but hopefully everything will work out well in the end.

If you can, use this to your advantage. My only advice is make sure you do this correctly and declare what you have to - never con the system as i know people who have and are now facing the consequences.
:rotfl:

No redundancy payment at all? I thought there was a statutory minimum?

I'll leave it to others to comment on whether having your partner live away during the week whilst still having financial connections is 'conning the system'.