Could ‘technically’ be made redundant🙄

400ixl

The 2 years is being with the employer, not the individual role. Changing role does not effect the length of continual employment.

They can't (or should not) prejudice their assessment on previous valid complaints if they want to stay on the right side of the law. Now that doesn't mean they can't use other assessments to score people they want to keep higher.

Good luck with the process, but don't stress about not being eligible for a redundancy payment, you are for the full term you have been with the authority.

AliceBanned

Thanks. I went through almost a grievance - with union support decided to stop at informal meetings and slowly the problems unraveled themselves as the organisation clearly took action behind the scenes. They never apologised for brutal treatment of me even in one meeting with HR and union present! And never admitted change was needed but they did make it happen to cover themselves!  I hope union will back me if this resurfaces but they did seem weak at times/underresourced and I’ve heard other people got the same and felt let down.

i realise how the trauma of it all is still affecting me - had started to recover and we were building a new team. But nah toxic bosses stay toxic underneath.

at the time I ‘failed’ at 3 promotion attempts despite being high performing and loyal. More fool me. They didn’t have any record of those interviews and no proof that I shouldn’t have been promoted - it was only slight promotion and every single team member got it apart from me, the oldest and most experienced. As my colleague said to me today ‘you’re the only one here with any effin brains’. Its so tough to be so mistreated.

Cobbler_tone

AliceBanned said:

Hi just picked up this again. All was going well but we have now (over1000 staff joined) had a Teams meeting. We are a large local authority which needs to save £15million before April.

i won’t know whether I’m affected for another month! But given that I’m in the job under 2 years would this mean no redundancy pay if I’ve worked for the same organisation and team for nearly 8 years? The same old anxieties now being triggered. Also some people are saying things like ‘they will use this to get rid of people they don’t like’. I feel I could be victimised and got rid of because I had to raise a complaint in the past.

its a scarey time. I’m 57 on a salary of £55k with a £170k mortgage and no savings. Have tried but different costs mounted up and this all happened suddenly. Though nothing had directly happened yet the atmosphere at work is awful! And I’m very worried. I was enjoying the job and security and being able to build a bit of a life.

The good news is you have 8 years service and not 2.
First thing I would ask for is the HR1 via a FOI act, they have to provide it. Then find out the pools and selection criteria. You should be able to work out your chances.

What was their language on the option to stay put?

AliceBanned

Ok thanks. What is HR1? It’s all very early stages but I’ll try to get more information. It’s so bad but sounds like approx 10% cuts to staffing but rumour is assistant manager level will go and maybe higher. I am still not relaxed but spoke to someone influential today who was v supportive said how could they run our team without me as I do so much. That’s why I’m so down as I’m also burnt out and trying to cope but perhaps redundancy would be a positive. They think I’m highly employable it’s just me who has lack of self belief etc sometimes and stress!

Cobbler_tone

AliceBanned said:

Ok thanks. What is HR1? It’s all very early stages but I’ll try to get more information. It’s so bad but sounds like approx 10% cuts to staffing but rumour is assistant manager level will go and maybe higher. I am still not relaxed but spoke to someone influential today who was v supportive said how could they run our team without me as I do so much. That’s why I’m so down as I’m also burnt out and trying to cope but perhaps redundancy would be a positive. They think I’m highly employable it’s just me who has lack of self belief etc sometimes and stress!

The business has to submit a HR1 to the Secretary of State if there are 20 or more redundancies anticipated. Often a business will submit one with less if there are significant impacts to the organisation or at least outline any mitigation. They are readily available if you request a copy. 

It rarely comes down to individuals, it’s about roles and selection criteria. 

AliceBanned

Well quick update I have been told off the record by head of dept that our directorate will be ok at least for next financial year. It’s a relief if only for stability and a bit of a prompt to look out for a new role in any case. If something good comes along it might be right to move on.

daveyjp

Safe to say you will probably be one of thousands in local government in the same position.  A few of my friends were affected back in 2010 and took VR, every year since then our local councils have been reducing staff.

One positive is mid year redundancies are rare as salaries are funded for a year, but you are likely to be in this position at this time of year every year as this is when financial planning for next financial year is done.

As you are into 40% income tax rate I would seriously consider extra pension comtribution, especially if salary sacrifce AVCs are an option from your employer.  You will then have some additional savings if the worst happens.

lincroft1710

Given the number of county and district/borough councils which have been reorganised into unitary authorities or simply just merged, is there any possibility of this happening to your council?

AliceBanned

lincroft1710 said:

Given the number of county and district/borough councils which have been reorganised into unitary authorities or simply just merged, is there any possibility of this happening to your council?

No, it is. London Borough so unitary already. I have seen a role in a local district council which would be a step up. It could be more secure as being a district council it doesn’t have adult social care responsibilities.

AliceBanned

daveyjp said:

Safe to say you will probably be one of thousands in local government in the same position.  A few of my friends were affected back in 2010 and took VR, every year since then our local councils have been reducing staff.

One positive is mid year redundancies are rare as salaries are funded for a year, but you are likely to be in this position at this time of year every year as this is when financial planning for next financial year is done.

As you are into 40% income tax rate I would seriously consider extra pension comtribution, especially if salary sacrifce AVCs are an option from your employer.  You will then have some additional savings if the worst happens.

Yes I am putting money aside though after my LGPS pension payment I’m only just under the 40% threshold but have had this in mind. They have a good AVC scheme with Pru and I’ve been paying in for 2 years now between £200-350 per month to keep me below threshold. Also pay less NI.