Real life MMD: Should I take the redundancy money?

Former_MSE_Penelope

Money Moral Dilemma: Should I take the redundancy money?

My company's making people redundant, but I'm likely to be safe as my performance is good. But I'm expecting a job offer from another company, so am considering volunteering for the redundancy (payout c. £2,000). My view is the company (which is large) doesn't lose anything by making me redundant instead of someone else. I would go happily and quietly, and someone else gets to keep their job. Yet my colleague thinks I shouldn't take redundancy if I know I've a job elsewhere.

Click reply to have your say

Previous MMDs: View All


[threadbanner] box [/threadbanner]

inicholson

I don't see this as much of a moral dilemma at all - if you're leaving anyway take the redundancy option. If you don't take it and then leave, the company will have to recruit a replacement for you when (ironically) they've just paid of someone else instead of you. By taking the money you save somebody else's job, save your employer the time and trouble of recruiting another employee and cost nobody anything - if you don't take the redundancy payment somebody else will.

However, it does look like a gamble - what if you accept the redundancy offer and then aren't offered the other job?

scotsbob

Redundancy money is for people who are made redundant, not people who are changing jobs, therefore you don't take it.
If you are greedy and selfish and take the money, then justice would be done if the job offer falls through.

bill_the_bus

Take the money and run.

Loyalty went out of the window years ago with me after giving many years of perfect service, going above and beyond regularly, a large national company said due to the branch closing my options were to work at another store 50 miles away part time or take redundancy. I took the only option of redundancy and put in the position of the real life MMD would take the money and say thanks very much and give someone else the option of keeping their job.

Pmarmalade

scotsbob wrote: »

Redundancy money is for people who are made redundant, not people who are changing jobs, therefore you don't take it.

That only applies if redundancies are decided upon before (s)he hands in his notice.

If (s)he takes redundancy and is taking a risk it saves someone else's job. The risk is (s)he doesn't get the job, so it's a gamble. There's no real difference between that and others who take it looking to move on. They take the same gamble.

If (s)he's had a confirmed job offer first and still takes the redundancy payment then it's taking £2,000 and being quite sly.

tescobabe69

Take the money.

1ipstick

Take it; they expect people to find new jobs once they're redundant anyway - you having a head start isn't anything to do with it. It's nothing to do with loyalty - they need to lose a certain number of people, and as you say, they don't lose anything by making you redundant instead of someone else, and someone else gets to keep their job.
Of course, it's still a gamble if you don't have anything lined up 100% definitely, just like it's a gamble for anyone else hoping to take this as an opportunity to change jobs.

Avatar73

scotsbob wrote: »

Redundancy money is for people who are made redundant, not people who are changing jobs, therefore you don't take it.
If you are greedy and selfish and take the money, then justice would be done if the job offer falls through.

I think this is a rather poor attitude. I dedicated 4 years of my life to serving my country, then got forced out on a redundancy. I'll get over £20k, and have another higher paying job lined up and ready to go. I'm taking all the redundancy as I'm perfectly entitled to it, and had it not been for certain people wasting all our countries resources I'd probably still be serving it. Well I definitely would be, as I signed on for 18 years. Go figure.

anjak-j

If I had a rock-solid job offer with another company that I was reasonably sure would be long-term, I'm afraid regardless of some people's comments about the ethics of it, I'd take the money and wouldn't look back. Ultimately, if I didn't, someone else would be made redundant and then when I left, the company would be left having to look for a replacement. I'd consider the redundancy money - which is money you are entitled to anyway - good karma for helping a colleague, possibly a friend, keep their job, saving the company in costs looking for a replacement.

The only real dilemma I see here is whether or not it is 100% that you have another job to go to.

qetu1357

Take the money.

I was in a similar situation, I took the £16k as I knew I had already got a better job to go to that was nearer home too - 10 minute drive.

greenbee

Take the money.

I was in a similar position (although my job was at risk and I didn't have the option of voluntary redundancy). I declined the alternative positions as unsuitable as I had another more suitable role lined up - and it was a much quicker way of getting out and being available to the new employer who wanted me to start asap than resigning and then having to serve my notice period when my job had effectively vanished already.