A permanent job has no security?

[spanieleyes22]

Just that really. I was so happy to land a permanent job 2 years ago. But have just heard they are making 7 out of 8 of us redundant. We all have to compete for a job. So 1 out of the 8 in my team will be successful. The rest of us will be sacked. I don't even know who will do all the work when we are gone. The workload will be the same. They are talking about hiring new people then. How is it even legal.

Are you in a union?

Yes

I don't know if they can help though. It seems to all be decided apart from the box ticking

@beingoffwork will that help me

It’s crap but can happen anywhere. I’d start applying to other things now

First of all, are people are being let go because their jobs have become redundant to company needs? eg the company is downsizing/the project for which you were hired has come to an end . This point is important, because an employer can't just fire people who have been two plus years in the job, then replace them with new people doing the same job possibly at a lower salary. You're in a union, so contact them about your rights.

If you post this in Legal, an HR person might come along to give you some relevant advice.

If your made redundant for no apparent reason (moving location, downsizing) then they can’t refill your position for a certain amount of months I believe but could be wrong.

Check with your union.

Ok so I've only been there 1.5 years so will I be more at risk. No nothing is downsizing or changing. Same workload. Unless there is something they are not telling us. Thanks I'll pop over to Legal.

Being cynical, it sounds as though they want to save money by sacking you lot off and replacing you with cheaper people, but they are trying to pay lip service to the law to avoid a claim of unfair dismissal.

Talk to your union rep. It's what they are there for.

This may be helpful: https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights

Thanks. I think so too; they showed us a table of how much we all cost at the moment and how much lower it will be after the restructure. Yes I have a union rep. The union seem as much in the dark as we are though tbh. They don't seem to know what's going on. I'm sure they will have gotten legal advice and it will all go ahead . They gave us a link where we can access help for our mental health. Oh yes they are ticking boxes .

Time to stop thinking about who will do the work when you're gone because it will be the same, that's the employers problem, not yours. Time to start getting selfish, you either get that 1 in 8 job if you want it or you haul them over the coals with a union and a good redundancy payout whilst looking for something new.

Never assume that employers have bothered to check the legality of their actions.

If you’ve only been there a year and a half then you don’t have the legal protections which kick in after two years: they can give you your notice and hire somebody else a month later just by saying that they don’t feel you’re working out. This is probably why you don’t have the full picture of the situation: you very possibly won’t be included in redundancy conversations. Start looking for new roles and stop worrying about what the employer is going to do when you’re gone.

Just saw your post that you have only been in the job for 1.5 years. Iirc, you can be let go for any reason if you have been employed for less than two years.

Yes it's all been a shock. For example in March one of the team left and we were told he wouldn't be replaced. But then they changed their minds and a current team member who was on a fixed contract was made permanent. That was only a couple of months ago.

Agree with the others, a lot of employment rights don’t kick in until you’ve been employed for two years.

Unions often overpromise and their legal teams aren’t the best. It would be worth speaking to ACAS.

I never knew that about the 2 year thing. I wish I had stayed in the other place now: they did have a big restructure but no redundancies.

And as you have been there less than 2 years you may find yourself without a redundancy payout (unless they offer an enhanced package)

Well you won’t be sacked, you’ll be made redundant so you’ll leave as a good leaver.

so there’s that.

tbh there’s nothing you can do, employment law in the Uk is pretty weak.

how many people are being made redundant?

because there are timelines it’s more than a certain number and if it’s a big company and there’s a large amount of people, some who have a longer tenure for you then you’ll be able to piggy back with them hopefully in terms of the process being done ‘fairly’. If it’s a large amount of people from the business then there’ll be a consultation period (it’s largely box ticking but you can look for another job and it will give you some time)

to be truthful with you, as you’ve been there under 2 years the employer doesn’t have to operate in good faith with you and treat you fairly. Do you have any protected characteristics?

how will they be assessing you for suitability for the role have they said that?

do you work for a big company? It’s mid year time so it may be that mid year profits aren’t where they need to be and shareholders didn’t love the mid year report.

if you work for a big company likely they’ll offer a package. For instance I got made redundant after 2 months and walked away with 10k

They won't tell us how many people are being made redundant but say that we will be told by September. They said they don't know how we will be judged for the jobs that remain. A lot of questions asked were answered by they don't know. Should I assume I will be let go. I'm so sad. So worried. It looks like they won't give me anything I've just read their redundancy notes. So does that mean I could just get a months notice. Like what I have to give them. I can't stop crying. Just so stressed: I had a massive panic attack after the meeting and embarrassed myself totally. I guess I'm a cheap person to get rid of if they don't have to pay any compensation. Previously I worked for 22 years in a place then next place 3.5 years and now this place : am feeling very unlucky: I need to get my confidence back up to face into interviews and applying for jobs which requires a lot of strength mentally from experience

Bump

I'm sorry, OP. Yes, you would be given your contractual notice period of a month. Unfortunately you wouldn't qualify for statutory redundancy pay under 2 years.

Unless you want the one job available I'd second applying elsewhere.

Start applying for other jobs now

At least you have until September so that gives you a few months

Good luck

Thanks @MrJollyLivesNextDoor The summer is pretty quiet for jobs but I am looking.

Surely you don’t want to stay there! Keep job searching