Procedure for VR when "at risk of redundancy"?

Alleycat

Hi all, I really hope someone is able to give me some advice on my current situation. I am currently on maternity leave and due to return at the beginning of April.

I work for a voluntary sector organisation and our contract with the council is due for renewal at the beginning of April. The contract is changing quite dramatically and the new contract would involve the loss of one team leader and two advisors. We were told that if we were successful in bidding for the contract, we would need to lose one team leader and one advisor as we have diversified into debt and welfare benefits and so a further role would be generated from these contracts. If we lost the bid we would be TUPED to the organisation that won the bid but would still need one advisor to remain to cover the debt role.

We were notified of the above on the 20th January and advised in writing that there would be a formal consultation period for one month.

The consultation period ended last Monday. As I had not heard anything I emailed my team leader to ask her if there had been any representations/suggestions and was told that two colleagues were taking voluntary redundancy. At no point have we been formally or informally offered this and I was of the belief that redundancies would not be considered until we knew the outcome of the bid. We have put in our bid but have not heard from the council as to whether we have been shortlisted for interview.

If I had known that we were able to offer ourselves up for VR at this point, I would have put my name forward. I have spoken to HR who basically say it is too late and the decisions have been made. She will however speak to my manager and get back to me tomorrow.

Does anyone know if there is a correct procedure that should be followed with regards to VR and whether I have sufficient grievance against them for not inviting VR.

Thank you so much.

getmore4less

The consultation period ended last Monday. As I had not heard anything I emailed my team leader to ask her if there had been any representations/suggestions and was told that two colleagues were taking voluntary redundancy.

With the numbers involved this would be individual consultation

It seems you were given the opportunity to consult but chose not to.
You could have made any suggestions yourself, thats the point of consutation for you to come up with ideas.

I don't think there is anything that would help in a voluntary termination situation employer/employee can agree what they want.

Employment protection seems to be all about people keeping their jobs.

Someone might have angle you can use.