Redundancy when it's just you

[Boltouttheblue]

DH was told verbally today by HR and his line manager that he was going to be made redundant with his final day being on the 11th August (he's on 3 months notice). Apparently as it is only him affected they said there would be no consultation process and that was effectively it. He has worked there for just over 1.5 years and it's a large national company split into multiple divisions. I've looked on line and all the guidance on consultation is in relation to when 20+ people are going to be made redundant. I'm really struggling to find much clear guidance on how it works when there are less than 20 people being made redundant and wondered if anyone had any suitable advise. Thanks

Unfortunately as he has only worked there 1.5 years he doesn't have many rights. If they fail to appropriately consult with anyone being made redundant (regardless of if its only 1 person) it can constitute unfair dismissal but (a) 'appropriate consultation' can be very brief and really only constitute a short meeting/period of consideration if it's just one person and there are no obvious alternatives and (b) you can't normally claim unfair dismissal until you have 2 years service, unless there are special circumstances such as discrimination/protected characteristics or whistle-blowing in play so even if they aren't doing things properly he will have minimal comeback.

You can call ACAS for some free advice if you are concerned there are things which ought to be done which aren't. If it's a large company they should have a redundancy policy (it may be called organisational change or similar), he should ask HR as it may say there should be more extensive consultation even if it's a single redundancy/under 2 years service so worth checking. But overall I think unless there is something more going on than you've said, it will be at most a play for more time. He can certainly ask them if they'll provide him a good reference and whether he could be given garden leave or pay in lieu of notice to allow him time to job hunt, or I believe it may be possible to furlough him if the redundancy is COVID related? Sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear

Meant to say also worth asking HR if there is an internal jobs board so he can get access to internal vacancies, they may consider him as a priority candidate for suitable alternative vacancies in other departments or divisions - particularly if he is prepared to work on other sites?

Thanks, it's pretty much what I thought would be the case but it's been really hard to find definitive information. Good shout on requesting the redundancy policy, I'll get him to look on the intranet tomorrow.

We're now totally screwed as whilst I work it's not enough to cover our outgoings and whilst we do fortunately have some savings they won't last forever. I can't see DH getting another job until at least next year as almost all companies in his sector are on recruitment freezes.

What maxelly said. Unfortunately his rights are limited as he's been there less than 2 years.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/leaving-a-job/redundancy/check-if-your-redundancy-is-fair/

Silver lining: 3 months is a decent notice period.

Thanks AnotherEmma, I'd not come across that link when googling. I knew generally you didn't have many employment rights until you'd been employed 2 years but didn't realise that extended to your employer not having to demonstrate that they had reasonably selected you for redundancy. It feels so unfair, DH works super hard and is even meant to be interviewing people this week to join his team (he's refused to now do these as he thinks it's inappropriate). Unfortunately he sits on the overhead whereas most people are chargeable to specific projects so there is cost recovery for them which has made him more vulnerable.

Lots of helpful tips on the links here:
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/categories/redundancy

If he is not able to find a new job straight away, he will probably be eligible to claim new-style JSA (from 12th August, the day after his last day of employment).

And depending on your household circumstances (your earnings, whether you have any children, whether you rent, and your combined savings) you might be eligible for some Universal Credit. If eligible, you should wait until the day after he's received his final salary payment before you claim.

The benefits won't be a huge amount and won't include help to pay the mortgage if you have one, but if you are eligible, every little helps.

If he is willing to consider a career change then there might be more recruitment in August/September - here's hoping!

Mazelly's post was excellent.

But please make sure your DH is OK emotionally. Perhaps the company also offers support/"counselling"?

I was very shocked when I was made redundant (I was one of many) - and support (in any number of ways eg CV advice, looking at new industries, knowing benefits, support from the industry body if he is a member) was very valuable.

It might not help you financially but might help DH gain a positive track again.

If they are taking on new people can he be redeployed?

Unfortunately his role is quite senior and niche so there aren't any other current available roles internally that he could apply for. He'd happily take a slightly less senior role but again there are none to apply for internally.
He's going to propose reducing down to 4 days a week to see whether they'd accept that. It's unlikely but worth a shot and even 3 days a week would keep us ticking along financially.
spongedog it's the emotional impact though that worries me most, far more than the financial impact. DH likes to be busy all the time - he can't sit still enough to watch TV. His idea of relaxing is pottering away in the garden or doing something to his shed he's been building for years. He will massively struggle without work to fill his time and I worry that he will rapidly spiral. It's hard to know what to do given the prospects of him securing new employment anytime soon seem so minimal.

AnotherEmma we won't qualify for UC or tax credits etc but I've suggested to DH that he claims contribution based JSA for the first six months. Whilst £75/week won't go far it will certainly help contribute to our family finances. Is the JSA taxed?

Tax won't be deducted while he's getting it, but it is taxable so it will be included when his tax is calculated for 2020-21. He'll probably get a refund on some of the tax he's pays from April to August.
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/claiming-a-tax-rebate-after-losing-your-job

I was once made redundant in similar circumstances. Less than 2 years at the company, the only person made redundant. (Not a particularly senior, well paid or niche job, though, and only 1 month notice.) I really struggled to decide what to do next and hated being unemployed; I became demotivated and depressed. So I agree with spongedog's advice. I think the two most important things are to get good careers advice - from a careers coach maybe - and to find something to stay busy, whether it's a job (any job! not a career-type job) or a volunteering role.

In the end I started volunteering and it eventually turned into a paid job which I am still doing and enjoy. So there's a happy ending. It just took me longer than I would have liked to get there!