To be annoyed at people talking about a redundancy pay off

[lesley33]

My OH works for the NHS and has just found out she is going to be made redundant. She has worked in the same job for 19 years. Have had a few people who have been sympathetic but have said - oh well at least she will get a good pay off in the NHS.

No she won't you idiots - don't believe what you read in the tabloids! She will get 12 weeks pay as her redundancy pay out. Thats it! I don't consider that a good payout for 19 years of work and the probability that she will never find another job in this field again.

same for everyone in public services more or less not just nhs

should she not get 19weeks pay? i thought statutory was 1 week per year?

but anyway, redundancy is terrible, but 12 weeks / 3 months is a good amount of time for anybody who can find another job, it's terrible if your OH can't, but it's not the normal situation and people shouldn't know that.

btw. i will be redundant at the end of July and i will get 4 weeks pay. I am glad of it and very very glad there are redundancy pay rules.. as i see it, another month's pay packet is not to be sniffed at.

My friend got 2 years full pay for her package

Apparently 1 week up to a limit of 12 weeks. Only been told about redundancy on Tuesday afternoon so haven't double checked this yet.

And yes I know it is not just NHS! It is just friends from the private sector who assume that she will get a big pay out.

She does specialist work, but she hasn't got a qualification in it - it was rare to have a qualification whens he started the job and there were actually very few courses. Now it is rare for qualifications not to be demanded for this job. So it would be 3 years of full time study before she had a chance of getting another job in this field - not really worth it as she is 51.

So realistically if she gets another job it will be a low paid entry level type job.

People that respond like that are probebly aware that they don't really know how much your OH will get, but they are simply trying to be sympathetic and find something positive to say after being told bad news.

I wouldn't read too much into their reactions, whether they sympathyise as much as you want them to or not, it won't make much difference. It seems a bit unfair to call your friends idiots. What are you expecting them to say?

Thing is, some people in the NHS do get good packages. My friend was an 8c and was "retired" on the mars scheme and has 2 years (plus a contract which restricts her from working for that 2 years)

Sorry to hear about your partners redundancy.

It is a stressful time but things usually pan out ok.

Does she have an nhs pension she can take in a few years?

Okay harsh to call my friends idiots and I don't expect them to be more sympathetic than they are being. I just wish people didn't believe everything they read in the papers.

I thought you can't take your NHS pension until you are 65 which is still quite a way away.

Sorry don't know what the mars scheme is but I haven't heard of anyone being offered more than the minimum unless you are talking about in the past.

Have a look at this directgov link

According to the information you have posted so far, your DP will definitely get at least 24 weeks redundancy pay (as a statutory minimum) and may get more.

It is a horrible shock though. I was made redundant a little while ago and have every sympathy for how it impacts. Next Steps provided an excellent careers advisor/counsellor by telephone which helped me regain some perspective and I'm now working again.

I hope things work out for you both.

I agree with Married - the statutory minimum redundancy pay should be 24 weeks, plus any accrued holiday pay.

She will get a bigger redundancy for each year worked over the age of 41 I think (1 week for each year for pre 41, and 1.5 for those after).

Still doesn't help get a job in her area without the now expected qualifications though. And doesn't help that the NHS is supposed to be being protected.

Thanks - although it is a horrible time at least that amount will cushion the impact on our finances a bit.

Why is she not getting a month per year of service? I think you need to check this out. Since 2006 that is the standard NHS package up to a max of 24 months.

My mum is 55 and retring, with full NHS pension, in September. Not sure if the rules are different if you are made redundant before then as opposed to taking early retirement but might be worth looking into.

Don't get too annoyed with people.

My SIL was made redundant from a public sector job (not NHS). She wasnt senior but had worked there for just over 10 years. Her redundancy settlement was nearly £100k.

I nearly fell off my chair when she told me. Talk about haemorraging taz payers money!

Lesley, some can take pensions from 55.

If you are made compulsorily redundant you can take an NHS pension from 55, otherwise not. NHS has staff on different terms and conditions e.g. nurses and admin staff have different terms and conditions.

should be getting about 19weeks pay at least (and it won't be taxed so will work out more). She may need a solicitor to look over it as I thought that was the basic! When I was made redundant 18 months ago I got more than that and my company was really rubbish at these things (ie: mat pay was the bare minimum).

redundancy pay is one weeks pay for each year. 1.5 weeks if you are over 40. capped at 12 weeks and, if i remember correctly capped again at about £300 a week.

the days of over generous redundancy are long gone. my employer does follow this formula, but bases it on the full weekly wage

and OP YANBU- not at being pissed off at ignorant comments nor at thinking that it is woeful recompense for 19 years loyalty.