Or is my employer? [Redundancy]

[SpangledBoots]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about an internal interview advice. I got my response yesterday and it was a no to the role but an offer of a more junior role. I'm currently waiting for the details of this role and have a meeting on Monday to discuss.

The background here is:

• my current team's roles are being removed - as of 20th June I will be in a compulsory redundancy scenario, leaving in 3 months with a payout worth 3 month's salary.

• my performance record at the organisation is excellent and they therefore want to redeploy me within the department. I've been acting unofficially in a role like the one I interviewed for for 6-8 months.

• the role offer is a promotion on paper rather than financially, it would be a step back in my current level of responsibility and the individual who was promoted will go on maternity leave in September so I'll be expected to hold on to my current projects whilst she continues to work on the low priority/responsibility work.

AIBU to reject this offer, take redundancy and move on? Or is my employer BU for trying to keep me performing at a higher level whilst not paying me accordingly?

I don't have any dependants and a decent amount in savings. I feel if I stay I'd be looking to leave ASAP anyway and would lose out on the cash.

Does seem unfair but when restructuring it isn't easy. Good they want to keep you.

I would say depends on what your role is, opportunity to work elsewhere, state of the job market where you are as well. Would you want to use the time (and money) to say go travelling?

If you would just leave and stay at home I would be tempted to stay in the current role as is always easier to move to a new (and better) role when currently employed. More likely to get a better package as well

Good luck

If you can, you should leave.

As you say, you'll be looking to move on anyway.

Start to look for a new job now and with any luck you'll move straight into your brilliant new role at the end of your notice period

Will they honour the redundancy or say that they have offered you a suitable alternative role?

I guess it depends if you think you will get a job with less than a 3 month break! So, how realistic is starting a new job within the next 6 months??

Be careful of refusing an offer as they could refuse to pay you redundancy if they have offered a suitable role

Personally I'd go. They want you on lower pay doing more responsibility.

Check what happens to your redundancy pay though. It was a while ago so I could be well out of date but I knew someone offered a legally suitable alternative role and they had to take it or leave and lose redundancy.

As long as you don't lose the redundancy offer by refusing the role, I would take redundancy and leave.

It sounds like the beginning of them
Taking more and more from you and offering as little as possible. Start fresh elsewhere.

In a similar situation a couple of years back I wanted to leave but hadn’t found a job. I negotiated with my employer that I would take the role on offer but for a 6 month probationary basis (from both sides) with my redundancy terms preserved.
I ended up leaving after 6 months with the experience of a promotion on my CV and my redundancy money (which suited me).

Might be worth a try as you say that they are keen to keep you and should probably recognise that this wasn’t the role you wanted and you’d be settling for it?

Good luck OP

Clarify the work within your new role with them first. Ask who will be taking over your current projects as these will no longer be part of your job role. If they say you need to carry on until you complete the projects ask for an acting up position and commensurate salary.

Look for another job while all this is going on, and see how it pans out. Redundancy is a funny thing to navigate and it’s good you don’t desperately need the lower role.

Yes you definitely need to ask if the redundancy payout is still on the table. If it is (and it may be, my organisation has done this in the past) you could then ask at your meeting about what the offered role involves and seek to negotiate a better salary. You might not get it but it can't hurt to try.

Take legal advice OP! Find a solicitor who specialises in employment law! Sounds like it could be a case of constructive dismissal (ie you have no option but to leave) or they could negotiate a better redundancy package for you. Always worth having that conversation with someone who knows the rules. Good luck x

I would give acas a call if you haven't already due to your pregnancy

If a job does not come with more money it is not a promotion.

However, I think that you will probably not get redundancy and be deemed to have resigned if you don't accept the redeployment.

(Just speaking from memory when a previous employer closed, however)

due to your pregnancy

The OP hasn’t mentioned being pregnant.

The job market is tough right now. So have a good look at what is out there before deciding.

Can you try and negotiate a pay rise for the period you are covering maternity leave? I know it's not an idea time for your company if it's making redundancies but it must be worth asking.

@MoreSlidingDoors sorry, my mistake, I didn't read it properly. It's the colleague that's been on mat leave

If they’ve offered you another job can you still claim redundancy? I’d have thought the offer was suitable alternative employment.

Gokartdillydilly how does it sound like constructive dismissal? That means the employer did something that was such a big breach of contract the op had no choice to resign, but she doesn’t mention any big breach of contract?

Thanks for all your replies -

I've not officially been offered the role, not even seen a proper job description yet. Gut feeling is that they've done this to ensure I don't step down automatically from the business critical responsibilities I've been unofficially covering and want to give me the lower role for this reason too.

It's not considered 'suitable alternative employment', which I'd be legally obliged to take, so redundancy is still my route.

I would take redundancy.

Redundancy fees so personal and you will end up begrudging the company. If you’re so good and they want to keep you then they can find you a role that pays the same!

You have savings. Contact an employment lawyer. Dh was made redundant last year. It cost £500 plus vat, which the company paid. Even if yours don’t, I’d say £600 is a small price to pay for your future.

You have also had brilliant advice upthread, which you can use as discussion points in the initial meeting with a lawyer.

Cross post. Ok idk if my comment is correct then. You could consider it but deffo contact Acas.

It all depends on whether you are likely to find work at the level you think you deserve at a salary you want - redundancy can work out if you get a new job swiftly but it's a risky strategy

Did they say no to you because they feel they can't was with the pregnant colleague?
Employers get funny around this and often don't know the law.

I reckon if you said 'Thanks but no thanks' they's step up the financial part a bit