Redundant March 21' 10 February 2021 at 7:05PM in Redundancy & redundancy planning 15 replies 1.2K views

Dandytf

Quite a shock, though not totally surprising.
I'll be redundant end of March,
that's pension cont's almost gone, unless I find work.
Approx 12 mths part time redundancy payment to be received.
What is sensible way forward , I have M.S. 10years (not wheelchair yet) though did drop from full to part time dues to hospital visits etc.
I have a  Mortgage to continue paying.
Should I try finding some work, or request benefits help= I get PIP though WTC's will drop.
Also I have been asked to find a Lawyer to check Redundancy doc's before signing them.
t.i.a.

GrumpyDil

Can't advise on options but why has the company asked you to get a lawyer to check redundancy docs - that sounds pretty unusual. 

General_Grant

GrumpyDil said:

Can't advise on options but why has the company asked you to get a lawyer to check redundancy docs - that sounds pretty unusual. 

Sounds like some kind of compromise agreement rather than a straightforward statutory redundancy payment.  That does require some independent legal advice to be obtained.

Dandytf

Thanks each reply, the Lawyer advice was described as part of the Redundancy process.
List of lawyers suggested.
I'll speak about other disability benefits locally next week.
And call a Lawyer then.

GrumpyDil

Is the company paying for you to obtain advice? As the General pointed out this does sound like a little more than a normal redundancy arrangement. I did think of some form of compromise agreement as that would require you to get independent legal advice but as you've not mentioned this am wondering why?  Might be worth clarifying with your employer why they are telling you to get legal advice and confirm if they will be paying for it. 

MrFrugalFever

GrumpyDil said:

Can't advise on options but why has the company asked you to get a lawyer to check redundancy docs - that sounds pretty unusual. 

Actually it’s standard practice for redundancy payments in excess of £30,000. It’s a couple of hundred pounds (if I recall) whereby the solicitor effectively signs off the redundancy package.

If there are several of you being made redundant and each receiving £30,000+ then I would perhaps look to cooperate with them and arrange for on3 solicitor to effectively come in and sign all at once.

you haven’t mentioned if the company is offering PILON? If you are going to achieve an additional years service during the PILON period, sometimes gardening leave will be more beneficial to enable you to achieve a further year of redundancy pay.

you haven’t mentioned how much you are due to receive though so just going on generic advice here.

as for your question, only you will know if you need to find additional work due to your own financial status.

thebrexitunicorn

As far as I’m aware the only reason you would need to consult a solicitor is if the company is offering a settlement agreement. This would normally be a payment in excess of your statutory or contractual redundancy entitlement, in exchange for you signing away certain rights.  If nothing extra is being offered there’s no reason to sign anything, you should still receive your entitlement.  

In such situations the employer normally pays an agreed contribution for legal fees e.g. £350 - £500.  

Dandytf

@MrFrugalFever
Thanks though only a few years redundancy, no where near to 30k range.
thanks anyway

GrumpyDil

Sorry but disagree about standard practice to get legal advice. My redundancy terms would result in a payment in excess of 30000 and there was no suggestion of needing legal advice when we went through a redundancy process a few years ago. 

MrFrugalFever

GrumpyDil said:

Sorry but disagree about standard practice to get legal advice. My redundancy terms would result in a payment in excess of 30000 and there was no suggestion of needing legal advice when we went through a redundancy process a few years ago. 

i was part of a mass redundancy process of layers of management within a large corporation and we were offered 'Enhanced redundancy' which meant that we had Statutory redundancy, company enhanced payment, PILON and (Gardening Leave - optional). Anyone who was due to receive in excess of £30,000 HAD to have it signed off by a solicitor. Redundancy pay is tax exempt and i believe it was due to the pay being enhanced and outside of the statutory that triggered the need for a solicitor. 
Redundancy could not have been accepted formally without the sign-off from a solicitor.

Dandyytf, it sounds as though your company are offering terms that go above and beyond the United Kingdom Statutory Redundancy guidelines (perhaps benefits which could be HMRC tax linked) so yes, a legal advisor would be best in this situation.

Dandytf

Thanks mser's appreciate every response.
This is very new to me, though 1st calls for help are being made since yesterday.