Redundancy

[APintOfWine2025]

Being made redundant at the end of the academic year, I work in a school.

I''m the only person in my pool and guaranteed to lose their job. Everyone else has a chance. The joke is that I'm currently acting up a role due to illness (it's my substantive post that is redundant) and leading with huge responsibility (don't want to be too identifying so think deputy acting up to head of school).

I've only ever worked in schools and there don't seem to be many jobs around me at all, let alone ones at my pay grade. My husband isn't managing this well as his career hasn't taken off so without my salary we will have some difficulties.

Don't know why I'm posting. I've arranged counselling through work. It all just seems so unfair. I've been at my school almost 20 years and I love it, I just keep hearing "this must be so difficult, you are doing a great job" blah blah blah.

Anyone similar or even just a hand hold?

Oh I feel your pain, it’s happening to me. It is a horrible feeling!

Oh no that sounds a bit unfair, I imagine the payout will be quite nice though? Perhaps time for a different life direction?

I'm not a teacher but my role was made redundant a few years ago. I'd worked my way up within the company ending on a good wage, 10mins walk from home, knew everyone and for the majority- really enjoyed the role.

Do you have a union? They can come with you to attend all meetings to discuss negotiations, leave, entitlements etc
Could you do temp work till you find something more permanent?
Remember the ROLE became redundant, not YOU became redundant.

Redundancy knocked me sideways, emotionally, even though logically I knew it was about the role and not me. But it hurt! I ranted and railed at the unfairness of it all.

A year on though and I’m happy in a new role. It’s ok to feel rubbish about it. Just try not to let it knock your confidence as much as I did. Losing your job is never nice. I promise it can get better though and I wish you every success finding something brilliant.

I do feel like it has knocked me more than I was expecting. Temp work would be supply I expect which is about half the salary of my substantive role. I just need to keep myself and emotions contained as my colleagues are all stressed about potentially losing their role or taking a pay cut due to a shift in role, while also continuing to do a high pressure role with a lot of scrutiny and say goodbye to the school and community I love at the end of it all.

Sorry for the pity party. I don't really have anyone I can be open with as you can probably tell.

Perhaps the ill person would prefer voluntary redundancy ?
Have they asked?

Yes they have politely declined to engage in any discussion about either returning to work or resigning. Such is life.