Too late to apply for voluntary redundancy

pinkynat

Hi all,

In November, my company put out that they would be looking for people to apply for voluntary redundancy and asked us to put in our interest by Dec 1st.

A day or so after the announcement, I went off with mental health issues caused from work. I have been unhappy for quite some time and stress, anxiety and other situations (not vr related) got to breaking point and I've been signed off since on long term sick.  

In this time, I wasn't able to bring myself to log in and had minimal contact with work who left me to it a bit but last week, I asked if I could still be considered as I can't see the reasons for my stress etc improving and VR would be a good option for me. (Financially, I need to pay off debts if I was to look at other jobs since I have been in my company for 15 years and know starting salaries elsewhere are lower. Too low really)

I was told today that they were clear on the deadline and I had missed it but I was wondering if I had any grounds to push them to reconsider, especially given the fact that I was off during the window to apply and genuinely struggling to even get up. 

I guess I don't really have any grounds to but am still a little hopeful someone might have advice. 
 
Thanks

TadleyBaggie

There is no legal framework for VR, it's offered and the company can apply any terms they like.

cattie

Cut off dates are there for a reason & you missed it, so there's nothing you can do if the company won't agree to allow you to register late. You mentioned the offer was made a couple of days before you went off sick, so why on earth did you not put your name forward as soon as you knew that volunteers were being sought, especially as you mentioned not being happy in the job for quite some time.?

lincroft1710

It may even be that the VR scheme was oversubscribed - many often are.

pinkynat

cattie said:

Cut off dates are there for a reason & you missed it, so there's nothing you can do if the company won't agree to allow you to register late. You mentioned the offer was made a couple of days before you went off sick, so why on earth did you not put your name forward as soon as you knew that volunteers were being sought, especially as you mentioned not being happy in the job for quite some time.?

It was announced on a day I didn't work. Then the 2 data I worked following that were spent in back to back meetings. I don't make quick decisions and given the fact I have been there 16 years, wasn't going to just put in without thinking on it. I have worked without a break for the last few months due to people contacting me even when on break as wfh doesn't help with work life balance.

happyc84

Hi Pinkynat, Sorry the company were more sympathetic to the deadline date. If you are in a Trade union you might be able to channel some questions to your local rep.

Don't rush back to work, I'd follow the advice from your GP.


Hope it works out.

lincroft1710

happyc84 said:

Hi Pinkynat, Sorry the company were more sympathetic to the deadline date. If you are in a Trade union you might be able to channel some questions to your local rep.

Don't rush back to work, I'd follow the advice from your GP.


Hope it works out.

Very little a union could do as VR is unregulated and terms and conditions are solely at the whim of management.


OP needs to be careful regarding excessive sick leave and also their ability to do the job in future. An employer seeking to reduce employee numbers may be looking for grounds to lawfully dismiss and thus avoid expensive redundancy payouts.  Both excessive sick leave and incapability are such grounds.

sammyjammy

Speaking from experience get some help with your mental health concerns.  I applied for VR several years ago with my employer, at the time I was very unhappy at work and suffering with moderate depression, I had stopped taking my meds and was in a bad place.  Luckily I was turned down and afterwards realised what bad decisions I was making at the time and that it wouldn't have ended well.  Fast forward, I moved jobs shortly after within the company and am in a much happier place both in and out of work.

In short its not the time to be making life changing decisions IMO.

london21

Because it is VR, not much you can do after the deadline.

Likely oversubscribed. Hopefully another opportunity comes.