Sudden redundancy - what do I need to know?

[StetsonsAreCool]

I was made redundant at 9am today. I thought I was going to a meeting to discuss returning full time (I've posted about issues before about my Boss insisting on me upping my hours when my home circs weren't conducive to doing so, with childcare etc)

Anyhoo, I'd finally managed to rearrange childcare arrangements to allow me to return full time, which was agreed in principle. Today, completely out of the blue I've been made redundant . The meeting was offsite, and I was sent straight home. I don't know what they thought I would do if I went back to the office.

I haven't had it writing, or had any hint of what my offer will be. Just that it will be 'above the statutory entitlement'.

What do I need to know? What should I arm myself with for next time I see them? I'm a bit at sea today, not really sure what to think, or do next.

Oh no! How horrible. Are you on 'gardening leave' for now?

Is it a genuine redundancy?

What they can do, legally, and what you can do depends very much on the circumstances.

Suggest that you take some time to gather your thoughts and post back in the morning with more detail so people on here can advise. Also, try to focus on what you want out of this, whether it's a fight, an explanation, a quick pay out, as few contact meetings as possible etc.

Sorry this has happened to you, it's crap

Thanks, it is but I'm trying to be practical - I cope by Doing.

I suppose I'd like a decent (fair? reasonable?) pay out with a fast resolution so that I can move on. Don't think I could work there now anyway, even if they have done this unfairly/improperly.

I don't think I'll know more until Thursday. I was told my boss would contact me with more information, but for now I've had to hand my keys back and I guess just wait.

I've been to sign up with a recruitment agency today, and will fill my JSA claim in tomorrow, just so I'm doing SOMEthing.

They literally didn't tell me anything, so it's hard to know what to do. I've spent all night sitting here wondering what I'm meant to do now. I don't know if it's gardening leave. I don't know what any of the definitions even mean. Or what

I suspect they just wanted rid of me, rather than my actual job being gone. I've been stacked out for weeks, with plenty more work to come in the next couple of months. But as I'm a new mother, with vague as far as they're entitled to know plans for extending our family, I suspect I'm just going to cost them too much over the next couple of years

good you're being proactive, best to keep busy and think of next steps

gardening leave is when they still pay you while they work out what the hell to do with you. Get some info on what redundancy procedure should be applied in this situation, maybe you can string out the gardening leave for a bit so your termination date is delayed. Will try to see what I can think of (went through a similar situation last year.) I knew the end was in sight a couple of weeks before the termination date and it was horrible, but at least it was a couple of weeks extra pay.

I'd ring round your local claimant solicitors to see if anyone will do half an hour free advice. It sounds dodgy to me.

Ok, apologies first off as I am still on mat leave and it is a bit late so my mind is a bit fuzzy on this.

They can make you redundant and get you off site right away, but this is usually used for security purposes - do you work in IT for example and have access to systems?

Some things to ask:

What are grounds for redundancy?

What was the selection process?

Have you actually been made redundant or are you still in consultation?

What is their redundancy policy and terms?

Below is a link which goes over some legislative things that you should be aware of. Read this, ask the above and if they are unable to provide satisfactory answers to these then you may have grounds for unfair dismissal and at this point go and see a lawyer.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/index.htm

Thanks for the further replies.

I have another thread running that you should be able to find through my profile that I've put more detail in.

I don't work in IT and there isn't much I could spoil by being there. I have no idea why they wanted me away from the office. As far as I'm aware, I'm actually redundant, but it's hard to say as I haven't heard another single word from them.

I'll definitely be asking those questions.

Part of me thinks they just want rid of me, and it would be too time consuming to go through appraisals and such like, plus there's a risk that they still wouldn't have good reason for me to be gone. I said on my other thread that a part of me suspects it's to do with my return to work after ML.

Actually I've had threads in this topic about whether they can rescind on a flexible working arrangement with no warning or good reason after they'd agreed to it. I've also alerted them recently to the fact that they would have to continue paying childcare vouchers if a member of staff is on ML. I think they just don't want me to cost them any more money. My boss thinks that anyone who takes more than 6 weeks ML is a drain on society or something. Afterall, she managed to make it back after 4 weeks.

I'm trying to remain detached from it in a way. I don't want to get angry or upset, I don't want to give them the satisfaction of doing that to me. And I think it will stand me better in the long run if I can leave cleanly and professionally.

If I've been made redundant, they have to give me a fair reference don't they? They couldn't say anything about my performance if that's not the reason I lost my job? That's what's worrying me really. When they were trying to get me to change my hours, I was told that since I'd had the baby I'd been 'crap' at work (her words), but had no discussions or structure on how that could have been improved. In fact, I was told to change my hours or there wouldn't be a job there. I agreed to go full time a couple of weeks ago, since I've managed to make alternative arrangements, and now there's no job for me anyway.

Sorry, that's ended up being way longer than I'd planned. I think I may have a case for unfair dismissal, but I won't know for sure until I have their reasons for my job not being available any more.

I'm going to meet my boss this afternoon, at a coffee shop up the road (her suggestion).

She wanted to do it tomorrow, but I told her I'd put today aside for her as that's what I was told in my meeting on Tuesday. Today wasn't good for her, but she could 'fit me in' this afternoon

I told her I was free right now, her response was "I'm not quite ready yet, I've got a few letters to write". Another

I'm torn between wanting this to go away quickly and wanting to take them to the cleaners!

Gah.

So I've got my letter, thank goodness.

Still no word on consultation, but embarrasingly I forgot to ask in all the stress and her apparent reasonableness.

I'm happy that it is a geniune redundancy and not a ploy to get rid of me, but I really wish I'd have asked about consultation.

The figure I've been offered is ok, but not what I'd hoped. It doesn't include overtime I did last week, so I'm not sure when/if I'll get that paid. Also, when they include holiday - is that my full year's entitlement, or just what I've accrued during January?

This is ludicrous. See a solicitor. Honestly just find one online that does claimant work, give them a call and ask if they do a free initial consultation meeting. Tell them what you've told us. You've got nothing to lose, at least you'll find out what your options are.

I'm seeing my Employment Law friend on Monday, and I've had a lovely offer from a MNer (you know who you are, and thank you!)

I hate the idea of stringing it out, but you're right, I've got nothing to lose. It's not like I ever want to see them again

Don't worry about forgetting to ask things, people do as it is a stressful situation. Don't be afraid to go back and ask these things.

You will accrue holidays for the full period of your employment, including the period you are on redundancy notice.

As for the figures, ask how they were calculated but generally they don't include overtime. Again, don't be afraid to ask when you will receive your redundancy payment and remember that up to the first £30k is tax free.

I hope it all goes well.