Company said delaying redundancy

redundantdaddy

My husband works for a national supermarket chain that recently restructured. He was told he was not successful, given an outline of redundancy package including PILON and a termination date of 27/3 with a final meeting scheduled for 23/3 to confirm package. Tonight they have just told him he can’t leave for 8 weeks due to COVID-19. Is this legal? We understand there are exceptional circumstances but he still will be out of work in 8 weeks and he would rather finish now.  We have a vulnerable child so intended to go into isolation after his final night shift on Saturday night.  Can they stop his redundancy payment if he doesn’t comply? Thank you

lincroft1710

Your husband is not redundant but his job will be. But as his job still needs to be done (even just for 8 weeks), there is technically no redundancy. So if he leaves now, he will be in effect resigning and not entitled to any redundancy pay. Employers are expected to delay redundancies for as long as possible and keep their staff in employment.

An extra 8 weeks work and subsequent pay is not exactly a bad thing