Lost my job

[BlindsidedHurt]

I’ve just lost my job and my income. I’ve been given 4 months notice.

I’ve been here 6 years and have had no issues in that time. The boss has been weird recently and has just announced he’s selling the business and we have four months notice.

It’s a complicated and outing situation but entirely genuine. I will not get redundancy. I’m essentially self employed - like i say it’s complicated.

I am literally beside myself. I earn an amazing salary I won’t match.

I have zero support. I don’t know what to do. Jobs round here are hard to get and badly paid.

I'm really sorry to hear that. Hopefully with the notice period you might be able to find something else. I wish you all the best

I’d you’re self employed can’t you set up by yourself? Have you saved any of your salary for this eventuality? Sorry to read this.

Hi

You day that you're self employed but after 6 years you could challenge that. Have you been on a contract for services with that company directly in all that time? I recommend you call ACAS for advice because you may have redundancy entitlements.

That sounds like such a stressful situation. Time to get your CV spruced up and start sizing up the competitors for jobs.

Can you freelance if you are self employed?

Thanks for your kind replies.

I have a little savings. I will survive if I want to enough. I’ll never earn this again. I’m 54.

Definitely no redundancy - there’s more info but very outing to disclose.

I could go self employed but it’s cut throat and the market is saturated with what I do. Sorry to sound so negative - I’ve put on a positive face all day and just want to curl up and cry.

Do you have a contract at all? Assume the business is being sold as a going concern - Could TUPE apply or can you speak to the buyers to see if they’d keep you on?

Wish you all the best

Have you been doing your tax return and paying the additional contributions to make up for the lack of contributions from your employer?

I wonder if your salary was so good because they did not have the additional overheads of putting you on the payroll. Very unfair on you.

If your employer is happy with you, could he/she recommend you to the buyer of the business or put on a good word with connections to the company?

Yes I’ve been doing tax returns and paying taxes. Yes, salary good due to the savings made on employment. Awful situation.
New buyer only interested in employed staff. I wrote a contract that was torn up in front of me.
I know deep down this is a good thing, it’s a toxic situation. But I can’t help think I’m stuffed at my age.

You might be able to get new style job seekers allowance. It's not much but it'll help! You can receive it for 6 months after losing a job.

It's a horrible situation to be in ...
Once you are over the initial shock, sit down and work out how much money you need each month to pay for basics.

Then polish your CV and make notes of transferable skills.

Lastly start applying for every suitable job. Just make sure your CV is tailored to the job description.

I have been made redundant several times and had to re invent myself for new & better job opportunities.

This happened to me some years ago.
I was self employed but just worked in one firm.
I was given legal advice that actually I should have been classified as a 'worker' and not been self-employed.
I was told I could claim for holiday pay going back the entirety of my 'employment' (for me that was 6 years) and also redundancy.
Certainly worth getting legal advice about your situation.

Ok. Breathe.
Now, pick yourself up.
Dust yourself off.
You have at leaat 6 years experience in your industry plus however many previous devades work experience. You are not unemployable. You are highly employable in fact. So highly employable you need to be lookibg at the step up from your current role. If you think you are missing key skills, find free online courses or get yoyr current 'employer' to pay for them as goodwill

Be creative. Talk to recruitment agencies. Update your cv. Apply for remote jobs that use your vast experience. Behave like an experienced bloke would!
Honestly, you've got this.

You may be entitled to benefits when you are no longer earning
speak to citizens advice

If you have more than £16k in savings, you won't get anything, unfortunately. Over £6k and they are massively reduced, you'd be better doing 8 hours a week at minimum wage and get more in wages.
I'd work out the minimum you need to live on and go from there.

The advice to work out what you need each month for essential bills is sound. Once you know the minimum you need you can focus on gaining that much. Take a deep breath because you still have 4 months salary to come and you can start making economies and savings immediately. Start sorting out your CV so you can start applications before your employer is no longer so can't provide a reference for you. I. So sorry you are facing this. It happened to my niece last year and it took her 4 months to get another job but it is further from nursery her DD attends and she has to drive further to work in rush hour. The money is not as good and fewer perks but as she said it's a job and will pay her mortgage.

Thanks for the amazing support and kindness.
I’ve given myself tonight to feel sorry and cry.
Tomorrow I will start to be productive, not able
to sleep so far. Normally 9pm I’m wiped out.

you sound lovely OP
it’s shocking and life changing news but you’ll adapt and figure out a way forward
I’ve been made redundant in the past
I remember feeling how you felt - and now it’s all in the distant past and I don’t think about it at all
same will happen with you x

If I were you I would get legal advice to see if there's any recourse at all.

Second thing, how valuable is what you do and will your exclusion have a negative impact for the purchaser? Will they have someone to cover your skill set?

Could you contact them post sale, outlining what you brought to the company (especially if it has a monetary value) and see if they will consider retaining your services?

Worth speaking to ACAS maybe?

Hope you’re feeling a bit better OP x