Entertain me or inspire me while I wait to see if made redundant!

[keepingwithitjustabout]

Work for a large company, and enjoy my job.

Short-notice dept-wide meeting was called for this morning, short story is 'resources disproportionately being spent on wages' - which is code for 'people are going to be made redundant'. We all have a meeting with a member of leadership team today. Mine's this afternoon.

Anyone fancy keeping me entertained or inspired while I agonise, and maybe stop me eating the coffee and walnut cake I just bought 🍰.

I'm WFH today and frankly can't concentrate.

Arghhhh

They may be discussing first if anyone would like to take voluntary redundancy rather than telling people.
They did that at dh's firm with a really good package and several people took it, so I think in the end no one had to go not out of choice.

Definitely download payslips (at least months), P 60s and docs that you might need, your job description etc.

While eating cake. I hope you get the result you want.

This happened at my last place. Quite a lot wanted it as it was a shitshow and offering a good package.

So the anxious wait was actually many people hoping to be made redundant, not everyone who wanted it got it.

Hmm - team leader has had her meeting and is now offline.

My meeting is along with my line manager with team leader (he only manages me, and I don't need much of that!) Is that good or bad?

I'd use the time to think through my options. What do you want to do? Stay or go?

If you want to stay, think about how you will argue that you should stay. Could you be offered another role?
If you want to leave, what do you want to get out of it? Gardening leave? Money?

If they want you to leave, what do you want to get out of it? Gardening leave? Money? References?
If they want you to stay, are you happy to stay?

In any case, take the time to save everything that you may need in the future, and remove anything personal from your laptop.

Save all their HR policies on redundancy. Read the policy before your meeting and ask for evidence that they have followed it correctly. Save all your payslips.

jumping in to say I'm wishing you a good result!

I would think in our case they will want to keep some very good people. There are some really good people and everyone seems to pull their weight, it's been a revelation to work there, as there hasn't been the obligatory annoying idiot who is coasting.

Some great advice here actually, thank you

Coffee, cake....then a bit more cake - that's my advice! More seriously, I'd be thinking about what you want to happen today..and what to do if it's not good news. References? Situation re holiday pay? Any of your own stuff you want to remove from the office/computer (I know you are working from home today)? - that sort of thing. Wishing you a good outcome.

The team leader could just be on their lunch break.

Oh, and eat ALL the cake. Then go and buy more cake and eat that too.

If it's just you and one other I would ask to record the meeting....
Whose taking notes?

Or just record on your phone anyway...

I find I don't always take stuff in at first..
So useful to have ... You won't be able to use esp if you just do on your phone...

Any mtg i had in 2 diff employers theres been a hr person as well and in 1 also a union rep .

There's things that have to covered like any timescales/role changes even if you're not been made redundant... sometimes so be prepared..

Don't agree to anything unless in writing

Waiting to see the dental hygienist.
I've been made redundant 3 times, it's always led to a better job, so not always a bad thing. . Good luck. 🍀
Coffee and walnut cake for me this aft now. ☺️

Has there been any mention of a consultation? We've just ended our 45 day consultation period. I've been told I'm in a competitive pool. 10 jobs for 20 people. BUT interviews won't start until mid July due to the period needed for the pooling appeals process and the voluntary redundancy process.

This has been going on since March.

It sucks. I hope you get a good outcome.

I've been there twice OP, and my DH had his first one earlier this year.
It's a bit of a fucker if you are selected but there absolutely is a bright side and I don't know anyone made redundant recently who has been out of work for long. Plus if you get a little payout that can really help.

Make sure you copy all of your contacts' email addresses and phone numbers as soon as you can. If they tell you that you are at risk of redundancy they shouldn't immediately shut you out of the system but better to have those available to you wherever you go next.

Oh god - they are a really socially responsible company so I can actually imagine this might be what happens - they like everyone to be 'part of the planning'

not that that's bad - but it's just a bit stressful

best of luck to her and you

Just come out the other side of this, you sound like a doer, don't think you'll be unemployed gif long if the worst hapoens x

For a podcast, check out one called "She Pivots" - it's all about women who have changed careers, often leaving one that they thought would be their forever job.
https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

Also I heard a programme on the radio ages ago interviewing two women who had been made redundant and it was pretty great: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct37n7

Excellent :-) will listen.
I think I'm on my third career anyway, I'm a 'portfolio career' kind woman ;-)

Hope your meeting happens soon OP!

And enjoy the cake (my fave!)

Phew,
Luckily I am not 'at risk' lots of others are in the team so it's going to be a hard 30 day's consultation.

Thanks all for your kind thoughts - really interesting and also quite a good thought exercise to do every now and then.

Good news @keepingwithitjustabout great relief, but you're right, sounds like a difficult time ahead

Good news, keepingwithitjustabout

I think another slice (or three) of cake is called for, don't you?