Voluntary Redundancy and anxiety

sunshineandhappydays

Afternoon! Hope everyone is good. I just feel terrible mentally as going through the consultation redundancy process until next month. I'm going to express an interest in voluntary redundancy (only 2 of us so should be an easy one!) . I will cite work related stress absences, disability, the new job role/description which has increased etc. My understanding is that the employer will still try and put forward alternatives even if you mention genuine declared disability/health. I believe there's a test of what is suitable and reasonable and you have to argue against it. It's a horrible situation.

I will make the email v clear it is not a notice/leaving. I keep getting anxious it will be twisted as such and they'd do anything not to pay out. We have redundancies across the business and it's horribly tense. I spoke to ACAS and they mentioned settlement agreements as a back up and it seems like so much stress. I hope employer just goes with voluntary redundancy to make everyone's life easier. It's awful waiting to get out.

Does anyone have experience of voluntary redundancy and how you cope? I don't even know how you then negotiate a lump sum? I saw that it's just statutory redundancy in the contract. Thanks for reading

oldernonethewiser

Has voluntary redundancy been offered?

What is the firms redundancy process?

Do they offer more than the statutory minimum for payment? EDIT - sorry seen that they offer the minimum. There may be no option to negotiate any more than that.

You don't need to give the company all the reasons, if voluntary redundancy is offered then you just put yourself forward to be considered for it.

sunshineandhappydays

Thanks oldernonethewiser for replying! Yes, we can express an interest in it.

From what ACAS were saying, employer could refuse it and say I wasn't taking up suitable alternative work. I would therefore need to demonstrate the extra duties/impact on my health etc so they couldn't argue I purposely turned it down. It would be a waste of time us going through the interview process when I don't want it. Some have just said to mess up the interview but that seems more complicated.

oldernonethewiser

In order to minimise redundancies available alternative positions can be offered. If they are not practical, for you to accept, then that becomes another discussion.

At the moment I'd volunteer and see what happens after that.

marcia_

you do not need to give a reason why you have put your no forward. They can refuse but thats only likely if there is no one else to do your job and they consider it essential.

I took voluntary redundancy and it was very stressful but i did manage to negotiate all my leave for the year to be paid.

lincroft1710

Unless management want you out, there is no need for them to agree to VR. If your job has become redundant then they should offer you statutory redundancy.

sheramber

When my work offered voluntary redundancies the terms were detailed upfront.

Those interested submitted their names.

They either were accepted or not.

No explanations, no interviews etc.

Andy_L

You would usually expect voluntary redundancy to offer better than statutory payment because it saves the employer have to jump through the hoops of running a redundancy process but instead can sea "here's a wodge of cash, now clear your desk"