Company closing its unit 4 months after they hired me?

Budu

I have been headhunted for a new business unit within an international company. I have been promised this was the beginning of a big project and scope would increase in time. I made my decision based on that promise and accepted the position. Company director came to the office one day and announced the closure after 4 months they hired me. I have raised the question about why I was misled and the reply was that people hired me did not know anything.

They have not offered me any alternative position elsewhere as there is not a single suitable job available in different part of the business.

What would be my rights?

Thanks,

pathtofreedom

Until you have worked somewhere over 2 years you don't really have any rights. They can't single you out and fire you due to a protected reason like sex, disablity etc but closing an office sounds pretty clear cut.

Do they have an internal job board you can look on for a transfer somewhere else? Otherwise have they said if they are going through a redundancy consultation, or what is your notice period as probably time to start sending your cv out.

getmore4less

rights in a redundancy situation.

Contractual notice and accrued unused holiday.
Statutory redundancy with 2+ years service.

And anything you can negotiate.

Something you should always do when headhunted into positions is put in some protections, like a long notice period or a exit package if terminated early

Things to think about during the consultation
(how many people effected?)

Where is the work going? why can't you go with it

Why are they shutting the unit, can the people effected come up with good reasons to keep it open even on a temp basis to give people more time.

Try to negotiate some extra compensation eg a minimal redundancy package like the same package that anyone with 2 years service would get)

jjlandlord

Budu wrote: »

I have been promised this was the beginning of a big project and scope would increase in time. I made my decision based on that promise and accepted the position.

I guess that's a hard way to learn something, they will always make such promises when trying to hire you.
This is a sales pitch and you should consider whatever you are told in the same way you would from any salesman.