Voluntary Redundancy in Education

[FennyBridges]

Ok so today a colleague and myself got told one of us has to choose voluntary redundancy. We both teach the same subject.

Could we both choose it? And get it?

So basically AIBU because my colleague might want it? And we always compromise?

In UK I believe if you volunteer to be made redundant it may affect your benefits. Your employer should put everything in writing and advise you both that you are at risk of redundancy. I believe that if nobody volunteers, the employer may then look at compulsory redundancy. Suggest doing nothing until you have full information in writing. If you are part of a union ask them for help or ACAS. Have you been employed for over 2 years? If so you need to find out how much redundancy pay they will give you etc

I know all of this. I wondered if they'd pay for both of us to go.

Thanks for your advice though xx

"I wondered if they'd pay for both of us to go."

Seems extremely unlikely. If they've said one of you, that presumably means they only need to make one of you redundant and do still have work available for the other one. They're not going to pay to make someone redundant unnecessarily.

I would think if you both applied they'd turn one of you down (they are not obliged to accept) or both of you and proceed with a selection process for compulsory redundancy. First option is easier and legally less risky.

If you want it apply but don't tell your colleague?

It sounds like they're trying to minimise their redundancy as voluntary redundancy affects the benefits awarded etc.

If you'd like to go for it then go for it independent of whether your colleague wants to apply for redundancy.

Get union advice before doing anything and keep everything in writing

Be careful about mortgage protection insurance with voluntary redundancy if you have it. Most (I have never seen one that pays out on voluntary but it doesn't mean they don't exist) will only pay out on compulsory redundancy.

It should come down to business need if you both apply and who ever has most relevant skills to meet the role need stays.

I have heard of companies using a first application in system though to.

Get as much information as possible to make an informed decision and 'voluntary' redundancy is just that - voluntary. If neither of you choose to take it, then your employer will need to go down the compulsory redundancy route. Voluntary redundancy worked well for me - enhanced package was to encourage people to go, however part of the 'deal' was that I cannot work for this employer again (large Local Authority). Had it been compulsory redundancy applying for alternative posts with them in the future would have been an option. Your union should be able to give information advice to as lots of schools having to loose staff due to budget cuts at the moment. Good luck with whatever you do decide.

Thank you.

I'm feeling a bit depressed if I'm honest. Obviously.

They can't make you apply for voluntary redundancy!!! They can make one of the posts redundant in which case they would have to follow the correct procedure.
Talk to your union. I think I'm correct in saying that even if you request VR you don't have to take it if the offer is not acceptable to you.
When considering VR the employer will be looking at the business case - they are most likely to offer VR to the employee who represents the biggest saving.

Things have developed and my colleague has accepted VR. We have talked. I do thank you for the comments you've made. I think I would be very unreasonable to accept it myself now.

"I think I would be very unreasonable to accept it myself now."

If they're only offering it to one of you it wouldn't be a case of you 'accepting' it. Your employer would have to decide which of you to give the redundancy to.

You need to do what you think is best for you, as your colleague is doing what she thinks is best for her. Being polite and accommodating is all well and good but there is a time to advocate for yourself, and this is it. If you are inyerested in the VR offer you should tell your employer right away. Then it is up to the employer to decide how to proceed.

As others have said, you're not accepting it, you're putting yourself forward for voluntary redundancy.

I had this exact issue when I was a Primary School Governor. We needed to make one teaching position redundant and asked for anyone who would like to put themselves forward. We had a good idea that one teacher was looking to leave the profession after many years of loyal service and expected her to apply. Which she did. Unfortunately, a teacher with less than a couple of years experience also applied. Her lack of experience etc thus made her the suitable candidate for redundancy. Shame really as it would have been nice to be able to let the other teacher go with a decent settlement but you have to stick to the rules in these circumstances

Well, whatever you call it she's put herself forward. She's much older and like your experience, Chapwithwings, she is keen. Maybe they expected it too?

I've had time to mull this over and I chatted to a few people. With those of you with redundancy experience, do you think they had an idea of which one of us they wanted to go?

Almost certainly. Had you both requested it they could have forced you both through an interview process with same result.

Colleague is an acquired taste. Quotation from someone very senior to me last June, "Well won't be working here very long if..." Is it wrong that I'm using this to make me feel better about this week feeling so undervalued and sad that they possibly didn't want me to work there anymore?

Should have said, "Well... won't be..."