Solicitor at redundancy consultation

Judes1727

Hi
I'm going through the redundancy consultation at the moment. My company doesn't have an HR person so have an external consultant advising them. After reading the ACAS website and getting advice from HR experts I don't believe they've followed the correct process. I asked for a hard copy of the original presentation given to employees but they've refused to give it to me. I've pointed out that I don't believe the correct process has been followed, and they've now told me that a solicitor will be present at my second consultation meeting. I'm now feeling a tad intimidated and its adding to an already stressful situation. Can I object to the solicitor being present? I know I'm entitled to have someone there but I'm not a member of a union and don't want to put one of my colleagues in an awkward position by asking them to attend.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
Judy

sangie595

They can bring anyone they want to the meeting. If you are saying that you don't believe they have followed a lawful process, and they have no internal legal advice, of course they are going to involve a legal advisor from outside. If they have, in fact, done something wrong, they need to know about it. So no, you cannot object.

Judes1727

Thanks for your reply.

Derwent

Think of it as a positive thing. If you believe they haven't followed the correct process then having a solicitor present will ensure that they do as he/she is hardly likely to advise them to act unlawfully.

Judes1727

Yes I suppose you're right. Just panicked to start with!

getmore4less

What do you think they have done wrong?

Judes1727

Failure to consult....on a number of things

getmore4less

They are still consulting so they can't have failed yet.

it is a two way process so you raise the areas you want to be included.

Consultation is not a process to reach agreement just a process to give input, company decides what it wants to do.

Judes1727

They announced which roles would be redundant, and that they had created a new role, without any consultation. Plus turned down my job share/part-time suggestion without any consideration. And didn't consult with all affected parties, just those who were marked for redundancy.