Real life MMD: Should I take the redundancy money?

Brian_Steele

There is no moral reason why you should not do this. Your company is seeking to make redundancies and is paying those affected. Those made redundant will need a new job and you have one lined up already. Just be careful that you are not trading in a safe job for an unknown quantity where you will have no security and will be last in.

When I left my last job back in 1995 they were offering silly money for people to take voluntary redundancy and they invited me to apply. When they learned that I had been planning to go anyway, they decided this was too generous so they withdrew the offer and offered me the promotion that had been conspicuous by its absence for several years. Most unimpressed that I had to miss out on the cash.

mungaman

Easy - "take the wonga!!"

LDM

If redundancy is affecting the company, then people putting themselves forward voluntarily (VR) reduces the number of people the company then has to consider for compulsory redundancy (CR). It also means the company will pay less money out as VR does not attract pay in lieu of notice etc - I know because I am facing redundancy but mine is unfortunatly CR, but I leave with more money as a result so not all bad.

Coming back to the dilema; absolutely take the redundancy if it can be extended to you! If you have another job to go to then you've walked away quids in. Sounds like you want to leave anyway so it's a win-win situation and if your departure allows someone else to, potentially, keep their job then someone else has benefited as a result.

JayD

Well, it seems that if you are only 'expecting' a job offer from elsewhere then, by taking voluntary redundancy, you could end up with no job at all.

I am not against you getting paid redundancy even though you have another employment opportunity but I would only volunteer for it once you know the other job as a certainty.

£2,000 doesn't go very far at all these days and there are an awful lot of unemployed people you would need to compete against for work if you end up both redundant and jobless. So don't let go of one until you have the other firmly in your grasp.

macell

Not worth a second thought - Take it!

dave2

Redundancy is for JOBS that are made redundant. Whether the person occupying that job is able or not to find another is irrelevant.

Furthermore, your performance may be good but they might need to cut back an entire slice of their business (maybe a particular line of work, or a particular location) in which case they may end up making you redundant regardless of performance.

The moral position is very clear, there is no dilemma, do what is right for you. If you want to go above and beyond your own moral responsibilities to your colleagues then consider that by leaving, someone else may be getting to keep their job.

Now what does matter is the technical position, there may be complications with redundancy possibly being voluntary and also with notice periods and such like. Often the company can be flexible about this but you need to be sure of the position and get in writing any assurances given to you by your employer that are more generous than statutory entitlement. Really I think you need proper advice on your entitlements.

Furthermore consider the wider picture. In favour of moving on might be that your current employer appears to be in difficulties and therefore perhaps wise to move when you have the opportunity. On the other hand, what condition is the new employer in? Are you going to have as good prospects there? Would you enjoy the work, colleagues etc as much? Would you even be ablke to have a certain offer of the new job before accepting redundancy? £2k isn't really a lot of money if you think about what is at stake.

Put aside the issue of the redundancy money: would you want to make the move anyway? It's a matter personal to you. If it was personal to me, I'd want to answer that question first and only if the answer was "no" would I want to start thinking about whether the money + risk of employer going bust anyway is enough to warrant making the jump.

tallgirld

I would wait until the new job is confirmed in writing then I would volunteer for redundancy.

TAKE THE MONEY!!

The only thing I would have done differently is I would NOT have told any of my collegeaues about the job offer. It has NOTHING to do with them.

lynneinjapan

N.I.M wrote: »

Take it and run, assuming this job offer is solid. Companies have no loyalty to employees anymore, why the heck should employees be loyal to them. Business ethics are VERY different to real world morals and ethics.

I'm in full agreement with this - though as plenty of others have said, there's always the risk that the new job offer won't materialise or won't turn out to be what you expected. If you're happy to take that risk then go ahead. No dilemma at all, as far as I can see!

bennett2kuk wrote: »

Our company went through redundancy recently. Redundancy is your no matter what but if they pay you PILON (Payment in lieu of notice) and you join a similar company within a set period of time this was repayable I think. There was a lot of hoo haa about it and to be honest I don't know how many people were affected as I didn't get made redundant in the end.
I would just wait until this new job offer is confirmed, then of course I'd take the redundancy.

I recently took voluntary redundancy and was given the choice between gardening leave (which would mean I would continue to get my childcare vouchers and pension contributions for the duration of my notice period (with statutory redundancy pay added on) but wouldn't be able to sign on or start another job straight away) and immediate severance (salary for notice period, plus statutory redundancy pay, rolled up into a tax-free lump sum; able to start another job or sign on immediately).

onesixfive

volunteer for the redundancy - it may save somebodys job - BUT be absolutely sure you have another job offer - 2 grand wont last long - and "voluntary" redundancy means "you left of your own accord" hence no dole money if no job to go to!

hannerrbabes

You've got the prefect situation here. You've got the possibility of redundancy AND the offer of a new job. You've got it very lucky.
Volunteer for redundancy - you're giving someone else the opportunity to keep their job who needs it - who doesn't have other options.
Go for the new job - it's better to be in a company where you know you're safe from losing your job. Plus, a new job is always an exciting new experience.
As for the redundancy money? Take it! You've obviously worked there a long time so deserve the money for everything you've done for the company already. Your colleague is probably just jealous that you've found yourself in such a lucky situation:money: