Threat of redundancy while on Furlough

Abbafan1972

Hi there,

I am on Furlough, along with another member of staff from the same department.

I received a letter from my employer saying that due to the loss of business etc, they will be commencing consultations with a view to making positions redundant in 2 of the departments. 

The consultations apparently will be taking place this week between managment and HR (outside company) and they will reach a decision on Monday coming.

My concerns are that it seems they are not involving the employees in the consultations, as surely they would if we were in the office as normal? Also, our department has a 3rd person who has been there longer, she is an absolute vile person who seems to pull a lot of the managements strings and me and my colleague think she is conspiring to get rid of us both, so that she can do all the work herself.  She never takes holidays.  Numerous complaints have been made about her over the time she's been there about her attitude, but nothing ever gets done. On the last day before we were Furloughed or even told about it, she had taken all the work off me and other colleague, so she obviously knew what was about to happen. 

Employers letter said that they will go on the employee's record, ie:- Disciplinary, attendance, that type of thing.  We both think we are both for the chopping block (especially me, as I've only been there for 6 months).

I am worried and can they do this?

jonnygee2

I am worried and can they do this?

Yes, as you have worked there for less than two years they do not need to consult you in the process. 

Your opinion on the other people in the department isn't relevant.

General_Grant

If there are fewer than 20 employees being considered for redundancy then there is no law to force consultation with the workforce or its representatives.  That applies whatever the length of service of the affected employees.

Brynsam

Abbafan1972 said:

Hi there,

I am on Furlough, along with another member of staff from the same department.

I received a letter from my employer saying that due to the loss of business etc, they will be commencing consultations with a view to making positions redundant in 2 of the departments. 

The consultations apparently will be taking place this week between managment and HR (outside company) and they will reach a decision on Monday coming.

My concerns are that it seems they are not involving the employees in the consultations, as surely they would if we were in the office as normal? Also, our department has a 3rd person who has been there longer, she is an absolute vile person who seems to pull a lot of the managements strings and me and my colleague think she is conspiring to get rid of us both, so that she can do all the work herself.  She never takes holidays.  Numerous complaints have been made about her over the time she's been there about her attitude, but nothing ever gets done. On the last day before we were Furloughed or even told about it, she had taken all the work off me and other colleague, so she obviously knew what was about to happen. 

Employers letter said that they will go on the employee's record, ie:- Disciplinary, attendance, that type of thing.  We both think we are both for the chopping block (especially me, as I've only been there for 6 months).

I am worried and can they do this?

They probably would involve employees if everyone was in the office as normal, but times aren't normal, so no point beefing about that.

Yes, the employer can do what yours is doing and from what you've said, it certainly sounds as if the '3rd person' may be the one chosen to remain. Whatever her attitude, it sounds as if she gets the job done and that's what matters most to management.

It must be a worrying time even without this hanging over your head but all you can do is dust off your cv and get applying for jobs if the need arises. I hope it won't.

General_Grant

Brynsam said:

Abbafan1972 said:

Hi there,

I am on Furlough, along with another member of staff from the same department.

I received a letter from my employer saying that due to the loss of business etc, they will be commencing consultations with a view to making positions redundant in 2 of the departments. 

The consultations apparently will be taking place this week between managment and HR (outside company) and they will reach a decision on Monday coming.

My concerns are that it seems they are not involving the employees in the consultations, as surely they would if we were in the office as normal? Also, our department has a 3rd person who has been there longer, she is an absolute vile person who seems to pull a lot of the managements strings and me and my colleague think she is conspiring to get rid of us both, so that she can do all the work herself.  She never takes holidays.  Numerous complaints have been made about her over the time she's been there about her attitude, but nothing ever gets done. On the last day before we were Furloughed or even told about it, she had taken all the work off me and other colleague, so she obviously knew what was about to happen. 

Employers letter said that they will go on the employee's record, ie:- Disciplinary, attendance, that type of thing.  We both think we are both for the chopping block (especially me, as I've only been there for 6 months).

I am worried and can they do this?

They probably would involve employees if everyone was in the office as normal, but times aren't normal, so no point beefing about that.

Yes, the employer can do what yours is doing and from what you've said, it certainly sounds as if the '3rd person' may be the one chosen to remain. Whatever her attitude, it sounds as if she gets the job done and that's what matters most to management.

It must be a worrying time even without this hanging over your head but all you can do is dust off your cv and get applying for jobs if the need arises. I hope it won't.

Never taking holidays should, however, be ringing bells with senior management.

JReacher1

General_Grant said:

Brynsam said:

Abbafan1972 said:

Hi there,

I am on Furlough, along with another member of staff from the same department.

I received a letter from my employer saying that due to the loss of business etc, they will be commencing consultations with a view to making positions redundant in 2 of the departments. 

The consultations apparently will be taking place this week between managment and HR (outside company) and they will reach a decision on Monday coming.

My concerns are that it seems they are not involving the employees in the consultations, as surely they would if we were in the office as normal? Also, our department has a 3rd person who has been there longer, she is an absolute vile person who seems to pull a lot of the managements strings and me and my colleague think she is conspiring to get rid of us both, so that she can do all the work herself.  She never takes holidays.  Numerous complaints have been made about her over the time she's been there about her attitude, but nothing ever gets done. On the last day before we were Furloughed or even told about it, she had taken all the work off me and other colleague, so she obviously knew what was about to happen. 

Employers letter said that they will go on the employee's record, ie:- Disciplinary, attendance, that type of thing.  We both think we are both for the chopping block (especially me, as I've only been there for 6 months).

I am worried and can they do this?

They probably would involve employees if everyone was in the office as normal, but times aren't normal, so no point beefing about that.

Yes, the employer can do what yours is doing and from what you've said, it certainly sounds as if the '3rd person' may be the one chosen to remain. Whatever her attitude, it sounds as if she gets the job done and that's what matters most to management.

It must be a worrying time even without this hanging over your head but all you can do is dust off your cv and get applying for jobs if the need arises. I hope it won't.

Never taking holidays should, however, be ringing bells with senior management.

They’ve only been there six months so it may only be no holidays in six months. Maybe she saves them for summer

Abbafan1972

No, I've only been there for 6 months - the person that never takes holidays has been there for about 6 years I think,

General_Grant

JReacher1 said:

General_Grant said:

Brynsam said:

Abbafan1972 said:

Hi there,

I am on Furlough, along with another member of staff from the same department.

I received a letter from my employer saying that due to the loss of business etc, they will be commencing consultations with a view to making positions redundant in 2 of the departments. 

The consultations apparently will be taking place this week between managment and HR (outside company) and they will reach a decision on Monday coming.

My concerns are that it seems they are not involving the employees in the consultations, as surely they would if we were in the office as normal? Also, our department has a 3rd person who has been there longer, she is an absolute vile person who seems to pull a lot of the managements strings and me and my colleague think she is conspiring to get rid of us both, so that she can do all the work herself.  She never takes holidays.  Numerous complaints have been made about her over the time she's been there about her attitude, but nothing ever gets done. On the last day before we were Furloughed or even told about it, she had taken all the work off me and other colleague, so she obviously knew what was about to happen. 

Employers letter said that they will go on the employee's record, ie:- Disciplinary, attendance, that type of thing.  We both think we are both for the chopping block (especially me, as I've only been there for 6 months).

I am worried and can they do this?

They probably would involve employees if everyone was in the office as normal, but times aren't normal, so no point beefing about that.

Yes, the employer can do what yours is doing and from what you've said, it certainly sounds as if the '3rd person' may be the one chosen to remain. Whatever her attitude, it sounds as if she gets the job done and that's what matters most to management.

It must be a worrying time even without this hanging over your head but all you can do is dust off your cv and get applying for jobs if the need arises. I hope it won't.

Never taking holidays should, however, be ringing bells with senior management.

They’ve only been there six months so it may only be no holidays in six months. Maybe she saves them for summer

Though the OP had only been there for six months, the other co-worker had presumably been there longer so the "no holiday" situation could be known.  However, of course, that's not pertinent to the OP's situation.

JReacher1

General_Grant said:

JReacher1 said:

General_Grant said:

Brynsam said:

Abbafan1972 said:

Hi there,

I am on Furlough, along with another member of staff from the same department.

I received a letter from my employer saying that due to the loss of business etc, they will be commencing consultations with a view to making positions redundant in 2 of the departments. 

The consultations apparently will be taking place this week between managment and HR (outside company) and they will reach a decision on Monday coming.

My concerns are that it seems they are not involving the employees in the consultations, as surely they would if we were in the office as normal? Also, our department has a 3rd person who has been there longer, she is an absolute vile person who seems to pull a lot of the managements strings and me and my colleague think she is conspiring to get rid of us both, so that she can do all the work herself.  She never takes holidays.  Numerous complaints have been made about her over the time she's been there about her attitude, but nothing ever gets done. On the last day before we were Furloughed or even told about it, she had taken all the work off me and other colleague, so she obviously knew what was about to happen. 

Employers letter said that they will go on the employee's record, ie:- Disciplinary, attendance, that type of thing.  We both think we are both for the chopping block (especially me, as I've only been there for 6 months).

I am worried and can they do this?

They probably would involve employees if everyone was in the office as normal, but times aren't normal, so no point beefing about that.

Yes, the employer can do what yours is doing and from what you've said, it certainly sounds as if the '3rd person' may be the one chosen to remain. Whatever her attitude, it sounds as if she gets the job done and that's what matters most to management.

It must be a worrying time even without this hanging over your head but all you can do is dust off your cv and get applying for jobs if the need arises. I hope it won't.

Never taking holidays should, however, be ringing bells with senior management.

They’ve only been there six months so it may only be no holidays in six months. Maybe she saves them for summer

Though the OP had only been there for six months, the other co-worker had presumably been there longer so the "no holiday" situation could be known.  However, of course, that's not pertinent to the OP's situation.

Yes, although I agree it’s not relevant you seemed to be saying that by not taking any holiday this would be ringing an alarm bell with the senior management!  I don’t believe this is true and as the OP has only been there for 6 months I am not sure you can really be sure this is correct. October to March I don’t tend to take many days myself (apart from Xmas). 

I also don’t think it’s that alarming if someone doesn’t take holiday. Some people just really like to work

dancing_star

JReacher1 said:

I also don’t think it’s that alarming if someone doesn’t take holiday. Some people just really like to work

It's one indicator of fraud. Gets flagged up when you are taught about employee fraud/theft - avoiding taking holiday means there is less chance of holiday cover finding out about your nefarious activities.