New Job Offer References and Voluntary Redundancy

Charlie1985

Hi All,

So I have a situation I am hoping I can get some advice on. Basically I have been offered a job with a new company. All background checks have all been completed with the exception of a reference from my current employer.

My current employer advised they will be offering a voluntary redundancy program and I have applied for this. My thinking is rather than handing in my notice I can take advantage of the redundancy pay out. It’s not much as I only have 6 years service but better than nothing.

My questions are:

1. Can I let my new perspective employer contact my existing employer for a reference now so they can complete all there checks? My employer I believe provides factual references as the standard process. Note I have not handed in my notice yet.
2. If my new employer contacts my existing employer for a reference now will it stop me from receiving my voluntary redundancy package if my application is successful?
3. Can your new employer contact your existing employer for a reference and obtain one even if you have not handed in your notice?
4. If my voluntary redundancy application is accepted at what point can my new perspective employer contact my existing employer for a reference?

Many thanks in advance and apologies I am new to this redundancy situation. Just want to make sure I handle this the right way without losing the voluntary redundancy package. Hoping you can all advise me.

Many Thanks

Charlie

JReacher1

Your company does not have to give you voluntary redundancy and if they know you’ve got a job somewhere else they almost certainly won’t!

You probably want to discuss it with your new employer, ask if they can wait a couple of weeks before requesting a reference and then see what happens. 

sharpe106

1. Yes you will have to do that at some point anyway, you do not have to have handed notice in for that. But they know that you are looking to leave.
2.That would be up to the company but they would probably think why pay you to go when you may leave.  Depends how much they want rid of you.
3. Yes as it is only getting information but it would be a bit of a surprise to your manager to get the request without knowing about it from you. 
4. Your new employer will not care about the your redundancy they will be wanting to get on with the process not hang around for your current employer.  

Look at it from your new employer point of view if they asked for a reference and you were hesitant to give it, that would set alarms bells off. 

Tealblue

1. Yes
2. No
3. Yes
4. Any time

Charlie1985

Thanks all for the advice. Applications for the voluntary redundancy close this coming Monday. Does anyone know how long it takes for HR to make a decision if my application is successful? My new employer would like to obtain the reference from my current employer week commencing 8th June. My thinking is once my voluntary redundancy has been agreed I can give the green light to my new employer to get the reference.

Note in the information we have been given the company would like successful voluntary redundancy staff to leave by end June. 

Charlie1985

Also my manager said he is happy for me to leave and has expressed this on my voluntary redundancy application. Does that mean my voluntary redundancy application will be approved? Is it the line manager that usually makes this decision?

sharpe106

That quite quick for people to leave if they are only getting applications in for the start of the month to be approved all sorted and gone by end of month. Are you sure they did not mean they would have decided by the end of June? Although I guess it depends how many they are wanting to leave. 
Just because your line manager said they are happy for you to leave does not mean you will get it I would guess it is not him making the decision as he put he was happy for you to leave on it. 
I think you might be a little optimistic about timing. But if you put your line manager down as reference depending on the company process it might never go to HR. So the people doing the redundancies might not even know. 

TELLIT01

Charlie1985 said:

Also my manager said he is happy for me to leave and has expressed this on my voluntary redundancy application. Does that mean my voluntary redundancy application will be approved? Is it the line manager that usually makes this decision?

No it doesn't mean your application will be approved, but it does increase the likelihood that it will be.  If you hand your notice in before you have formal, written confirmation that you are being made redundant, it's 99% certain that you will not be included in the VR scheme.  There is no logic in your current employer incuding you in a scheme which costs them money if they don't have to.

Charlie1985

Do you think it’s acceptable to share with my new employer that my current employer is offering voluntary redundancy and that I want to take advantage of this? The only implication to them would be they need to wait an extra week for my reference. My start date with them would not change as it’s a while away anyway.

sharpe106

Put yourself in your new employer place what would you think if you were employing someone and they asked you to delay asking for a reference so you could take advantage of a voluntary redundancy scheme at your current employers? I think you would get your answer from that.

Dox

Charlie1985 said:

Thanks all for the advice. Applications for the voluntary redundancy close this coming Monday. Does anyone know how long it takes for HR to make a decision if my application is successful? 

Not a clue. Varies from one company to the next. In practice these things always take longer than anyone expected!