Just been made redundant - what are my rights ?

[ohdeeri]

I’ve just been made redundant, along with a bunch of others in my company.

It’s the first time and there were no signs this was about to happen. I also don’t know the reasons yet, I have my chat next week.

I am very pissed off. I’ve been there for less than a year.

I am in business development and my team and I were opening a new territory. We had an extremely lengthy ramp up period - of 1 and a half years. This was because we were seen as ‘ pioneering ‘ a new market. So a lot of our role was about creating noise, understanding the dynamics of the new market, as well as closing business in the new market. We worked extremely hard on this and identified gaps our product had in the market, as well as ways we could potentially overcome them. We also signed up new customers. We were told several times that we were pioneers and part of our role was to find out what is going on etc.

I was on the cusp of signing a massive contract and now I’ve just been dropped. Most people in my team have been made redundant, except one.

I am absolutely fuming. Is there anything I can actually do ? I won’t get any of the money for the contract I was about to get a signature on ( that was absolutely huge ). And I think I’ll get a minimum payment of one month pay.

I can go in more detail if required. But is there even any point in contacting a solicitor ? Or can they do what they want here ?

You haven’t been there two years so technically they don’t need to make you redundant, just give notice. There’s no legal recourse unless you believe you’ve been discriminated against because of a protected characteristic, which doesn’t sound the case. If business development is your job, you aren’t owed anything because you carried out the role you were employed for and developed the business by gaining new client business. It sucks, but it is what it is, and I hope you’re able to get out there and find a new job soon.

As PP has said with less than 2 years service all you’re entitled to is your contractual notice.

I’m sorry, it’s really hard

On the cusp of signing a massive customer too. What a slap in the face. How do I explain this when I’m interviewing ? I don’t think I can claim for discrimination, although I was the only woman and I do have a disability.

The 2 year rule is just fit when it comes to Redundancy Pay.

Even if you have been there for under 2 years, the organisation still needs to show that they followed a fair (and legal) redundancy process. Which may involve a Consultation period.

Lots of info here https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

You can also contact ACAS.

Also, your Org shouod have a redundancy policy

I don't see you can do anything given your length of service unless you can show detriment due to discrimination. You mention some protected characteristics but doesn't sound like these were a factor if multiple people in same boat.

How did the person who stayed get selected to remain or be unaffected? Were they in a different role?

If almost the entire team have been let go, you’d struggle to form a legal argument that you have been let go because you are a woman and / or disabled. If you were the only one let go, you could argue it was a factor.

What reasons have been given for dissolving the business development team? Those are the reason you can give when interviewing. Many industries are struggling currently, it won’t come as some sort of surprise to new employers that you’re job hunting because your former employer was struggling.

When they told you that you’d been made redundant, did they not give any further information??

The entire team has been made redundant

No, you don’t stand a chance with this one

I haven’t had the conversation yet.

So how were you informed?

and they literally said

“you have been made redundant”

and left it at that?

How long have you actually been there Op?

How big is the company? How many people have been made redundant?

Unless tiny, there should have been a consultation process.

It sounds at though the company has rethought their strategy and decided opening up that territory was not the way to go for whatever reason.

Under two years, they just need to give you your agreed notice.

OP how about poaching the company you were about to sign elsewhere 😂 that’ll show ‘em (light hearted).

How is the job market for other jobs?

no they don’t … they need to follow a legal redundancy process, that shows that people were selected fairly

8-9 months.

And really just said “you’re redundant, chat next week”

I suspect because they know that you have no rights.

You presumably only passed probation a couple of months ago?

I have been informed I’m at risk and they’ll explain the process next week. I wish it wasn’t so, but I think I’m out.

My probation was 2 months I think.

my team and I were opening a new territory.

is it your team? You were head of the team?

So you haven’t been made redundant!!!

@Yesyourecorrectno I didn’t head up the team.

I know it’s coming next week as it’s the same as they did to others.

are you being a bit nasty on purpose or am I just feeling extra fragile today. Sorry I’m finding your posts a bit nasty.

Are they pulling out of the market?

Or will they move the business on to another team?

As in can you sell your contacts in a company who are trying to access the new market?

The OP's remedy is to claim unfair dismissal, which she cannot do with less than a year's service (and if whole team going, discrimination is unlikely to apply). In any case, she's been informed she is at risk and has a formal meeting next week so it sounds as though they are considering her as part of the process.

How many jobs are going? Is it likely to be 20 or over in a 90 day period? A failure to collectively inform and consult reps could be the basis of a claim if so.

Huh?

nasty?

You haven’t been made redundant op

Your op is very clear that you have been made redundant and posters have been advising you as such.

I asked how long you’d been there and whether it was your team

and you think that is “nasty” 😕