Not taking voluntary redundancy when you don't even need to work

[triskele]

Work are asking for voluntary redundancies.

Pay off is statutory only.

I won't be putting in for it as I can't afford to be out of work. I may yet get culled if not enough people put in.

Anyway. Colleague who is close to retirement, comes in, makes a drink, has a chat, has a moan and might eventually do some work - who also makes no secret of not needing to work - says she's not going unless pushed.

Part of me thinks fair enough but part of me is fuming. Other people who need the could end up out of work while Mrs Chat keeps her job. If I were her I'd volunteer and save someone else.

AIBU to think this? I'm fully prepared to admit she has a right to hang on if she wants...she clearly works for the social side of things. What would you do in that situation?

I can see how this could be upsetting for you but if I was her and I liked my job I would feel the same. I would get bored not working at all so maybe thats why she is staying.

Work is about more than money. If she's underperforming then her manager should sort it out.

It would depend. If I loved my job and couldn't do that sort of work by volunteering I think I wouldn't leave it. Voluntary work often tends to be in roles which are at a less high level e.g. as a carer rather than a manager. I like the challenge of working at a higher level and those kinds of volunteering roles are much harder to get.

Well yabu, of course she has the right to keep her job just like you have the right to complain to her manager if you think she isn't doing her job and have a genuine complaint.

Would she have to take a hit on her pension if she left early though?
In fairness she will probably be made redundant if she is that lazy anyway

She is just as entitled to her job as the next person and her financial and personal affairs are none of your business.

I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but really this is nothing to do with you.

What does not need to work mean? She might not need the money but needs to work for her own mental wellbeing. If all she does at work is chatting and making cups of tea then she will be let go.

If I don't need the money and I'm still working, then there must be a reason for it.

Maybe I do need the money and it's just not obvious from the outside.

Maybe it fulfils some other need in my life. (maybe I have a retired husband at home who will drive me up the wall if I don't get out every day)

I might see the redundancy as an opportunity to rethink things.

Or I might think "I still wanted to work last month, I still want to work this month, this doesn't change anything".

Maybe she thinks you should volunteer. After all, you'd have a chance at finding a new job. She wouldn't, so close to retirement.

I know IABU but it's difficult not to feel annoyed. Everyone is really worried and stressed as they can't afford to lose their jobs.

I haven't slept since I found out about it for worrying. It's sadly all I can think about.

Yes by 'need' to work I meant financially.

She is probably well aware of the employment prospects for an older woman, both age and sex discrimination to contend with.
Her under performance is a separate issue and should have been managed from the start.
She may have a desperately unhappy home life and work may be keeping her going.

Usually for voluntary redundancy they offer a sweeter for people to go. If its statutory only, what would she?

She will know that if she opts for redundancy, she will probably never be able to get another job. That can be a frightening prospect.

Op get your CV up to date and start looking for a new job now as the application and interview process can often take months. Taking back some control will help you feel better and ease some of the pressure. If you find out your job is safe you can stop searching but if it's the worst case scenario at least you will be further along the process or potentially even already offered a role.

No-one can know another's personal circumstances. She may not 'need to work' at the moment but anyone can be hit with a big household bill at any time.

Also if she has insurance to cover a mortgage for example, that would be invalidated by taking voluntary redundancy.

As other posters have said, work is about more than money - don't write her off because she's approaching retirement age

You're coming across as a little bit goady OP...

It does sound stressful. No one is in a great position. I suppose all you can do really is try to be kind to each other despite the stress.

excuse I don't think it's an attempt to be Goady, I think op is just very anxious and feeling a bit resentful. I think it's understandable but her frustration is misplaced.

There's being kind, and there's changing the plans you had for the rest of your working years and reducing your potential pension income. She owes her colleagues nothing, and I don't blame her for putting her own interests first.

If she's not productive then she won't survive a restructure if it means competitive reapplying for positions.

This has to be LA?

I'm not being goady.

I fully acknowledge she owes me and my other colleagues nothing.

I think before redundancies announced her not being properly managed was frustrating as she really takes the pee but now we are in this situation her not being disciplined etc means when they look at criteria her lack of any actual work won't come into it.

I am just frustrated.

Your employers are being fairly silly asking for voluntary redundancies but offering only statutory redundancy pay. Usually the incentive for voluntary redundancy is that you get more than the statutory allowance, because otherwise you have nothing whatsoever to lose by hanging on until it becomes compulsory unless you have a better job to go to.

Nah I didnt mean the colleague should kindly give up her job!! Why should she? I just meant it's easy to start resenting g other colleagues (as the op is) when it's misplaced. The colleague is in the same bad situation and so hopefully they can still try to be friendly.

I realize you're frustrated and worried and angry OP, but it's not your colleague's fault.

At her age, work is what may may her feel useful and be keeping her amongst people and mentally active, important things for health and well being. And she may need the money more than you know, in spite of what she might say.