Redundancy law - help please!

[Oodle]

My company has announced it needs to make redundancies. About 10 of us have told we are at risk. We have the initial option to apply for voluntary but the payment they are offering is shite. Two questions - is it normal to try to negotiate at this stage? Is the company likely to pay out more than they need to just to avoid the aggro of compulsory procedures? Secondly, I'm not great at selling myself/playing hardball. Could I bring in someone to help me negotiate (possibly my husband who is a shit-hot negotiator and very angry about the crap offer I've had)?

When you say crap offer, what do you mean? Anything above statutory redundancy pay is, IMHO, especially these days, generous.

Personally I think bringing a family member in is not the right way to go - there is a danger of it becoming emotional. A union rep or colleague would be more appropriate.

If you think the company would be open to negotiation then there is no harm in trying.

First things first -are you in an union?

Thanks for replying. It's a bit over statutory.not in a union.

Anyone out there who could help? Thanks

you just have to ask if you can bring your husband at meetings and say that you are considering volunteering so they are more likely to agree to your request as they will generally want volunteers.

The redundancy consultation process usually takes 2-4 weeks plus all the management time in meetings etc. also, if you offer to sign a compromise agreement which will mean that you will not be able to make a tribunal claim, they may be more generous as they will have the certainty of not having a possible tribunal claim to worry about.

sorry, meant to say, you are not entitled to take your husband to any meetings at this stage but it won't hurt to ask.

I can't imagine for one moment they'd be prepared to negotiate with your husband. You could ask if you could bring him but don't expect them to say yes, and if they do agree, it will be for support only, not to negotiate for you.

Compulsory procedures for this level of redundancy are not that arduous for the employer, so it's unlikely they'd be prepared to fork out more than they are offering, although it certainly doesn't hurt to ask. When only 10 are involved, the procedure is likely to be much more stressful and difficult for the employees in question.

And anything over statutory is not 'crap' and is nothing to get angry about. Redundancies in the first place, depending on circumstances, might be worth getting angry about, but an offer over statutory redundancy which your employer is not obliged to offer you at all, is not 'crap'. You go in with that approach and they are liable to just refuse to negotiate further and make you compulsorily redundant instead.

Ok many thanks I appreciate your help. I will tread carefully.