Applying for Voluntary Redundancy

Gribbler

Hello. I have a fairly specific situation that I was wondering if anyone could help me with.

My husband works in the finance department of a struggling business. There are 5 employees, and they are making two redundant. We have agreed for several reasons that it would be best for him to apply for voluntary redundancy - he does not wish to work there any longer with an increased workload and in an unstable company, who have made previous cuts.

He has received a letter stating that they are 'considering' making all the current job roles redundant, and supplying three new roles for the five of them to battle it out over.

Current roles are as follows:

1. Senior accountant on 38,000
2. Senior accountant on 38,000
3. Part time support clerk on 27,500 pro rata
4. Full time support clerk on 25,500
5. Full time support clerk on 20,000

My husband is number 5, and is furious to discover that he has been paid significantly less money for the last 7 years than the other support staff, even though they all do pretty much the same job.

New roles are as follows:

1. Senior accountant on 38,000
2. Full time support clerk on 27,500
3. Full time support clerk on 20,000

One senior accountant will be made redundant. The people in current roles 3 and 4 will apply for the higher paid clerk position.

My husband is not interested in applying for any of the above, especially the 20,000 role. My question is, even with the letters that have gone out, and the consultation period going on -- could they turn around and say to him that they will not be making him redundant, forcing him to stay on in the 20,000 job?

He has made his feelings known to them in a one-to-one meeting yesterday, and they must now realise noone will be applying for the lower paid role.

He also said, if forced to apply for something he would apply for the 27,500 job. They have advised that all applications need to be in by Monday, so now we are not sure whether to do nothing and hope he gets redundancy, or if he should apply for the higher paid role (even though he doesn't really want to stay).

Can anyone help?

Kate78

No, they can't force him to stay. If didn't apply for any job, it would be compulsory redundancy at the end of the consultation period.

Gribbler

Thank you for the reply. Could they decide not to make him redundant after all, thus forcing him to stay on in his 20,000 position?

I wish I had the letter to refer to the exact wording, where it states they are considering making all positions redundant. The new role on offer is pretty much his current role - but he wants out. We are concerned they will realise noone wants the job and make him stay.

Emmzi

the job in the new structure is the ame as the job in the current structure so yes, if they find a way to deem him "best fit" for it they can offer him the 20k job and he will not be entitled to redundancy - he'll only be leaving by resignation, for which there is no money.

getmore4less

If he gives any hint the wants to leave he may not get made redundant they may just wait for him to leave.

AS for stratagy.

They may have predetermined and just going through the motions.

Find out what the other 2 want to do.
Does the part timer want full time?

find it unusual they have published current salaries unless they have a reason/motive

eg: getting hubby to apply for the higher paid job.

getmore4less

Kate78 wrote: »

No, they can't force him to stay. If didn't apply for any job, it would be compulsory redundancy at the end of the consultation period.

Not applying does not mean they can't give you a job.

The default possition can be here is a suitable alternative take it.
You could then try and fight on suitability but unlikely if the job is essentialy the same or a better one.

They can go one stage further and say your job has not changed at all then there is nothing you can do.


Untill you have been served notice to terminate current employment nothing has changed you still have your current job and there is very little you can do.

Once served notice and within your statutory notice period you can then get out with redundancy pay IF you have another job to go to.

He is in a very weak possition if the other two are not bothered about staying.

Might be best to consider the second best option and get the higher paid job.


What will the redundacy package be? that can make a difference to stratagy.


Also after the kuts if still working push back on any attempt to over work