LGPS and voluntary redundancy

Poppy9

I paid back within 3 year period with £37k salary , 30 years service and pension release at 55 1/2 years old .  Not sure how much 5 extra years of pensionable service would give me though !  

I was turned down initially as they could not make my post redundant but they transferred in another person who was at risk of redundancy who did not want to leave .  

Paz2021

Thank you Sivertabby

Yes,  it does sound unfair!

I do know that not enough people have submitted an interest for VR. Could they still reject my application as a volunteer (because of the psc) and escalate to compulsories?

Poppy9

Paz2021 said:

Thank you Sivertabby 

Yes,  it does sound unfair!

I do know that not enough people have submitted an interest for VR. Could they still reject my application as a volunteer (because of the psc) and escalate to compulsories?

My authority sought to avoid compulsories by re training /redeployment but sometimes it was unavoidable just due to nature of jobs being made redundant and volunteers coming from areas requiring specialist skills/qualifications e.g a social worker volunteers but they struggle to recruit social workers and you have to be qualified to do the job .  Some jobs when they gave a volunteer they look at restructuring and utilising lower grade staff to perform some duties by spreading them out so they can make post redundant and redeploy people into lower grade posts.  This is more common on admin side so say a Payroll section had payroll head with 4 team leaders underneath .  One team leader wishes to go on ERVR so they run in future with 3 teams , spread senior work out and maybe take on a lower grade admin who could be redeployee!  

I was lucky that a colleague on same  grade had finished one of their projects so could take on 1/2 my work and the remainder spread among my same grade team colleagues who also had some capacity due to grant projects ending .  

I know of many though turned down as post simply couldn't be deleted as after years of reducing head count they couldn't reduce & restructure any more.  

If you know how your job can be "lost" or  covered by others you can suggest after you are turned down.  I was turned down January to go March but then they found a bumped redundancy but I had to stay another 3 months !  

lincroft1710

Paz2021 said:

Thank you Sivertabby

Yes,  it does sound unfair!

I do know that not enough people have submitted an interest for VR. Could they still reject my application as a volunteer (because of the psc) and escalate to compulsories?

If it means saving money and does not offend employment legislation (which I don't think it does), then you could be put into a pool for compulsory redundancy. It is quite possible that the council may want to hold on to you for varying reasons.

Paz2021

Thank you everyone,  I will update you with my offer,  hopefully next week.

Paz2021

Silvertabby said:

The employer strain costs in the case of  redundancy at 55 for someone on £32K with 35 years service will be huge.  Quite possibly as much as £150K.  

As unfair as it sounds, the strain costs are definitely a factor when employers make their redundancy selections.

You were right Sivertabby!
I received their decision today..

I have no information on severance payments, can anyone shed any light compared to VR payments.  

Thank you

daveyjp

Your Council will have a redundancy payments policy.  Usually so many weeks pay depending on age and years of service to a maximum IIRC of 30 weeks pay.

Poppy9

But if they make her redundant the pension funds rules she's entitled to her pension of over 55.  I think they referring to just resigning so you just have to give notice .  It's not a good deal for employee!  

Paz2021

I've been rejected for VR  because of the pension strain cost.
I'm awaiting news on a severance package, but like you say Poppy9 I doubt it will be a good deal!!

Poppy9

Do not resign as then your pension is deferred until you are 67.  Sit it out.  If they want to lose posts then they have to make redundancies.  With no volunteers then they will have to go compulsory route.  If you are made compulsory redundant they have to release pension .  If your post is genuinely no longer required they either redeploy you or make redundant.  You should ask to see business case for the refusal for your application as if you cost £35k a year to employ with on costs and pension strain is £35k plus say £20k redundancy by third year you are saving then money !  There will be posts they cannot make redundant because post needed but if they need to lower head count it's going to cost in short term.  They cannot select for redundancy based on age !