Well that's just bloody marvelous!

[NC7778]

I'm not sure what to do, am in shock. Was called into a meeting yesterday with my boss and MD and told I may or may not be being made redundant (they haven't decided yet). While they decide though they definitely want me to stay for at least the next couple months to complete a difficult project. I can't be bothered to go to work today but suppose I have to. How am I going to do this, just want to weep. I've a family to feed but don't want to just leave without any redundancy pay.

I would go to ACAS but I think you should ask. They’ve said you’re at risk of redundancy so ask them to make you an offer to go.

If your job is at risk and you want to stay there, call in today and say you're upset and shaken by the news, assuming you got given the notice yesterday.
Then go back Monday and make yourself look good so they want to keep you and look to create a role for you or move you internally if your job does end.

If you don't want to stay, continue doing the bare minimum and let your manager know you'll happily take voluntary redundancy. They might pay you off to save themselves the hassle of the process. You might be able to negotiate more payout this way.

• not an HR person.

The issue is they haven't officially put me at risk they've just said they're considering it but I left in no doubt my job would go once I've finished this project. I should get legal advice, dammit not what I needed right now, I can't stop crying, all our family plans are messed up (on middle of moving house to be closer to work for one 😭

They have put you at risk. Just because they haven’t use those words, doesn’t mean they haven’t and wouldn’t get far in an employment tribunal. Something similar happened to my DH and he got a decent package in the end.

If my job was at risk of redundancy and I didn't want to leave I would be in work. I wouldn't be giving them more reasons to make me redundant by taking sick leave. That said it does sound like they're giving you the heads up for after your project. May be they hoped you would leave first to secure a job so they don't have to pay you out. My advice is stick it out if you are able, carry on doing your best and going in as normal, things may change. If not at least you'll get your redundancy.

I left in no doubt my job would go once I've finished this project.

If that's the clear impression you've left with, then surely you use the time to finish the project while job searching.

I know this is a huge shock but in many cases employees are made redundant with only their notice period as notification.

Are you sure that's what they've said though, or are they still just considering it?

Either way, now is the time to prepare your CV and get searching for a new job.

For today I agree with a PP, don't go to work, explain why, and regroup for Monday.

Thank you for your advice, I just needed to get it off my chest before I put my game face on and go in, it has to be done!

Remember that it is a job/post that is made redundant not an employee so if that role will continue they can’t make you redundant from it.

My DH was called in and made redundant and had to leave that day - company financial problems. Was huge shock and worry for a week or two until news became more acceptable. He's still looking for a job but the redundancy payout was good and eases the crossover.

Easier said than done but things will work out. Negotiate package if it comes to it. With a warning now it gives you time to get cv etc in order and look what else is out there.
These feelings will subside in time

How awful, go in show face do what you need to do to get through today. It might be important today to find out more about the lie of the land and talk to other people.
Then regardless spend the weekend getting CV and LinkedIn up to date and preparing emails to contacts. You could say to any possible contacts that the project you are working on is coming to a close , don't have to say more than that.
If you are used to project work have you considered consulting?

If you're in the middle of moving home, I'd cancel moving. Start cutting back now, and start job hunting. If you don't hear anything within 4 weeks about your current job, I'd ask them what's going on.

So basically they’re just trying to make you put your all into the project to try to keep your job and then they’re going to get rid of you anyway. I’d put the bare minimum into the project while looking for a new job.

As someone who is approaching the end of their career, I'm a big believer in not burning bridges. Last impressions count as much as first ones. I know it is incredibly hard, but I'd advice putting on your big girl pants and doing a fabulous job for the next few weeks.

Make them realise what they'll be missing. If there is a chance of being out at risk of redundancy, is there a chance you may not be, however slim? If the company is struggling, make it not be you first out!

DH was made redundant 11 years ago, when dd was 4 weeks old, along with several others. It was an awful time. 2 years later they asked him to go back - which he did. Some of the others made redundant at the same time were asked back; those who weren't were those who'd minimised their engagement in their work during their notice period. There is a subsequent very happy ending to this story - it was very much an opportunity in disguise! In my industry (engineering) it's very much a worker's market.

Start looking for a new role now - if you find one resign whether the project is finished or not. You have to look after you.

If they need you for this project they should be paying you a retention bonus, otherwise what's to stop you leaving for another job?
It happened to me when my company had been bought and we were going to be made redundant eventually.

What's your notice period? Start applying for work elsewhere. If you can find a job you can start after Christmas, that sounds like it'd work out well.

Thank you for your advice, I just needed to get it off my chest before I put my game face on and go in, it has to be done!

Oh OP what a shock for you. I've been made redundant 3 times. First time i got a job right away (was young) 2nd time got a nice pay of and got a job within months (planned to take time off) and 3rd time no pay off but soon got a new job.

So. As you said: Game face on, and smash that project. But make sure you are informed of all your rights, that you know what is and is not allowed and if it is redundancy (not just shoving you out to put a cheaper person in) that there will be a payment if possible (for mine it was always one month's salary per year employed at the firm. When you've been there a year, no great shakes, 20 years is a different ball game)

Get your CV up to date, and put feelers out. Networking is a thing and for a lot of jobs the only way to move on/around. Once things are more clear, don't worry about going for interviews - try to arrange them to cause as little disruption as poss (so start and end of day, lunchtimes) but they should be giving you some leeway if they are a good company. Are you the only one affected?

Good luck!

The day I had the same talk I went out of the meeting and did the best piece of work I've ever done, just to show them what they'd be losing.

In the end, my post did go, but I was asked to take a year long secondment to share my expertise with another area of the business. I agreed, with written agreement that I would still be redundant (and therefore get my package) at the end of that year. This had the added advantage that my package was enhanced by one year.

When I did leave, I took three months off and then started an entry level job in a completely different field, which has given me a much better worklife balance and I now earn more than I did then anyway.

It's amazing how often these terrible bombshells work out for the best.

I think they should be paying for you to get legal advice.

Of course they shouldn't be paying for legal advice. If it comes to a settlement agreement they will be obliged to pay for advice on the document itself, but that's it. If OP wants legal advice she'll have to pay for it

Sorry OP I know it's a worrying time

I’m so sorry. That must be such a shock.
The way they have handled it is extremely unprofessional.

They should not have said anything until an official decision was made. There should be clear reasons why you are at risk and what the next steps of the process should be. E.g. if they were having reorg and process for applying for any open vacancies, of if they could find anything for you what dates and payout calculation would be used.

This wishywashy we might do it, is dreadful. Are they trying to make you leave do they don’t have to pay out?

You’ll go through a grieving process for the job and the trust that you thought you had. Even if they decide not to do it, your going to struggle to trust them again knowing how badly they have behaved already.

If it helps I’ve been made redundant several times. Every time I’ve been told I’ve been given a day or two off work to process the news. It’s a real shock. I would speak to ACAS about where you stand legally. Get hold of your company’s redundancy policy too. Make sure they are doing everything by the book. (They’ve already shown they are not). Gather information about the process they should follow, vs the actions they are taking. Find out what your redundancy payout would be.

(I once realised I was being made redundant illegally and raised s grievance that got me an extra payout. So keep a diary of meetings, what was said and by who. Keep copies of all emails, trans messages etc. They could come in very handy. Write down while it is fresh in your memory exactly what was said. Ideally write an email to them today as your notes from the meeting asking them to confirm your understanding of what was said).

Get your CV up to date and look at roles that may be out there, but don’t make any permanent decisions that could leave you losing your payout if it is worth it. If you line up a job too soon they don’t have to pay you your redundancy- so think about whether any payment is worth staying for or if it better to start a new job sooner.

Im so sorry. It is shitty to go through. You will come out the other side ok, but it can take a little while to get there. Be kind to yourself along the way.

@NC7778 they have to tell you your role is at risk. But it doesn’t mean it will definitely go. This is the consultation period. They should have told you the end date of the consultation period. If your role will definitely be going then at that point you would be in your notice period and depending on the role type you might not have to work it but would get paid. During consultation You are allowed to look for alternative roles in the organisation and they have to help you as much as possible. Do not panic at this stage - look up on the .gov site about redundancy/talk to citizens’ advice.

Sounds like they need you to get the project done. This happened to me a few years back. Everyone else with the same role was made redundant and given a decent package but the company wanted me to stay to complete a critical project. I used it to my advantage - got them to agree exactly what needed to be completed before I left and negotiated a better package based on completing that (rather than an exit date). Then I started looking for a new job as I had the time (due to the delayed redundancy) to find something I really wanted and ended up lining up the start date of the new job to coincide with ending the old. Do you think they’d go for that?

They've given you plenty of notice to start looking for your next job.
What matters now is to protect your own interests at that company, which are, meeting the requirements to qualify for redundancy pay, and ensuring a good reference.

So, however angry and upset you feel, for your own sake don't do anything that threatens either of the above. Calmly ask if their redundancy package includes any counselling, financial advice, assistance seeking new employment.

Start writing your new CV and thinking what you'd really like to do next with your career. Redundancy is painful but it's also an opportunity for change and a new direction. IME it brokered a new mindset, totally changed our outlooks on work and loyalty in what turned out to be a very liberating and empowering way.

If you have valuable skills (which your employer clearly knows you do) now's your chance to own, market and manage them as your personal assets. Your future loyalty is entirely to you (not an employer or their clients).