Notice given today - help please

smi85

I've been told by my employer this morning that I am on 3 weeks notice, as I understand it this means that if things do not pick up (I work for a small building firm) in the next 3 weeks, then I am finished?

I'm just a bit confused as to where this leaves me.. having been given my 3 weeks notice, am I now free to find work for after the notice period expires or am I required to wait and see what happens before finding work?

I have used 2 or 3 different redundancy pay calculators and there have been 2 figures quoted, presumably one is net of tax and one gross, is my statutory redundancy pay liable for income tax? I've tried to find definitive answers but I seem to be able to find only conflicting advice. I'll receive 4 weeks pay as I have 4 full years in, presumably I would receive my holiday entitlement on top of that (21 days + bank hols)??

There are 8 employees and only 3 are being kept on.

Thanks for the help!

custardy

I would be looking for work now

agrinnall

This is a good place to look for redundancy information, it includes a payment calculator

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/index.htm

Redundancy pay up to £30K is tax free. If you get Pay In Lieu of Notice (PILON) it may be tax free, but it's a bit complicated. You will get holiday pay, but only what you have accrued up to the time you finish, so if the 21 days you mention is your full year's allowance you'd only get that if your holiday year exactly coincided with your end date.

I have seen other threads that mention the possibility of giving notice yourself while under notice of redundancy, meaning you know for sure when you'll be leaving and not allowing the employer to withdraw the redundancy. I don't know much about it, but if you have the prospect of another job it could be useful to ensure you get the redundancy payout.

getmore4less

If you have been working ther 4 full years then the minimum notice is 4 weeks.

When did you start?

What have they actualy said was it official notice of termination by reason of reundancy or notice they will decide in 3 weeks?

smi85

it was notice of redundancy, i got 3 weeks and the other lads got 2 weeks. we're a relatively young business. only 3 lads have escaped getting their notice. i will ask my boss to clarify that today though and get back here, thanks.

getmore4less

Looks like they are short a weeks notice unless they plan to pay the week as PILON.

if you were pooled have you checked the selection process.


Start looking for a job ASAP

smi85

I asked him to explain the criteria for who was selected and I'm satisfied with it, as of yet though have not received a written notice of redundancy.

Another issue has arisen, I have been employed by my current boss since 07/2007 but seemingly I have been employed by him twice. According to HMRC I started employment with a firm of a different name on 01/01/2009, despite there being no changes at work whatsoever. So in effect I have lost a years redundancy pay, where do I stand with this? As far as I'm concerned I've always worked for the same bloke!

getmore4less

Whats on your pay slips and your p60's, did you ever get a p45 or notification that the previous job had been terminated.

You will probably have to seek legal advice if they won't up the redundancy to 4 years.

anamenottaken

smi85 wrote: »

I asked him to explain the criteria for who was selected and I'm satisfied with it, as of yet though have not received a written notice of redundancy.

Another issue has arisen, I have been employed by my current boss since 07/2007 but seemingly I have been employed by him twice. According to HMRC I started employment with a firm of a different name on 01/01/2009, despite there being no changes at work whatsoever. So in effect I have lost a years redundancy pay, where do I stand with this? As far as I'm concerned I've always worked for the same bloke!

Well that is surely, at most, a transfer of undertaking and your employment should be continuous.

You weren't on holiday for more than a week at the end of 2008 were you? Did you take a long Christmas holiday or does the establishment close for a week at Christmas?

smi85

We always take 2 weeks at christmas and apart from being laid off a couple weeks extra due to bad weather, the fact I have actually worked for 2 companies is all new to me.

I spoke to my boss today and when asked if he would be providing me with written notice, his reply was that i'd had a verbal notice and that's "all i need"... he also told me that the redundancies won't actually happen anyway, he allegedly has only given 4 of us our notice to cover his back as he told one lad not to come in at all on tuesday and didn't want any comebacks if the lad in question kicked up a fuss and wanted to know why he was chosen first - thus my boss can say "the others have been given their notice as well"... this is despite everyone around the firm saying people WILL go if things don't pick up.

Strange behaviour.. regardless of what the truth is, I am applying for jobs and plan my exit anyways..