Provisional Redundancy - Specific people chosen out of wider department

Dexterity6

Hi all

Looking for some advice here for my partner.

He works in a company that provides furniture, specifically he works in the warehouse. There are 14 people employed to work in the warehouse.

On Tuesday he was called in to a meeting and was given a letter about "Provisional redundancy", this letter explains that he's at risk of redundancy as they need to cut the workforce by four people. He was sent home straight away and told to come in to work on Friday at 11am for a second meeting.

The plot thickens here in the fact that they are cutting four jobs, and only four people have been given this letter. The rest of the warehouse staff have been told their jobs are safe!

The letter also includes a score matrix based on things like attendance, attitude and technical skills etc. My partner does not receive performance reviews and doesn't understand how the scores on this matrix have been calculated.

Am I correct here in thinking:

A) There should have been a consultation period for ALL of the warehouse staff, with them all being given the same letter.
They have given this letter to four people and they're culling four jobs, this sounds like unfair selection as they've already made their mind up on who is going.
C) The matrix they're judging them on should have been applied to ALL warehouse staff and maybe a decision on which individuals were being made redundant should have been based off of that?

I should mention that recently two of the warehouses merged in to one, and 3 out of the four who have had this letter are from the second warehouse which merged in to the current one.

The letter sounds like they're still deciding, but I don't understand how when they have already chosen their four and told the rest they're safe!

Just to add, he's been there for five years.

Any advice?

Thanks

TBagpuss

It depends.
Mostly for redundancy there is a 'pool' or 'class' of people who are at risk. Does everyone in the warehouse do the same job, or are there different roles within the warehouse? Do all who have been given the letters have the same role as each other?

However, if all 14 do the same role, then you would normally expect them all to be in the 'pool'and to be given the same warning.

There is a requirement to have a fair selection process, and it should be based on objective criteria, and there should also be a clear and fair appeals process. Consultation is also an important factor.

Your husband may find it helpful to speak to ACAS for further help.

melloecastro

I would suggest speak to ACAS. The rules can vary due to various factors I think such as size of company. I worked for a small company once and they only put a few people up for redundancy in a factory/warehouse and based it off the contracts/job roles. You would hope they had taken proper advice before starting the process. Hope all turns out well.

Is he in a Union?

melloecastro

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4547