Discussions about redundancies while on maternity leave

[Bessiebell]

Apologies if this question has been asked before - I couldn't find the answer I was looking for. I am currently on maternity leave and I have been informed by a text message from a work colleague late last night that there was a meeting in work to discuss the need to make a number of staff redundant. Apparently a new policy has been adopted by the management which outlines the way decisions with regard to redundancies will be made. I have not been informed about the policy or received a copy nor have I been informed that these discussions are even taking place. I am in a fairly senior role in my organisation and I have been employed there for 6 and a half years. Are they under an obligation to inform me that redundancies are taking place etc. while I am on maternity leave? I am unsure if my post is being considered for redundancy - I am sure no post is safe. Staff have been told (except for me) that the will be told who will be made redundant tomorrow (Friday 1st Oct). To top it all I work for a legal centre! All advice would be much appreciated.

Well they are not under a specific obligation to inform you every time redundancies might be taking place - they might be in a part of the business that is nothing to do with you, for example.

However they are under an obligation to keep you informed and involved if there is restructuring/redundancies in an area of the business that affects your role or potentially affects your role.

The good news is if you know absolutely nothing about it, they probably have no intention of actually making you redundant, but of course if your post disappears that's not much help when you go back.

So you need to be involved. I would suggest you contact your line manager as a first step and ask for a meeting (if you can manage that) or at least all the relevant information to be posted to you including the new policy, details of any consultation meetings in your department and details of what the proposal actually is.