Redundancies being made twice issue

Srengam

Hi all,

I am faced with a very unique situation.

My employer makes redundancies every three years or so, and this is my second time with this company where I have been interviewed to keep my job.

As soon as the redundancy process was started, a neighouring company (on the same site) immediately asked me if I would work for them, management brought me the application form, and all went well, they are now waiting for me to approve them contacting my current employer for a reference. The new job pays less, (I could not afford to simply leave my current job to take the new job) but with my reduncancy payout, it would be profitable, and when the wife returns to work after maternity leave we would actually be financially better.

So, the interveiw;

What was said; Their will be redunancies, but the payout will be enhanced at 1 months pay per year served. Their may also be more redundancies in September but they do not know if they can offer the same enhanced payout then.

I enquired about voluntary redundancy as it would be ideal for me, and I was refused (informally).

So now I want to put in a formal written request, explaining the situation, but expect it to be refused.

Do I have any rights here, as it's possible I could be refused redundancy, and keep my employment, but then made redundant in September with a statutory payout after missing the employment opportunity with the nearby company, and find myself in all sorts of financial difficulties then.

Can they do this: Refuse me voluntary redundancy knowing I would be OK, then give me forced redundancy in September when I will not be OK?

Thanks all.

getmore4less

NEVER tell your current employer you may have another job they will just keep you so you have to resign.

Looking keen to leave gives them a clue you might have something

If there are potential redundancies and you want to leave try to make sure you are chosen from your selection pool.


Also if the new job requires references then you have to be VERY carefull.

They can withdraw a redundancy as soon as they know you might have a job.

One way round this is to make sure you are in the statutory notice period and issue counter notice before the references are called for.

Srengam

But if they don't make me redundant I can't afford to resign, so they would be 'stuck with me'.

Having said that, if they keep me then they will have to make somebody else redundant. I am the lowest paid, and least time served, I am by far the cheapest redundancy, so I thought that they would welcome voluntary redundancies, but it seems not.

Are they legally allowed to deny me voluntary reduncy this week which has an excellent payout, then give me forced redundancy in September with a statutory payout, knowing full well I would be financially sound if made redundant now, but not in September.

Ie, is it really all about the employer, and not the employee's personal circumstances?

Many thanks.

getmore4less

There is no legal right to VR.

liney

Srengam wrote: »

Ie, is it really all about the employer, and not the employee's personal circumstances?

Many thanks.

Yes, redundancy is about the interests of the employer, not the employee. Afterall it is the position being made redundant not the person.

The employer does not need to take your personal circumstances into consideration, and there is no legal right for VR.

Joehennessey

no legal right to vr :l

Srengam

Thanks all,

the system does seem a little saddening, I think it's highly likely I'll keep my job when I'd be perfectly fine if I was made redundant. But somebody else who I work with will probably lose theirs, and I wouldn't know how they will manage afterwards.

Thanks again.

getmore4less

Srengam wrote: »

Thanks all,

the system does seem a little saddening, I think it's highly likely I'll keep my job when I'd be perfectly fine if I was made redundant. But somebody else who I work with will probably lose theirs, and I wouldn't know how they will manage afterwards.

Thanks again.

Then you need to try manage the situation so the other persons in you pool are better choices to keep on

Find out the selection criteria use consultation to manpulate.

Srengam

getmore4less wrote: »

Then you need to try manage the situation so the other persons in you pool are better choices to keep on

Find out the selection criteria use consultation to manpulate.

Unfortunately interviews have already been done and they are using a Matrix system with about 10 areas of input; time keeping, flexibility etc.

I asked for voluntary redundancy and was refused, I have recently found out they never accept it as it's always the valuable employees who request it since they know they can "walk into another job" because they are more experienced and qualified and hence more valuable, and most likely to be kept.

Ah well, we found out on Wednesday who's going and who's staying.

Thanks all.