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AIBU?

About this letter?

11 replies

tohaveandhavenot · 15/12/2016 08:04

I will summarise it:

"Blah blah you will most likely be made redundant in January... We would like to have a meeting about this tomorrow.... We understand that it is stressful so you are welcome to bring a support person"

Tomorrow??? Really how are we supposed to get a support person here by 10am tomorrow when we live 8 hours from the nearest big town and 5 hours from family.

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atticusclaw2 · 15/12/2016 08:06

It's difficult but you don't actually have any right to be accompanied at a redundancy consultation meeting I'm afraid.

Some employers will let you have a work colleague but they don't have to. I'd be surprised if you are allowed a family member TBH.

Sorry you're going through this at the moment.

(I'm an employment lawyer btw).

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ChristmasZombie · 15/12/2016 08:07

Are you unionised? If so, phone your regional office as soon as you can. They should be able to arrange someone as support for you, even at short notice.

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tohaveandhavenot · 15/12/2016 08:10

Legally we are entitled to a support person in the country I live in. ( I just looked it up)

We live and work on a remote farm. My partner will be getting made redundant I was asked to be present at the meeting however I am currently away and won't be able to make it in time. 8 hour drive young children and finding this out less 24 hours before meeting is supposed to take place.

Stressful because this isn't just a job it's accommodation, schooling ( we homeschool due to isolation ) and I'm due with a baby no 3 in 3 months.

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atticusclaw2 · 15/12/2016 08:15

Which country are you in. If in England/Wales (presumably not if you believe you have a legal right to be accompanied) there will be a number of consultation meetings and so you can attend the others. TBH the first meeting is likely to be very short and all of the information given will be confirmed in writing anyway.

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harrypotternerd · 15/12/2016 08:32

which country are you in? My DP was made redundant in August. He went into work one morning and they made him redundant that day.

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BakeOffBiscuits · 15/12/2016 08:34

At the start of the meeting he could say he wanted to being someone but because of the short notice wasn't able to.

Tell him to take a pen and paper and to write everything down or could he ask if it's OK to record the meeting?

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treaclesoda · 15/12/2016 08:36

If the OP is 8 hours from a town then presumably it's Australia?

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tohaveandhavenot · 15/12/2016 20:00

I am in New Zealand.

I feel like the reason for stating you can bring a support person but then them knowing we won't be able too ( and other staff ) was so they could cover their tracks but not actually have anyone else there.

Anyone have any redundancy tips when it means having to move house etc?

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BakeOffBiscuits · 16/12/2016 08:35

sorry I don't H eve any time ops but is there an organisation that can help in NZ? A farming union or something?

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happychristmasbum · 16/12/2016 08:38

Your trade union should be able to help you. From the info you have provided that would be Federated Farmers NZ.

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tohaveandhavenot · 16/12/2016 09:11

To be honest - I really don't want to involve the union. It's such a personal job that if it's not working it's not working and any fights we put up in a small industry will cause ripples for our future careers.

I just wanted to know if I was right in being pissed off by the timing of the letter.

Also husband never even had the meeting apparently the letter "was just protocol" and there is nothing planned.

How the hell are we supposed to know what to do?