How would you negotiate when being made redundant

kayleigh

My husband works for an IT company and there has been strong rumours for a year that the jobs are being moved closer to the head office in the south.

It has got to the stage they can no longer hide what is happening - as they require the existing staff to train up the staff in the head office and also arrange to move the equipment.

He quizzed the big boss about 2 months ago - and with 9 years service asked for the common decency of being told what is happening and they could discuss terms for a hand over with the understanding it would result in his job loss.

Out the blue - he was told the boss is coming tomorrow and he wants a meeting with everyone - never happened before - so he is pretty sure this is it.

There is no way this move can be happening in the next 3-6 months possibly 9-12 is more likely - he knows that for a fact as replacement system which is he advising on is no where near ready.

We fully expect they are going to get told the "truth" - we are going to move your jobs in say 3-6 months (earliest we think possible) - how about x amount to stay.

What would you ask for to stay and help out? People in the past who have been made redundant have got the statutory minimum so they are not into big payouts but he might have an advantage over them.

How would you negotiate? would you start high and ask for say a months salary for every year you have been there and let them beat you down? What else would you ask for? Or would you just start to apply for jobs on mass and hopefully get one before they close?

We are not sure where to start, what to say - we don't want to aim too high and them to call his bluff and say - okay go in a month.

jazzyman01

I think your oh needs to go to the meeting and listen to what is being discussed. This is not the meeting for discussing terms, but likely to be the point of starting consultation. If that is the case then there are two options. Either the union negotiates if redundancy terms no longer in place or, if no union, then - depending on the numbers - representatives will have to be elected.

Regretably there does appear to be some history in that statutory minimum applies. The Company may prefer to go down the same route because any leavers will save money in the long run and the benefit to your OH is that he is employed whilst looking for another job.

pleasedelete

You are implying there is an option. We had 22 months notice of redundancy. Option was give notice (work it) and leave or stuck it out and get redundancy (a bit more than statutory but not great).