Redundancy Questions

[Teachermommy]

I'm a teacher in a primary school and we've been told that our jobs are at risk of redundancy. A certain number of jobs have to go, and redundancy is definitely on the cards. Voluntary redundancy will be offered first. If that doesn't solve the problem there will be a skills audit to decide which of us is for the chop.

I've read extensively on the government and union websites, and things seem pretty clear cut.

I'm just wondering if others have been through this and have any advice?

I used the .gov statutory redundancy calculator and wasn't too impressed with the figure I'm entitled to, but a friend who has been through this says she got more than double the figure it generated. She got an additional payout for 'loss of office'. Has anyone heard of this?

I like my school, but if the figure was high enough I'd consider voluntary redundancy.

I'm intending to phone my union tomorrow- but I'm honestly not sure what to ask them at this stage! I just feel I need to 'check in' with them- does that sound silly?

Anyway, I'd very much appreciate any words of wisdom from you lovely people!

Not specifically education, but it's not unknown to get more than statutory minimum (what the online calculator probably worked out) when voluntary is offered.

Of course, there's no guarantee anyone volunteering for VR will be accepted!

No harm in checking in with the union so you can get some facts, so you're better prepared as & when VR is offered.

Thanks drquin. If I'd only be entitled to the minimum then it's not worth me going (although obviously I may not get a choice)

I'd just like to know where I stand really and take control of the situation. It's very stressful at the moment.

We have gone through this process every year for 4 years running. Enough teachers have always volunteered (usually those going into early retirement or leaving the profession) to spare the rest of us. You should be able to contact hr who will be able to give you a definite figure

Cheesecake, there aren't enough of us. There's no one over about 45, so no early retirement option for anyone. Around 1/5 of us need to go. I don't know anyone else who is considering voluntary.

Meant to say thanks, though. I will contact HR tomorrow. Will they just give me the statutory figure though? Will the final amount be negotiable?

Worth checking the future employment conditions. Often you can't work for a term or so after redundancy.

It's 4 weeks, and the advice locally is to negotiate an earlier termination date- so I could ask to finish end of July instead of August. If not I could cope for 4 weeks, then do supply for the rest of the term and look for a job starting January.
If the money is acceptable, obviously.

Just bumping this up in case someone who has great advice missed it yesterday.

If it's a state school is be disappointed to learn that they were paying more than the statutory requirement, it hardly seems a good use of the education budget.

I've been in that position in amother industry. It's important to get all your evidence up to scratch so you can "win" the skills audit.

Also start applying for jobs, if you have somewhere to go any redundancy payment is a nice bonus, although I think in teaching you have to have a short break, the new school would probably accommodate that if they want you.

Can you express an interest,to find out what you'd get ,before you commit?

Although you can get another job 4 weeks after your old contract ends, you can't get a new post whilst in the old job and get the redundancy payment. I only got the statutory payment. Could you afford it if you didn't get another job easily?