Told to apply for voluntary redundancy 11 October 2020 at 3:34PM in Redundancy & redundancy planning 11 replies 1.1K views

Victoriain

Hi there, my son has been called into work today and been told he is to be made redundant. He works for a hotel company and has been on furlough. He was called in today ahead of the group announcement tomorrow as they weren’t sure how he would respond - he is autistic. He was told the package (around a months pay) and asked there and then to send an email saying he is applying for voluntary redundancy and thanks for everything the company has done etc. He did as he was told, as he does. I am concerned on the implications of what he has been asked to do as this wasn’t voluntary. There was just him and an HR member. Why would they ask him to do this and also does this affect his right to claim benefits? They said it was needed to speed up the payout. Hope someone can advise please. 

Grumpy_chap

How long has he been working at the hotel?  
Is the package on top of notice and statutory?

Victoriain

He has been there just over two years. They’ve offered two weeks per year plus his holidays and I think some notice period. 

mark55man

I think you might want to ask on the benefits board about the benefits implications.  The package looks basic than statutory minimum, but not a lot.  Not sure there is much you can do to undo it if that's what you are thinking, although it does seem shabby.

Good luck  

[Deleted User]

 Despite sending the email he can still get out of it. 

 He will be expected to sign documents stating he is accepting redundancy voluntarily ie they are not unlawfully dismissing him. He just emails the HR guy back saying he's changed his mind and doesn't intend to resign. They can't force him to sign. 

 That is if he wants to stay there. 

mark55man

fair point from _shel - however you should bear in mind that if VR doesn't get rid of as many jobs as the business needs then it can turn into compulsory redundancy which can be on worse terms  

[Deleted User]

mark55man said:

fair point from _shel - however you should bear in mind that if VR doesn't get rid of as many jobs as the business needs then it can turn into compulsory redundancy which can be on worse terms  

 True and if it was me I wouldn't be keen on staying anyway after this incident. They don't seem to want him there, id take the money and run.

 You can get benefits after voluntary redundancy. I did, its the same as redundancy or dismissal. 

mark55man

Thanks _shel - I'm sure that will be reassuring to OP

Victoriain

Thanks everyone. My concern was what benefit they have of getting staff to volunteer rather than compulsory. Also wanted to ensure he could still claim benefits so reassuring from _shel. 

mark55man

Part of the benefit to a business, is no manager really wants to have to let someone go because of circumstances rather than fault, and certainly no one wants to have to choose between two people who both want to stay - therefore, a little sweetener in the VR terms, might save them pain down stream by identifying volunteers. 

The harder nosed the management the less incentive to sweeten, but in the scenario you describe, I imagine its not too cut throat and maybe its based in a community where the good will (in doing VR rather than CR) may come round.  I mean look at the reaction at the way Spoons handled this - some of my DC friends are still boycotting it.

I'm glad we were able to help at this dreadful time for everyone   

Inoshe

mark55man said:

I think you might want to ask on the benefits board about the benefits implications.  The package looks basic than statutory minimum, but not a lot.  Not sure there is much you can do to undo it if that's what you are thinking, although it does seem shabby.

Good luck  

Statutory minimum would be 1 week for each years service. Unless contractually they have to offer 2 weeks per year it looks like it's been enhanced to entice people to take them up on the offer. That is quite normal.