Redundancy process - how long?

[Shyandnervous]

My employer advised me on Tuesday morning (6th December) that my job role is being made redundant from 22nd December. I had a consultation meeting this afternoon (my first one) that was carried out by my area manager, who has no HR training and was reading from a script.

The company wants to try and fill vacancies within the organisation with the group of people whose roles are being discontinued. There will be two more consultations, one next Tuesday and one the week leading up to Christmas. It all has to be done and dusted by the 22nd.

Am I right in thinking this is too quick a process? They are saying they don't need to give 30 days for the consultation process as the staff involved work in different locations and each venue is essentially a separate trading entity. The rule on the ACAS website says if there are over 20 employees affected it has to be 30 days for the process but this is how they're getting around that.

I feel I'm being rushed into an important decision as the bosses want it sorted before they go off for Christmas 😞 Can anyone help?

What decision do you need to make? My OH was told on Tuesday and on garden leave straight away until end of Feb. Maybe post in legal if you have concerns a process isn't being followed.

I need to decide whether to take the redundancy (statutory minimum) and leave a job I love. My manager and I have put forward an alternative which would keep me in my role with a few changes, and we'll be told on Tuesday if it's been accepted.

I'll try to get this moved.

How do I get this moved to 'Legal' please?

Report the post and ask for it to be moved.

I’m be reported your last post to MNHQ and asked them to move it. It should work.

Good luck with everything

Thank you so much 😊

Well, they've cocked the process up already if they told you you are being made redundant in the first meeting. Is it just you that does your role or similar role?

The redundancy was mentioned from the very start in a 'pack' that I was given. I'm the only one affected at my particular location.

What they are doing is perfectly legal I’m afraid, though it’s a rotten time of year to do it.

I’m not clear on the choice you’re needing to make though?

@Megifer it sounds like she’s been put at risk of redundancy which is the normal process

Op reads to me like she was informed role is being made redundant in the first meeting? If so that's not normal process/meaningful consultation even if it is a single role redundancy.

You are at risk of redundancy and, as you are the only one at your location, you are in a pool of one. Your employer hasn't cocked up the process at all.

The requirement for a 30-day consultation applies when there are 20 or more redundancies at a single establishment. ACAS give an example where a national retail company wants to close 3 stores, making more than 20 people redundant. In this situation, because each store operates as a distinct entity, the redundancies would be handled separately, and the business might not be required to hold a 30-day collective consultation. In your case, if each venue really is essentially a separate trading entity, your employer is probably right that they can do this quickly.

I have a choice of taking redundancy or coming up with an acceptable solution to keep me working at the location, albeit in a slightly different role.

OP, you've said you need to decide if you want to take (statutory) redundancy. What is the other option you're trying to choose between?

@Shyandnervous you said you’ve made your proposal and are waiting to hear back so apologies if I’m missing something, but is there a choice you need to make?

"My employer advised me on Tuesday morning (6th December) that my job role is being made redundant from 22nd December."

Op did they tell you your role is redundant from the 22nd December in the first meeting or just say your role is at risk of redundancy?

See my post above.

I now have to wait to find out if my alternative is acceptable.

It's redundant. The role and job title will no longer exist after the 22nd.

If it's only stat redundancy you be mad to accept that straight away.

Better to wait and see if you can get another role as part of the process.

You've nothing to lose.

I would take the alternative offer of employment whilst you consider your position as you have a statutory 4 week trial period. Provided you give notice within the 4 weeks you would still be entitled to the redundancy payment.

Have they said why? Dept closing type thing

Money-saving exercise.

My manager and I have put together a plan which would enable me to keep my current role on two days under a different job title (as someone still needs to do it - think of a conveyor belt being unmanned for two days if I don't do it). The other two days would involve me doing a different role within the company, one which I'm qualified for and used to do alongside my current role before I started doing my current role full time. So I'd be job-sharing with my manager for two days and doing a different role for two days.

Really the only issue for you is that if the new role or roles have less favourable terms and conditions then you might lose out in a further round of redundancies. There are a lot of things to establish before the OP commits to what could a new job or two new jobs.

A few people I know have agreed to stay on after their post was made redundant in project posts. They always get iron clad guarantees they will get the same package if not better when that role comes to an end. But those packages and job offers are usually high value.

If you can walk straight into another job there’s a lot to be said for taking redundancy and moving on. Even statutory will allow for a bit of time out or a nice little nest egg. Different matter of you would struggle to get a job and need one.

Thank you everyone. The company has my 'proposal' which is my ideal outcome, and I also have a Plan B. If all this fails, I'll take the money and run!