Possible Unfair Dismissal? Fishy redundancy procedures anyway

mrman839

Hello there,

I've recently been made 'redundant'.
I don't think the company followed correct redundancy procedure and would like to know what I should do.

Due to some internal conflicts within the team (a bit of nepotism and bullying) I lost my job. This was done by the owner of the company in a 'meeting' that consisted of going for a walk out side the office. I was told my services were no longer required due to the conflicts within the team.

Essentially I was not being allowed to do my job properly in my field. One of the senior management teams friends was constantly undermining my position (in a field they have no experience in), and essential process meeting were taken without me meaning decisions were made that did not make sense for the project but I had to work around.

I had expressed concerns previously, a meeting was held with relevant staff members to clear the air. Everything felt ok after that, its a pretty small company (around 20) so I thought it was just a bit of ego based politics that had now been solved. The following day work was a bit stilted but I assumed that was just people getting over the previous turmoil. Later that day the owner took me for a walk and told me I would no longer be required as part of the senior management team no longer wanted me (and other members of my department) on the team. I was told I would get paid for another month and to start looking for work.

I packed as much of my belongings away and left - in a rage and unwilling to create a scene.
Over the next few days I texted the owner of the company a few times in an effort to have a meeting with him and talk over what exactly had just happened. I was a bit stunned.

I've still to receive official notice of my 'redundancy' - the letters are apparently sitting in the post office waiting for me to collect them. I have received advance notice of what my redundancy letter contains - I have been made redundant due to company restructuring. This letter is also apparently dated the day after the meeting with the owner, but was only posted out two weeks later.

I've requested a meeting to appeal my redundancy which I hope to have soon.

Few things I'm unsure of - I had yet to finish my 3 month probation.
Does that give me the full rights of a normal employee in the case of redundancies. e.g. consultation meetings beforehand, opportunities to find other work in the company etc.

None of these were offered, there was no HR present - just a meeting with the owner where I was told I would no longer be required, and that it was definitely not a reflection on my work.

What are my rights here - am I due any extra wages since the official letter won't have reached me till 2 weeks after the event?
Do I have a legal leg to stand on for an unfair dismissal? Or anything else?
The whole redundancy procedure they have went through stinks.

I'm a bit frustrated. Going to call ACAS tomorrow and see what they think but thought I'd throw it out to you guys to see if you know if there is anything specific I should do. This is all new territory to me. Previous companies I've worked for have went through long redundancy consultation periods where individuals are marked and scored according to a matrix. There was none of that here.
Any thoughts?

Mrman839

marybelle01

You have worked there three months. You can't claim unfair dismissal - you'd need two years service now for a claim. The employer is being "nice" saying it is redundancy. It isn't. You don't fit in and they don't want you. And the fact that you know the letter is in the post office and you haven't collected it - well that's your problem for not collecting it.

This isn't particularly nice for you, but I would recommend keeping quiet and moving on. Currently your reference says something along the lines of "made redundant due to company restructure". There is nothing to stop it saying "Failed probationary period due to annoying the senior management team too often in just three months" - or words to that effect. They hold more cards here than you do, and this isn't a battle you would win.