Just been told I'm losing my job!!!

kinkypixie

Was told 'unofficially' on Tuesday that the company I work for are folding and that I will be out of a job.

I am a graphic designer, earning £25k. Finding a job in the industry is really competitive and quite difficult and a long drawn out process.

I have been given no info as to how long I have left, or how long I am going to be paid for. I have only been with them for 6 months, so redundancy is not an option.

I am really panicking and don't know where to start!!

Please help!!!:mad:

Badger_Lady

That's really tough news for you

I would get straight onto the 'net and start looking for a new position ASAP. How flexible are you, with regards to contract length, location etc? Presumably you managed to find this job not long ago, so you already know how to find work in your sector.

If redundancy isn't an option, then you may as well aim to get work now - if you're offered something before you lose your job, great! You can do the "you can't sack me 'cos I quit" line

Beerworshipper

Hey KP,

I'm so sorry to hear that, thats awful and I really feel for you.

Unfortunately, I don't have a spare Graphics Design Job to throw your way but will some hugs do???:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

Remember we are here anytime you need to vent or want some emotional support.

Good luck.

notisis

I'm not sure what to say. Really sorry on your news. I'd start looking around another job but you need to know "officially" what is happening. You need to know when you are working to, how much they'll give you in any type of goodwill package, if you get time off to attend interviews etc. Go and speak to whoever your manager is and get the info so you can sit down and work out your next move.

Good luck and I'm sorry I'm not more help but just wanted to say something rather than read and leave.

kinkypixie

Thank you so much for your quick responses.

I have a few contacts who can hopefully point me in the right direction of a job, it has just felt like a bit of a kick in the stomach, but I will keep you all updated.

Again, thank you x x

immoral_angeluk

Hey I'm really sorry to hear about your job... here's some info on redundancy for you.

Notice of redundancy



The required statutory notice is one week if you have been employed for at least one month but less than two years, two weeks if you have been employed for two years, three weeks for three years, and so on, up to twelve weeks. After twelve years service, the statutory notice period is twelve weeks.


If you think that you have not been given the correct amount of notice you should seek the help of an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Right to notice of redundancy



Because redundancy is a form of dismissal, you will still be entitled to your statutory or contractual period of notice of dismissal, if your employer plans to make you redundant (see under heading How much is a statutory redundancy payment).


Time off to look for work



If you have been given notice of redundancy, you are entitled to paid time off to look for a new job providing that by the time your notice period ends, you have worked for your employer for two years. The following employees are not entitled to paid time off to look for work:-

• employees who have worked for their employers for less than two years
• overseas employees
• merchant seamen
• share fishermen
• members of the armed forces
• police service employees.

There is no definition of how much time the employer has to give but it must be reasonable. What is reasonable will vary according to the circumstances, for example, the difficulty of finding work in certain areas, the time and travel involved and the range of jobs you are looking at. In addition to these legal rights, you may have rights which have been negotiated by the trade union, if any, or from your contract.


If you have a problem with notice or time off to look for work you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.




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Pay in lieu of notice



If your employer has dismissed you without giving you notice that the law or your contract says they should have, the employer should pay you in lieu of notice. ‘In lieu’ means ‘instead of’. This is also called severance pay. The only exception to this is when you have been dismissed because of gross misconduct.


The amount of pay in lieu of notice you should get will depend on how much notice your are entitled to. You should get pay in lieu at the rate of your normal wages. For example, if you are entitled to four weeks' notice, but are only given one, you will be entitled to three weeks’ pay in lieu of notice. You may be entitled to more than this, depending on what your contract says.


People often have problems with notice of dismissal. These are often to do with notice and sickness, maternity leave and holidays. If you are experiencing problems with notice, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.




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Are you entitled to be paid in your notice period



If you work your normal working hours in your notice period, you are entitled to be paid your normal pay.
You may not be able to work during the notice period because you are:-

• willing to work but are given no work to do
• on holiday
• off work through sickness or injury.

If you do not work during the notice period for one of the reasons above, the law says you should usually still get your normal wage. However, there is an exception to this rule. If your contract gives you at least one week's notice more than the law gives you, you lose your legal right to be paid during the whole of the notice period.


If you are in this position, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizen's Advice Bureau. To search for your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

If you have an holiday remaining make sure you are paid it, same goes for your pay in lieu of notice, considering he hasn't given you the full weeks notice of redundancy which you are statutorily entitled to.


Edit - quotes taken from the CAB's advice guide service. https://www.adviceguide.org.uk

gizfizz

Just wanted to say I hope you find something soon and good luck!! You managed to get that one so I'm sure you'll have no problems finding another.

My OH had a sort of similar situation last year, his boss told him that he had to either work 70+ hours a week (inc Saturdays) for no extra money or leave! He was a warehouse manager and already did loads of overtime without getting paid for it and hadn't had a pay rise for a couple of years. We've got 2 under 3 year old boys so he pretty much told him where to shove it. Don't think he was expecting it though cos OH was probably the most/one of the most valuable workers there. He had to find a new job pretty sharpish though which wasn't fun!! :wall: blimey I haven't posted for ages!!

immoral_angeluk

Don't forget if you've been made redundant you can claim JSA.

What can a dismissed worker claim



If you have been dismissed from your job it will affect the benefits you claim. You may be able to get contribution-based or income-based jobseeker’s allowance, housing benefit, or council tax benefit but there are special rules about how these will be paid following your dismissal.


You will not usually be able to claim income support following a dismissal as you will have to be available for work. However, check to see if you or your partner could qualify. If either of you are over 60 you may be able to get Pension Credit. If you get Income Support or Pension Credit you will not need to be available for work.


For more information about your rights when you have been dismissed from your job, see Dismissal.
For information about jobseeker’s allowance, see Benefits for people looking for work.
For information about income support, see Help for people on a low income – Income Support.
For information about Pension Credit, see Benefits for people over sixty.


This information explains how dismissal can affect the benefits that you can claim.


If you are a worker who has been dismissed from a job where you were working less than 16 hours a week, the rules are different. You should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)



If you were dismissed for misconduct, contribution-based JSA may not be paid for up to 26 weeks. Misconduct means that, in your employer’s opinion, you did something wrong. You can appeal against the 26 week sanction.


Contribution-based JSA may not be paid for a week which is treated as covered by a payment in lieu of notice.


Compensation for unfair dismissal may cover a period in which you have been getting contribution-based JSA. If this happens, the JSA may have to be paid back out of the compensation money. If compensation has already been paid when you claim JSA, it may prevent you receiving it for a period.


Redundancy pay does not affect contribution-based JSA. However, if you get redundancy pay in excess of the statutory amount, you may not get contribution-based JSA for the period treated as covered by the extra payment. If you received holiday pay as part of your final wage, you cannot get contribution-based JSA for up to four weeks after your job ends.


For more information about your rights when you have been dismissed from your job, see Dismissal.


The rules about contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance and payments at the end of a job are complicated. You should consult an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.




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Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)



If you are dismissed for misconduct, your income-based JSA may not be paid for up to 26 weeks. This is called a sanction. You can appeal against the sanction, or may be able to claim a hardship payment.


Pay in lieu of notice is treated as earnings. Holiday pay in the first four weeks after leaving work counts as earnings when working out entitlement to income-based JSA. After the first four weeks it is treated as capital. You will not be entitled to any JSA for the weeks covered by payments which are treated as earnings.


Redundancy pay almost always counts as capital when working out entitlement to income-based JSA. However, redundancy pay in excess of the statutory amount can prevent you getting any JSA for a period. If you get redundancy payments periodically, these count as income, but they are very rare.


Compensation for unfair dismissal may cover a period in which you have been getting income-based JSA. If this happens, the JSA may have to be paid back out of compensation money. If compensation has already been paid when you claim JSA, it may prevent you receiving it for a period.


For more information about your rights when you have been dismissed from your job, see Dismissal.


The rules about income-based jobseeker’s allowance and payments at the end of a job are very complicated. You should consult an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

bathgatebuyer

Sorry - I have nothing helpful to say other than that I'm sorry to hear of your redundancy. I've been there, worn the t-shirt and thankfully now back on track. I hope all works out for you.

Burlesque_Babe

sorry to hear your news - I worked in a related industry (PR) for 15 years before being made redundant (for the second time!) and getting jobs is very hard

How about branching out into website design? Might need a bit of training on the software side but your graphic design background will mean you understand the creative perameters of what is needed for a good site.

bit naughty, I know, but how about 'poaching' a few clients??? Contacting them to say 'oh just wanted to say I'm leaving, but here's my email address if you've any small jobs'.........if the company is folding, then whoever you are doing the work for will need to find someone else