Real life MMD: Should I take the redundancy money?

milvusvestal

Whether you have a job offer elsewhere is immaterial to your entitlement to redundancy money. If your present employer considers you are surplus to requirements, it is legally bound to pay you the £2k irrespective of any personal arrangements you have made.

In your position, I would make absolutely certain that I had another job to go to. Surely the very last thing you must do is take the redundancy, then discover that the new job offer didn't materialize.

trying_2_b_good

It also depends on how long the process takes. What if the redundancy goes through today, but the new company have a start date next month - they WOULD be out of work for a month.

The company are going to pay that £2k to an employee anyway (or potentially more) - you're just making the decision of who easier for them.

Once you're told that you're being made redundant, you would start applying for jobs. You wouldn't feel at all guilty if you were told redundancy was definite today, had an interview tomorrow and were told that you'd got the job. The only difference is that you've already (presumable) had the interview.

Take the money. £2k isn't a big deal in the eyes of large companies.

fireman-phil

At my previous employment I handed in my notice not knowing that job losses were planned. HR refused to accept my resignation & told me to I could still leave on the same date but to resign the following week. That Friday they announced job losses and told me to volunteer for voluntary redundancy as that would mean one of my colleagues could stay on. I left a few weeks later, with £7k in my pocket that I hadn't expected!:D. They seemed very happy that they had one less person to choose and I was very happy with the unexpected bonus!

scoobydoobydoo

My issue with this is that you have nothing firm to base a decision on.

Your job "should" be safe and you are "expecting" a job offer. What if your job ISNT safe and the job offer DOESNT come? Wait until you have accepted the new job before anything else and then sure, take the redundancy.

GrumpyWithMoney

If you are good at your job and your company wants to keep you, the company probably wouldn't make you redundant even if you volunteer.

gettiton

nobody will look after you but you, take the redundancy, your work mates would if they could!

supermonkey

I think you would take the redundancy - save someone else their job & avoid the company having to replace you at a later date. It isn't greedy - as you are preventing someone else suffering hardship. However, for the same reason that I don't discuss salary with colleagues, i wouldn't tell them I had another job lined up.

It is difficult if there is no firm job offer. Perhaps speak to your current employers and say that you are considering voluntary redudancy but need time to think about it. perhaps that would buy some time to await the other job offer.

Gresp

I agree with your colleague. But in this case, you don't know you have a job elsewhere, you hope you will have a job elsewhere.

Seeing as you haven't actually had the job offer (yet?), you'd technically be redundant if you leave your current job.

Therefore you can take the £2k with a clear conscience. I would bet (and hope) that other colleagues facing redundancy have also applied for other jobs.

The only difficult decision here is whether or not to take the gamble on this other job offer.

My main piece of advice is as follows: Never, ever, EVER take for granted that a job offer is on it's way.

Marco12452

If reduncancy is open to you, you have every right to take it, new job or not. It's your decision to take it after weighing up your circumstances. The company can refuse of course after you have applied.

cisco134

In a situation like this, you must think of yourself first. When it comes to redundancy your employer will be doing the same. It's a business & survival necessitates selfishness.
If you are sure that the new job is concrete, then accept the redundancy. If not bearing mind that £2K doesn't go far, you may not have a job.

Good luck.