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Original poster

What could this mean-redundancy?!

49 replies

newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 20:13

A bit stressed tonight.. hoping for anyone with similar experience or HR experience to share experiences.

My partner works for a charity. They are in a consultation period for a restructure. In the charity there are two manages. These job roles are changing slightly and both managers have been told to reapply for their jobs. Two new job roles, two managers, only these two have been told about the internal advert.
More restructuring to come, this is the first phase.
Application went in on Friday. Haven't heard anything yet. Interview date set for next Thursday.
My partner received an email today from the CEO to meet tomorrow morning at off site offices... and to please send receipt of receiving the email.

What do you think is happening?
Do you think he will not be interviewed and therefore being made redundant?

Partner spoke to other candidate tonight who hasn't had an invite to interview yet.

Feeling very nervous!!
It's the last minute meeting and receipt of reading that's worrying me!!

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 04/12/2024 20:17

What a stressful situation. My gut would probably be that he’s going to be let go with the “please confirm received” and last minute meeting when you already know interview was set for next Thursday.

Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 20:20

This is my gut too...
Seems like a 'playing by the redundancy rule book' move.
Seems a bit official.

Very stressful. 3 young kids and I work part time.

OP posts:
NigelHarmansNewWife · 04/12/2024 20:22

Who knows? Possibly he wants to offer your DH another job, possibly elsewhere or to tell him he's leaving. The off-site meeting is for confidentiality. Was he told not to mention it to anyone?

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WimpoleHat · 04/12/2024 20:22

Do you think he will not be interviewed and therefore being made redundant?

Unfortunately, that would be my reading of it. Very stressful for you both. Just remember that these things can work out for the best in the end; I was devastated when I was in that position, but ended up with a much better role in the end, which I’d never had gone for otherwise. Fingers crossed that in the same for your partner.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 04/12/2024 20:24

The CEO would have to be an idiot to not follow process so my guess it's something else. It could even be giving him information about what's going on that he isn't privy to.

Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 20:28

No mention to keep confidential..

The application has taken my partner weeks to put together. They asked for a whole business plan and projection for next 5 years. It was a lot of work. Seems strange to ask for that amount of input from him if they're not going to interview.

To clarify, both manages had applied for the two separate and different rolls.

No one in the organisation know of the restructure yet. It has been confidential between CEO, board of trustees and two managers.

OP posts:
AppleKatie · 04/12/2024 20:31

I think it’s possible the CEO wants him to apply for something else and doesn’t want to tell him about the new opportunity on site where they might be overheard.

No need for an offsite meeting if it’s just straight out the door surely?

GameOfJones · 04/12/2024 20:32

Difficult one. He hasn't gone through the redundancy process, there is a job available for him to apply for but then again with this small a pool of employees the rules are slightly different regarding consultation periods.....but the organisation should still follow a process.

My guess (as an HR bod) is that he could be offered a settlement if they've decided they'd like him to go. Certainly the off site and "please confirm receipt" suggests that. But it could also be a very poorly worded email that means nothing of the sort and has worried him unnecessarily. The CEO may be just as likely to be discussing another role with him.

DandyTealSeal · 04/12/2024 20:34

I don’t know how people judge that to be redundancy, is a CEO really going to be involved in that process? Unless your partner is terrible at their job I’m not sure why this would be your first thought?

I would be more inclined to think the CEO wants to offer some reassurance of the process, maybe let him know of a position that coming up.

Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 20:35

Thank you for all of your replies.
Email very short, to the point. No detail and CEO has been unreachable for the afternoon.

Email literally says, can you attend meeting at 9am,at location, please send receipt of reading.

Very short email with no context.

OP posts:
Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 20:38

Never received an email like this from CEO before, so certainly it is unusual.

Only jumping to redundancy as redundancies will be made in the second phase of restructure (which he has been told about). Plus restructure abs reapplying fir a job with a slightly different title suggests somethings up!!

OP posts:
Hayley1256 · 04/12/2024 20:47

I think this will probably be good news, I think be highly unusual to be let go by the CEO in an off site meeting

Mrsttcno1 · 04/12/2024 20:51

Hayley1256 · 04/12/2024 20:47

I think this will probably be good news, I think be highly unusual to be let go by the CEO in an off site meeting

CEO, off site meeting & short notice, with request to confirm receipt, to me screams settlement meeting.

Hayley1256 · 04/12/2024 20:55

Mrsttcno1 · 04/12/2024 20:51

CEO, off site meeting & short notice, with request to confirm receipt, to me screams settlement meeting.

Show quote history

It could be. I've been involved in company restructures (not charity) and would find this unusual for it to be bad news especially as its before the interview date

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 04/12/2024 20:58

I would guess maybe a settlement agreement. But probably best not to make any assumptions, OP - just wait and see.

I was made redundant a few years ago. It was difficult at the time but looking back now, it was absolutely for the best!

Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 21:00

It just seems strange.. I guess we will find out in the morning but it's so stressful!

I would have expected them to interview him at least.. as why make the application process so lengthy if it was only going to him and internal only?
If the plan was to use this opportunity to make him redundant, why ask so much?

OP posts:
Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 21:02

Both of us have been made redundant before from charities.. but both charities closed, so totally different circumstances. One of the reasons I am no longer in the charity sector.

I know it could be for the best. But mortgages and just before Xmas isn't ideal!'
Money is very tight as it is

OP posts:
roses2 · 04/12/2024 21:03

Two roles and two applicants doesn't make sense for there to be redundancy though as there are jobs for both people?

Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 21:06

This is why, until this evening, we haven't been worried about redundancy.

Both roles also leaned towards each candidate also. So it all just felt like a legal process to make redundancies in the second phase.

But after the email we're worried!

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 04/12/2024 21:06

newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 21:00

It just seems strange.. I guess we will find out in the morning but it's so stressful!

I would have expected them to interview him at least.. as why make the application process so lengthy if it was only going to him and internal only?
If the plan was to use this opportunity to make him redundant, why ask so much?

The pessimist in me would say they’ve laid it out that way, 5 year plans and projections etc, so they have all of that lovely work done for them and with all of that knowledge, insight & information given to them freely the people who put that information together suddenly aren’t as important.

caringcarer · 04/12/2024 21:17

Could they be deciding to narrow down two manager roles to one and CEO wants to discuss his plan further with him? I really hope he keeps his job OP.

Original poster
newandconfused5 · 04/12/2024 21:20

Thank you everyone for being so kind!

And for your thoughts.

Hoping for the best 🤞🤞 (with the best being to continue to receive a monthly income!)

OP posts:
Gazelda · 04/12/2024 21:26

Gosh, what a worry. I can only imagine how you're both feeling this evening.

All you can do is encourage him to keep an open mind, listen and then ask for time to reflect before giving his response.

I hope it goes well for him (and you).

edwinbear · 04/12/2024 21:42

I’d assume they want him to confirm he’s received the e mail as it’s an offsite meeting at short notice and the CEO wants to be sure he’ll be there, so the CEO doesn’t waste time travelling to an offsite meeting your partner wasn’t aware of. Is there any chance the CEO is stepping down?

Themostimportant · 04/12/2024 21:46

Fingers crossed for you, it’s never a good time but a few weeks before Xmas feels particularly horrible.