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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DHs work could let them know where they stand?

37 replies

butterpieify · 11/02/2011 13:56

DH (and all his workmoates) have been told to either volunteer for redundancy by 4pm or some people (a third of the workforce) will just be told to go home on Monday, and not come back.

They won't tell anyone what would be offered, if anything, if people were to volunteer.

AIBU to think they should tell people the full situation, instead of leaving them to make decisions at work with no access to guidance? (DH texted me from the loos)

I have made a full thread here in employment, but, as a general principle, the least they could do would be to lay cards on the table, surely?

OP posts:
HecateQueenOfWitches · 11/02/2011 14:00

are there rules about redundancy? figures based on how long you've worked there? so they should be able to work out the minimum the company can legally pay them?

I am not sure how they can ask people to volunteer for redundancy without telling them what they'd get.

missmehalia · 11/02/2011 14:05

Is he in a union?

Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:05

I have no idea- I don't know much about this stuff, we don't know where his contract has got to, and they are basically being asked to make the decision immediately, I need to get some info smuggled in to there quickly by text to DH. Presumably other staff members are doing the same kind of texts to family but there is a high proportion of people with english as a second language, people with very poor literacy and so on, so not sure how many have any idea even where to start :(

DH is getting the web address of entitled to out to as many as he can, just in case they do get sacked, and he is going to give his number to anyone who needs a hand with forms and so on.

OP posts:
Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:06

No, he is not in a union. I have been nagging him for months on that issue. Grrr.

OP posts:
crazygracieuk · 11/02/2011 14:07

When dh was made redundant, statutory minimum was a week's wages for every year you have worked at the company and to qualify you have to have worked there at least 2 years.

Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:10

So, basically nothing for DH then? :( He was agency until about 10 months ago.

OP posts:
crazygracieuk · 11/02/2011 14:10

Doesthis help?

claig · 11/02/2011 14:17

Very sorry to hear about this.

I think crazygracieuk is right about the 2 years bit. Can he ask the management what terms, if any, they are offering for voluntary? How many people there have been there for more than 2 years? I guess those under 2 years will be more at risk. I think being in the union wouldn't have made much difference, to be honest.

FabbyChic · 11/02/2011 14:18

As he has been there less than 2 years he gets nothing other than his holiday pay that he is due, oh and if weekly paid a weeks notice.

MrSpoc · 11/02/2011 14:25

the company are going the wrong way about it but if the company is about to fold then he would struggle to get any money from them.

If the offer vallentry redundancy then this is normaly more but the terms should be expalined in a consultation.

Sounds like the company is about to fold.

What does your husband do? i may be able to offer assistance looking for work. I run a recruitment company that specialises in Manufacturing & Engineering Recruitment.

taintedpaint · 11/02/2011 14:25

What an awful situation!

I'm sorry I have no advice that I can think of (will come back if I can come up with anything), but just wanted to say best of luck sorting it out.

And how lovely of your DH to be offering help with forms, he sounds very sweet. :)

Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:28

Do we think he should be volunteering? I'm just thinking that, even if he isn't made redundant, if they fold, he might not even get that month's pay. At least this way he will get something.

OP posts:
MrSpoc · 11/02/2011 14:29

depends. how long has he been there for? is his job very skilled and is he a key member of the work force.

hettie · 11/02/2011 14:30

there is a statutory process for this which they are clearly not following and they will leave themselves open to being taken to an employment tribunal- google statutary and redundancy

claig · 11/02/2011 14:31

I think it might also depend on how many have been there for over 2 years, to see what his chances are.

Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:33

Mr Spoc, thank you very much, but DH is more on the admin side, and the company (trying not to give away the company here, they are small, but who know who is reading) is one that sells things - physical people are involved in sorting out the stuff that has been bought and sending them.

OP posts:
claig · 11/02/2011 14:33

I am not sure we can assume it will fold. Why would they be offering voluntary redundancy if it will fold?

Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:36

He has been there for 10 months. There are enough people there who have been there for under two years to cover all the redundancies.

His job is more skilled than it should be- ie he does more than in his job description. It isn't exactly rocket science though- nothing that needs qualifications beyond basic literacy and numeracy.

Thing is, he has kept talking about going - he could earn quite a bit more - but he liked the job security and the people he works with.

OP posts:
Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:38

Claig - maybe it is a last ditch attempt? They have already let all the agency staff go (before Christmas) and at the time they said there was no risk to permanant staff.

It is a company selling stuff nearer the "budget" end, but I suppose the people who buy budget stuff are the ones losing jobs everywhere :(

OP posts:
Original poster
butterpieify · 11/02/2011 14:41

Bloody hell, have found out more. It is in fact 19 people who will be made redundant. they have been letting people go individually/making excuses for not having replaced people to get it below that number.

(20 is the amount where they would have to hold consultations)

OP posts:
claig · 11/02/2011 14:42

It is definitely a huge cutback. Bad sign that his boss is not there. Unless he can find out what voluntary redundancy entails, then he has not got much to lose by hanging on, I think.

hairylights · 11/02/2011 14:43

Sounds to me like he should stay put fir
now ... At least he has a chance of an ongoing job if hre doesn't volunteer .

He has no right to any redundancy pay, unfortunately. but if he volunteers he has no chance of being one of the proletariat who are retained.

I'm guessing anyone who volunteers will have been there for at least two years and will be thinking "I'll just cut my losses"

how has the company consulted. How many work there? Depending on that they may be acting in a
way which puts them at risk of claims for unfair dismsissal.

claig · 11/02/2011 14:43

Can he speak to personnel to find out the terms?

claig · 11/02/2011 14:45

I think hairylights is right, voluntary may only be beneficial to people with years of service. It may not be attractive to him with 10 months service.

hairylights · 11/02/2011 14:47

Lol I just noticed my I phone inserted proleteriat ... It was meant to say people!!!

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