Any disadvantage in not taking part in consultation process?

LouietheLoop

I have been notified that my role is it at risk and the company is beginning the consultation process. There are 5 of us at risk, all in different roles and departments.

I've been pretty unhappy in my role and at the company in general. My notice period is 2 months and prior to this news I had been planning to start job hunting in June with the hope of leaving by November. I'm not particularly upset at the prospect of redundancy and I'm confident I can find another job quickly.

I had intended on taking part in the consultation to see what the company had to say and to buy a bit of time but I have heard from a colleague who had their first meeting today and it sounded dreadful. They weren't really given an opportunity to ask any questions about the process or why they had been selected. The focus was on the employee presenting why their job should remain and those arguments were then countered by HR and their manager. That's all fair enough, but I don't really want to put time, energy and emotion into something I don't actually want.

The document they have given us says we can waive our right to consultation but I want to understand if that would put me at any disadvantage in negotiating my exit? They have also indicated that they will not be offering PILON (probably because there are key projects they want delivered during the notice period). It also says those at risk can request voluntary redundancy. 

Basically, I want to get out of there asap with the best deal for me. What action should I be taking and what should I be asking for? I've been there 1.5 years

Thanks

gwynlas

Having been there less than two years they can just give you notice rather than redundancy. Just keep quiet and take anything offerred.

Thrugelmir

While you have no desire to engage. Leave on your terms. As you still need to find alternative employment. 

LouietheLoop

Thanks both. So do you think I should

a) sit through the next few weeks of the consultation and play along with justifying why I should stay/ be deployed to another role

Or 
b) tell them that I don't want to go through consultation and I am happy to start the process of redundancy 

Thrugelmir

LouietheLoop said:

a) sit through the next few weeks of the consultation and play along with justifying why I should stay/ be deployed to another role

You will still have a paid job as long you want one. Work isn't a game. Attitude is very easily detectable. While you might find another role will the grass be any greener?  

TBagpuss

I would suggest that you continue to job search and in the mean time cooperate with the consultation process. 
You don't necessarily have to go into a cllot of detail or spend a lot of time preparing but do outline cbriefly what your strgths are. 
If you want to ask for voluntary redundancy then you can - but once you make them aware that you are willing to go then they may simply give you notice anyway.
I think a lot deoends on how quickly you think you will find a new job  - if you find one quickly and give notice it may save the job of one of your colleagues so could be a kindness to do it before the redundancies. You are not entitled to a redundancy payment (unless your contract gives more generous provisions than the statutory rights) so wouldn't be losing any money by giving notice rather than being made redundant , so from your perspective it's really about timing. 

MalMonroe

Even though you want to leave, if it were me I'd still go through the consultation process. Mainly because I'm very inquisitive by nature (some may say nosy but that's very impolite). But also because there is a consultation process and people aren't just being told to go. It may be interesting for you to find out what they say to you personally, as opposed to what they have said to a colleague. Your colleague's experience will not be the same as yours and so what really do you have to lose by going through one? You only have their word for what happened too, sometimes people aren't always honest about these things. Or maybe I've just worked with some dodgy people. (I have.) Now I'm my own boss and things are much better all round.

I'd go along, see what they have to say.