To think work should have told me about a voluntary exit scheme?

[civilfawlty]

I'm on a year long career break. I have diligently kept in touch. At no point has anyone mentioned a voluntary exit scheme. It has now closed. I could have applied and, if successful, have received a month's pay for every year I worked there. But now I can't even chuck my hat in the ring. And HR say it's my fault - although they can't explain why.

Aibu to think they have a responsibility to share such important information? And do I have any routes to seek redress? SO cheesed off.

Eh?
You are on a career break, if you want to leave, then leave.
I would assume on a career break that you want to go back? Do you not?

Your manager should have passed the info on to you. I doubt they will do anything about it but you could request they accept a late application as you didn't know about it. They might consider.

Your manager should have sent you the details. That's part of the guidance that was issued where I worked, I've just taken VES from my Dept. I think you have a case for getting them to accept a late application.

wowbutter don't be so patronising. You obviously understand the difference between the OP just leaving, and being offered a VERY generous redundancy package to leave

I should imagine that they should have told you. I'd be pissed off that my colleagues/pals hadn't said anything as well!

YANBU, they are at fault here

How does your career break scheme work? If you have to resign then I think it's tough. If you are still under contract then I think they should have told you and should consider you.

I'm assuming you have no access to your work emails whilst off? If not then off course they should have let you know.

If you're a Civil Servant then yes, your Line Manager should have let you know about the VES, however I think you have to have a return agreed / come back from your Career Break before you'd be eligible for VES?

(I'm a CS and we had the VES option last year - a woman on my team who is on a Career Break following Mat. Leave wanted to apply but couldn't / didn't because she would have had to agree an earlier return to work but without the guarantee her VES application would be successful IYSWIM).

Sorry, you should have been made aware of the VES regardless of your occupation but I was guessing you're a CS...! It's been a long day...

YANBU. Your line manager is at fault

Thanks all. Yes, CS. I know others who were on breaks were made aware. So, the tricky thing is my keeping in touch manager is a really lovely guy, almost a friend really. I don't want to get him in trouble. But... it's £10k I should have been able to apply for. No guarantees I'd get it, of course. Ugh
What's really annoying, is I have been emailing HR monthly since February (when I found out about it) to ask.

The scheme may not be completely closed. I'm CS and we're getting a late applicant (in v unusual circumstances) through. Ask if they can do a one off business case to Cabinet Office. Shouldn't be impossible.

You should have been made aware but might find you wouldnt have been considered for it - my DM was on a career break, and applied for a VES but they said they wouldnt consider her as she wasnt costing them anything whilst on a career break, she would have to have gone back to work to be considered

This just popped into my head again. I think you should push to be allowed a late application, given the compensation scheme is being changed later this year and you'll only get three weeks for every year.

It probably does depend where you work and what the uptake was. We had 200 places which was then upped to 280 as they had over 300 applications. Quite a few people who planned to retire in the next few months applied and got it, it was very profitable for them.