To be concerned about employee?

[Fallenfromgrace]

Had to make her redundant from a job she has been in for 14 years.
Diagnosed with a second autoimmune condition during lockdown.
Colleague she worked with in her department died suddenly last week.

Now panicking about how she can find work and attend appointments for her health conditions.She looks incredibly tired and thin everytime she comes in for consultation meetings and become very quiet and withdrawn. Aibu to be concerned?

@toomuchfaster

I agree with *@ShinyMe*, fuck off with your faux concern or do something real in the offer you make. And no, don't try to be her 'friend'.

This. You made her redundant and now you need to face the consequences of your decision, if you don't like having to face those consequences then that's your problem. TBH you don't sound like you are cut out for management, you are being very unprofessional by posting on social media about it, your employers and your employee would rightly take an extremely dim view of it. There are employees of yours who are probably on Mumsnet and who recognise you, your employer and employee so don't be surprised if this gets back to your employer.

Can she be medically retired op?

Does her health really prevent her from doing the alternative roles? Have you discussed them with her? Are her health conditions covered by the DDA?

It does sound a bit like you’re getting rid of her because of her new health condition. Perhaps she thinks the same? It’s hard to comment without knowing the job and the precise health issues.

@FortunesFave

Are you able to visit her weekly? Is she a friend? I'd be making sure she had enough food.

The employee would be well within her rights to tell OP to fuck off if she did, she'd have a bloody nerve turning up with all faux concern and pretending that she really gives a shit.

Letting someone go in an unavoidable redundancy situation is tough. I have done it as a manager, and I have experienced it as an employee.

Keep it professional, try your best to get them in another appropriate role if possible, if not possible get them the best severance package possible/garden leave if it is easier for them. Let them work flexibly/attend any appointments or interviews. Is your company providing access to a consultant who can help with CV's/interview techniques etc? If you have any concerns about her mental health engage with HR who should be able to assist and point her in the direction of resources and support.

You don’t sound like you are concerned, because it would be pretty easy to help her if you were. You say she is panicking over appointments and job interviews, so give her some extra time off so she can manage.

Why can’t she take the role of the colleague that passed away? Or was that being made redundant too? Have you looked into all the reasonable adjustments do she can do other roles?

what do you expect her reaction to be?
its life changing.

you need to do some research

Advise her to apply for PIP and universal credit. Point her in the right direction and be a good friend.
Needs to be more people like you in the world, it’s genuinely nice to see someone who genuinely cares.

Lol some of the comments here. People living in cloud cuckoo land.

It’s a shame she has to be made redundant but it happens. Especially in times like these. What is it that you propose employers do when a role needs to be cut for whatever reason, samosa? Don’t you have any commercial awareness at all?

“Face the consequences of her decision” honestly 🙄

Here is what to do if you really care:
Offer her a pt position from other employee slowly increasing to ft. See what adjustments need to be done in the way... (use the government 6 months scheme for it to make it ft hours.)
This would give employee a chance to prove weather they can do th job... or if it is too much. Only your employee will know.

Or offer alternative role for 4 weeks, that way they don't loose redundancy pay.

@Tomatoesneedtoripen

Can she be medically retired op?

No expert but I imagine this could be too late. But yes, this would be a good solution.

I agree with Shiny. Get her the best deal you can. And if it doesn’t compromise you legally in any way, let her know you’re doing this.

Jeez, PP wasn't kidding about employers being in the same group as landlords and MILs on here! Did any of you snide sods ever once stop to consider we might be talking about a small business on the verge of going under due to Covid and the owner about to lose their livelihood? No, of course not, let's just launch a witch hunt against an OP who's dared to make someone redundant. How dare she not take the food from her own children's mouths, so she can personally pay the salary of the person whose job no longer exists.

For what it's worth OP, redundancy is a fact of life, it doesn't make it less upsetting but nor does it make you the devil. And I think your concern sounds genuine. I've been made redundant twice and both times I had a compassionate boss who genuinely seemed gutted about what was happening. It does help.

@Casschops

No OP stated that her role is no longer available due to COVID her health isn't up to other available roles.

Its not illegal but if she was denied alternative work without reasonable adjustments being considered she could have a claim (if her condition is classified as disability)

But if you're making someone redundant then lots of additional sympathy won't make the blindest bit of difference to the employee. They're in the same situation however nice the caring boss is about it, and in some ways it could make it harder because the employee could be thinking that something might change.

I don't agree. I was made redundant earlier this year, and I have also had to make staff redundant myself in the past. It's a crappy situation for both the employee and the manager, but doing it humanely and respectfully can make a big difference.

Things that helped me were being given a choice as to whether I wanted to work my notice or not (I didn't); being asked if I wanted any kind of leaving do (I didn't); and being assured that I would get good references etc.

I won't lie, I did feel angry towards my boss and towards the organisation as a whole, but it did really help me to see that both my boss and the HR person clearly felt crap about the situation and were struggling with it too. It also helped me to understand that it wasn't personal. And I was grateful for the fact that my boss gave me an informal heads up about any official communication because he was aware that the official stuff came across as a bit cold.

Let her skip her notice period (if she wants that) and get the best redundancy package possible for her. Assure her that her references will be very good. You’ve done nothing wrong here OP so don’t overcompensate by trying to be her best mate.

What's the redundancy package? it had better be a good one. Also agree with others if you were my employer I'd want you to make sure that i had all my references, documentation and my redundancy money in place and then back the fuck off.

After 14 years however, I would expect any company to try to do everything they could to offer the employee another role within the company and offer that. Are you doing that OP? 14 years. Many marriages don't last that long.

@ImaginaryCat

Jeez, PP wasn't kidding about employers being in the same group as landlords and MILs on here! Did any of you snide sods ever once stop to consider we might be talking about a small business on the verge of going under due to Covid and the owner about to lose their livelihood? No, of course not, let's just launch a witch hunt against an OP who's dared to make someone redundant. How dare she not take the food from her own children's mouths, so she can personally pay the salary of the person whose job no longer exists.

For what it's worth OP, redundancy is a fact of life, it doesn't make it less upsetting but nor does it make you the devil. And I think your concern sounds genuine. I've been made redundant twice and both times I had a compassionate boss who genuinely seemed gutted about what was happening. It does help.

Exactly!!

@Fallenfromgrace

It's not easy. You're going to be far from the only one going through this over the next few months. Sadly.

The poor woman has a LOT to cope with, I'm sure your friendship/support will mean a lot to her. Also Amy practical help with getting another job/help to access the benefits she's entitled to. It's not easy to find them/complete the paperwork when you're unwell.

Ignore the shitty posts, some people just have NO idea 🌷

@PennyCrayon85

Lol some of the comments here. People living in cloud cuckoo land.

It’s a shame she has to be made redundant but it happens. Especially in times like these. What is it that you propose employers do when a role needs to be cut for whatever reason, samosa? Don’t you have any commercial awareness at all?

“Face the consequences of her decision” honestly 🙄

Of course it happens but for the op to be posting it online is extreme,y unprofessional. She needs to accept the consequences of the employee struggling with redundancy and be a grown up about it rather than hand wringing and all poor me about it, she's not the one suffering.

So the original OP has done a reverse and is asking as if they are a boss?

@shrill

So the original OP has done a reverse and is asking as if they are a boss?

So the OP is the employee??

@ImaginaryCat

Jeez, PP wasn't kidding about employers being in the same group as landlords and MILs on here! Did any of you snide sods ever once stop to consider we might be talking about a small business on the verge of going under due to Covid and the owner about to lose their livelihood? No, of course not, let's just launch a witch hunt against an OP who's dared to make someone redundant. How dare she not take the food from her own children's mouths, so she can personally pay the salary of the person whose job no longer exists.

For what it's worth OP, redundancy is a fact of life, it doesn't make it less upsetting but nor does it make you the devil. And I think your concern sounds genuine. I've been made redundant twice and both times I had a compassionate boss who genuinely seemed gutted about what was happening. It does help.

I think most posters understand that redundancies are a fact of life. What I don’t like is what appears to be false concern. The woman is worrying about appointments and interviews and OP hasn’t done anything to allay her fears e.g. tell her to take what time she needs. Nor does she appear to have thought very hard about alternatives and reasonable adjustments. It is the falseness that grates rather than the redundancy.

If it can be shown that there is any link between the redundancy and the autoimmune condition then the redundancy may be illegal. Disability discrimination under the equality act applies.

If you've already thought through all possible alternatives to the redundancy, then best you can do is provide an EAP/ independent counselling support, a fair package of what you can afford and don't drag it out more than needed. The fact you've said she's redundant, but then also said she's coming in for consultation still means there's either more to this or you are dragging your heels with the process thinking that's best, but actually lots of employees find the whole process very stressful and getting it over and done with (fairly and properly) is better than dragging out for the sake of trying to look good.

It's a business transaction. Be respectful, LEGAL (for your own sake), and as generous as you can afford to be, offering more than you are legally expected is kind - but ultimately you can't push a business to go under for the sake of one employee.

Someone who was appreciated and stable enough for 14 years will be fine. It is scary as it's a change of habits, but she'll be be ok.

Employees are paid to help you run YOUR business, you are not a charity.

It seems like redundancy came first so you are being unjustly portrayed. Even if it didn't come first, companies are closing down. Are they supposed to keep people on when they can't pay them? Or give her a job she can't do which will impact on both employee and employer negatively? My brother in marriage had to implement redundancies two years ago and it took such a toll on him he almost had a mental break down. Please be sensitive to op too who is obviously emotional over this
No suggestions op just hugs to you and your employee whom you obviously care for. Some bosses don't even notice (I know. I had one 3 years ago)