Has anyone been made redundant yet?

[blueroses1]

My workplace has started making redundancies, with more to follow this week.

Fuck this virus.

I am dreading finding another job because there will be so many people out of work that I can only imagine how many people will be applying for the same position. I've not been out of work since I left school and I'm nervous to say the least!

My friend's partner is being made redundant. Recent graduate, been there about a year. Had to take furlough early to shield his baby with a health concern. She's a student with only standard student funding.

If he doesn't find something pronto they will have to move their young family of 4 in with extended family as they won't be able to afford to rent their tiny home anymore.

Yep 7 days after lockdown!

@rozzy my company folded as a whole it was already on a downward slope Coronavirus just speeded it up and put the final nail in

Not yet but got a feeling will be put on consultation this week, other departments have already asked for voluntary redundancies followed up by compulsory, my department has so far missed out but know they were looking at restructuring. Don’t know how I feel, part of me wants it, we can weather the storm financially and I can help DC with their school work, my job keeps me busy WFH and can’t really get involved as much as I’d like. I’ve also been teaching low cost regions in the world my job so it doesn’t bode well.

@rozzyraspberry I guess it may be because from August employers will have to start paying towards the costs of furloughed employees, and if there hasn’t been any money coming in for months they may not be able to do this, plus they need to make their business sustainable going forward

@rozzyraspberry

What reasons are companies giving for doing redundancies now rather than using furlough?

companies have to give 12 weeks notice for redundancy (for employees with over 2 years' service) so if they are expecting to make redundancies from a commercial point of view it makes sense to start doing it asap. Why wait till end of October and then have to pay staff for another three months?

@rozzyraspberry

What reasons are companies giving for doing redundancies now rather than using furlough?

I work in a large performing arts venue. We will have to consider redundancies as, having had no income for months now, we simply can’t afford to top up the furlough payments when government starts cutting. So we very sadly have to look at redundancies now, at getting ball rolling, as it doesn’t look like we’ll have income for months to come. Vast majority of staff on furlough with none due to return. Tough does not come close. It is devastating for everyone. I don’t know how we and others like us come back from this.

Our temp lay off rules only allow 6 months ‘temp’ lay off. Then it has to be permanent. As an entity we are not likely to be able to earn any income until around January due to the rules around distancing etc. That will be over nine months so legally we have to permanent lay off and pay severances. Some of those may be able to be rehired in the future but legally we can’t keep people hanging.
I’ve been trying to hope that I can cling on until the end of the month then I might possibly be brought back in after Christmas.

(Also arts sector)

Ours has about 200 on furlough some can't go to work as offices are closed and their jobs can't be done at home others furloughed as downturn in work so no work for them to do. The business is now being streamlined and embracing more wfh and redundancy will surely follow

@rozzyraspberry ours have said it’s people spending habits. We deal with businesses/companies & their buildings - they are empty and unlikely to be up and running soon. There is also worries that outstanding bills won’t be paid due to those companies folding. So it’s preparing for less money coming in now and future losses :(

Thankfully not (yet) or any of my department but we have redeployed alot of people to different areas of the organisation which are doing better/more demand than my own. Around 35 people in our second site were made redundant recently.

Should there be a second wave this will massively impcat my sector. We could survive the first one and things going back to "normality" in some ways but should a second wave hit my job and department are not looking viable...very concerned

Today 20:40 rozzyraspberry

What reasons are companies giving for doing redundancies now rather than using furlough?

The Government is reducing furlough payments and expecting business to pick up a share of the costs. Businesses must have a consultation period before making redundancies, so some are starting that process before they become liable.

Yes, I found out last week, but knew it was coming.
Luckily (or unluckily!) for me I've been pretty unwell for the past year, so I was wavering at whether to return anyway. The dh has a pretty secure job and we have paid off the mortgage. Still, it's very odd and worrying to know I'm out on my ear.

I'm sorry to those who have lost their jobs and hope you find something soon. What industries or functions are you in?

My employer (financial services) is fine overall although my area of business is struggling and the economy will take a long time to recover if ever fully. Hiring freeze, insecure people, high workloads... and I know for a fact they will review at budget time (September) every few years they do a bit of a clear out of entire teams/restructure...

We had 'the call' last Monday. We are now in the consultation period, with a about 30% of positions up for redundancy. It was expected, but still a massive shock. About half of my team are in consultation.

I was made redundant in March - travel industry.

Legal sector. I would think those on furlough are massively vulnerable atm at ours for whole raft reasons

@AlecTrevelyan006 I just wanted to correct what you posted about notice periods for redundancy as the period really is much shorter than 12 weeks for most people in England. I've attached the correct info..

I am sorry for anyone going through this. It's a very tough time. My SIL works in employment law and most of the past 4 weeks has been spent advising companies about proper redundancy procedures. Almost without exception they are planning to make major cuts from their pool of furloughed staff very soon.

Oops forgot the attachment, here it is:

I think the unemployment and depression that comes with it will be worse than the virus

cleaner at a well known gym. currently furloughed but not sure they will keep us both when they start up again. I don't really like my job but I do need it whilst nothing else going.

I’m expecting “the call” anytime now.
My employer will have to give me 10 weeks redundancy notice, does anyone know if I will be paid my normal wage for the ten weeks, or the 80% furlough pay?

The office I worked at until retiring due to ill health was due to close at Christmas, I've heard that the remaining staff that are currently WFH who had been refusing to be transferred to cities 50 miles away are all going to be finished in the next few months, 3 months early, some are old enough to get their works pensions, the rest will just be given notice, so probably around 50 retiring & 120 will be given notice, but only barest redundancy, not enhanced terms they hoped for.