Need a handhold today- might lose my job

So sorry for you op. hope something come sup for you. I think a lot of places will be struggling in the next few years what with the NI hikes. We have been sent a doom and gloom email from our CEO today ( Charity sector) which has got us all worried for our jobs.

Also, OP/anyone else in this situation, you can find out your legal minimum redundancy entitlement here

https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

This doesn't impact your actual contract, so if your terms and conditions say a month per year you've worked there, for example, then that's what you'll get, but if you have no idea or have been told it's the legal minimum, that link will show you.

I used to work for a union, before I worked in the job that made me redundant. I was on the employee forum and had supported colleagues through redundancy the year before. Could I think clearly when it impacted me? No, i could not

^ All of this, OP, just in case you missed it. Great advice here.

IME it's rarely last in first out, as the last in are usually on a lower wage, and therefore more affordable to keep.

Wow.
And from the OP,
"I've been looking for other jobs for months".

It is rubbish to lose your job even when you have been through several months or years of it might or might not happen. It's good that you will get redundancy as that will cushion the first few months while you look for a another job.
Let your Mortgage company know if and when you are made redundant as they can be really helpful at times like this. Then get ready to tighten your belts and cut costs where you can - cancel subscriptions, downshift on the shopping (if not already doing so) and that kind of thing. There are jobs out there that can work around childcare so maybe WFH would be a good option for you.
I was in your situation for the best part of five years - horrified because had a mortgage to pay - and my employers finally bit the dust 2 years ago and we all lost our jobs. During that time we had the heartbreaking job of watching as the buildings were emptied and sold of all equipment, furniture, teaching materials - everything. It's a weird feeling seeing stuff disappear out of the office until we literally had lot stickers on the very chairs we sat on - ready to go the day after we finished. But as others have said - sometime change like this moves you onto different things and a whole new outlook on life. Wishing you luck OP.

I was in this exact same position this time last year having been in my job for 20 years so I know how scary it is. I got another job within a couple of weeks which as it turned out, is a step up, more money and i enjoy it far more. It is in a different sector than previous and I was so nervous but a year down the line I love my new job and it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me. Remember where one door closes another one opens.

I'm not sure this is helpful unless the OP is able to time travel. Can you not imagine being scared and holding tight hoping things will work out, as they often do?

OP I have been through this twice and it is horrible. What I can say though is I don't know anyone who has been through redundancy (if there's a decent package) who wouldn't say they were glad it happened, a year down the line. It opens a while new world of opportunity. Get applying for jobs and you may walk into something without having to dip into your redundancy pay at all. Your redundancy pay would give you the buffer of being able to accept a pay cut if necessary.

I'm sorry it's not turned out as you hoped.

If the company is making so many changes and in financial trouble it might well be the best thing to get out and have at least some redundancy package to go with. Often work life is pretty miserable for the ones kept on who are expected to just keep things going.

I'm sure you will find something else.

I was made redundant a few years ago. I was lucky in that i got a month's salary per year worked, and that was nearly 20 years. I did a course so i had a plan B, and planned 3 months off before even starting to look for work.

Cut down outgoings as much as possible and did a bit of decluttering/ re-evaluating. Then got another job. It's not easy, but the money gives you a bit of breathing space.

Now you know, it is easier to come to terms with things. Good luck.

Really sorry op. It's truly a shit shit feeling. Like the bottom of your whole world has fallen out.

Me and DP, my dad and brother all got told on the same day we were losing our jobs. We were devastated. But people told me it would be ok. And it was. We both got jobs and because of it we had enough for a deposit on a house so finally moved out of HA.

There will be a silver lining even if you don't see it yet. But I'm sorry. It's never a good time, but before Christmas is really shit x

Oh no. I'm so sorry to read your update. You must be in bits.

I can give you one piece of advice - it's my mother's advice. She always struggled for money as a single parent. We really struggled. But she said to me, worrying doesn't make any money. She was determined to be zen in the face of crisis.

I know it's really hard, but you'll have times in your life of lulls and highs. I'm certain you'll get back, maybe even to a better position than before. I've heard that you often get the best chance at a pay rise by changing companies and that's certainly been the case for me. You've got loads of experience and a huge demonstration of loyalty on your CV.

I really wish you all the best. If you need to just focus on today, that's ok. You don't need to solve your whole future this afternoon.

Keep your chin up, kid, as my mother would also say.

there’s no union and they fired the heads of all the departments a couple of weeks ago (despite saying they would keep the management team to support the staff)

this is no help to OP in this actual situation, but maybe for her and others reading: you can join a union at any time whether or not your employer has one in the workplace or "doesn't recognise them"

The union can give you rock solid advice on any number of situations that may arise at work, up to and including arranging legal representation in court if needed.

So sorry OP, others have given better advice than I can give, so I’ll just wish you good luck for the future

I was made redundant in 2021. I was devastated and worried. I had worked for my company for 14 years and it fitted perfectly with my life and children. However it really was a blessing in disguise. I got enough redundancy to take around 9 month's off which I had planned to do, as my youngest was only 1. Through a contact, I was offered a job the next day, with a shorter commute, less hours and a better salary. Try not to worry too much, sometimes this push is what you need to find something better. Best of luck to you ❤️

Sorry to hear it Op. is there an HR advisor who can calc roughly what your redundancy is? You’ll get that tax free remember - it’s a lot for 20 years of service!

Plus if you have annual leave that will be paid out

Depends where you work. I was at a big American bank and redundancy pay was a month a year for the first ten years and then 3 months a year for every year up to 20, then six months a year. Plus if you are over 40 you get more. Staff with ling service were jumping at the chance to leave, because guess what, in six months when they realise they made a mistake you could be rehired! I kid you not it happened over and over again.

You are entitled to 8 months pay with the length of service you have. Use the next week to sharpen up your CV, create or update your LinkedIn profile, register with as many agencies as possible
Getting a new job is hard work but you aren't facing an immediate cliff edge so view this as an opportunity to get a better job.

Excellent post @Insidelaurashead - some very good and practical advice there

Okay, OP, breathe. I went through this 18 months ago and it was awful, but I am currently about to celebrate being in my new job for a year, and I love my new job.

My advice is work through the following steps, as quickly as you can so you'll feel more in control, but if this takes a few days, that's fine.

1. Ring your mortgage company. Explain you're about to be made redundant. Ask for your options. Mine gave me a payment holiday or the option to go interest only for 6 months, and I chose the second one, because financially that made the most sense for me. I promise you they'll want to help, they do not want you to lose your home.

2. Go through all bank accounts, look at outgoings. Note down what is a need (like utilities, internet, food shopping) and what is a want (netflix, spotify, gym memberships?) Cancel the wants as much as possible.

3. Contact the needs-especially utility companies. If you for example are in credit with your gas and electricity, consider getting that credit refunded. Yes, fine, it's there to help with your bills over the winter, BUT you will be able to pay more into that account once you have a new job, and credit in there now might pay another bill

4. Go to the entitled to website and put in your circumstances to see how much benefits you can claim

5. Use your necessary outgoings figure, deduct the figure you'll get from benefits, see what the shortfall is each month.

6. Look at your company's redundancy policy to see how much you'll get. Remember redundancy is tax free, notice period is taxed like normal. Work out how many months of the shortfall between income and expenditure will cover.

When I'd done all this, I worked out I would be totally okay, albeit watching what I spent on food etc, for 6 months, with all bills paid. I found a job in 4, started it in 5 (with a delay because of a pre-booked holiday)

You'll get through this, you honestly will

I don't want to kick you while you're down, but you've known since MARCH that the writing was on the wall!! Why have you not used this time to write your CV, apply for jobs, go for interviews, investigate childcare options - even just as practice, so you'd be able to hit the ground running if/when your worst fears were realised.

I'm so sorry to hear this! In your OP it mentions jobs you could apply for/redundancy? Does this mean there will be a few open positions you can apply for within the company?

To be honest it’s probably better to go now and get some money. It’d be shit if you stayed and you’d always have the fear of it happening again. Fingers crossed you’ll get something else to start at the end of the notice period and you’ll have a nest egg. You’re in a decent position with 20 years service even if it doesn’t feel like it right now xx

Redundancy is scary been through it a few times myself. You’ll get something else. Often it works out for the best x