Voluntary redundancy

[Chewsday]

Like so many people we've been juggling working at home and two primary aged kids over the last few months. Both working full time and trying to share kids where we can, fit work round constant video calls and set kids up with things they can get in with without us. Neither kid is in school again yet... All likelihood not until September and then possibly part time. It's very hard and not particularly sustainable. I am feeling burnt out, like loads of mums.

My work is now making redundancies as the sector is badly affected by Covid19. They are offering voluntary redundancy on better terms if you leave soon. I would have enough payout to pay myself my usual salary for 13 months and leave in July.

Compulsory redundancies will then follow (50/50 risk for me,) and if I get made redundant I'd be likely asked to work my notice, struggling on in this situation until January 2021.

Part of me feels that voluntary redundancy is being offered at a good time for me. Part of me is worried about finding another job when kids are back in school. I'm a business analyst and used to work school hours. Husbands job seems pretty secure for now and he earns more than me.

What to do?

[Concerned7777]

I'm facing redundancy also (although not voluntary) if I was getting equivalent of 13 month pay I'd be made up! Wfh children is god damn hard and its unlikely to get better any time soon. I'd snatch their hands off especially if you could possibly face compulsory redundancy on a worse package anyway.
13 months is a long time to sort something else.

[howdidwegetheremary]

Seems like a great offer OP however like you say it’s finding another job up ahead.

Could you manage in the long-term on your DH’s pay if need be?

I really want another job at the moment as mine is really affecting my MH but worried about moving right now.

[Chewsday]

Husbands pay covers all our bills with not much left to spare really. The compulsory redundancy would be 6m notice and 5m pay, but I think it's likely they will want me to work notice.

Just keep running it over in my mind, but really could do with a crystal ball (couldn't we all!)

[Oblomov20]

13 mths is great. It's a lot.

But finding another part time job that fits well is hard. How tough do you think that will be?

I've the most perfect job ever, that has taken me all through ds2's primary, but I actually started 7 mths pre him starting school and that took a lot of juggling.

When they are in year 5 and 6, it's so much easier.

Are your kids young and just started primary?

[palacegirl77]

Youd have to hope that wrap around care would be back in 13 months time....you might not get school hours to work but could still do part time. Id snatch their hands off to be honest. You have 13 months to find something and there will always be part-time admin in the meantime if nothing comes up. Anything could change - you might have a career change, start a business, anything!

[Defiantly41]

Don't forget, the first £30k of redundancy money (not pay in lieu of notice or notice pay) is tax free, so it might be 13 months gross pay but more months worth of net pay. And if you get another role even part time, that will last even longer.

I think companies will be much more open to flexible working coming out of this, my whole team is now working remotely with 100% effectiveness.