redundancy question (sorry, long)

[MrsSalvoMontalbano]

Hi - would appreciate if anyone can help. I am expecting to be made redundant next Thursday. Have not been told this, but was announced a few days ago that my company is being taken over, and it is logical that my job would go especially as I am quite expensive... My boss and I share diaries, and use knowldege of each others' meetings to book stuff, so was not snooping when I saw he is coming to my office on that day, and it was an outlook 'invite' to him from our HR Director which he had accepted late yesterday. They are both based on another country, so will be travelling together on that day, travel details included on the invite. Boss made no mention of the visit whe we spoke this afternoon, even tho' I have been asking him for weeks for a face-to-face to talk through some business we are doing. Anyway, no reason for the HRD to come to this country - the last time he came a year ago was to make someone redundant... (My boss is a very nice guy, so I suspect he left the meeting visible so I could see it instead of making it 'provate' so that I had the advance warning he is presumably to able to give...) Boss has no other reports, just me.
So to come to my question - do they have to give me any notice of the meeting - presume with all the Lehman Bros etc newspaper photos of people with their belongings in cardboard boxes the answers is no, they they can just make me leave there and then, but does that mean my employment terminates on that day?
What procedure is likely?
Any info/advice gratefully received so I can be composed and calm...

I think it depends on the number of people being made redundant. It's highly unlikely that you will be packing your desk that day though!

Also check your redundancy policy it will outline the procedure.

Thank you! It will be just me. Will check company policy. (our compnay is chaotic, so would not be surprised if there isn't one, since we are a small outpost of a foriegn company)

Are you in a union? Check the ACAS site. I think you are still subject to UK law as you are employed here. When I was made redundant I attended a meeting where I was asked for options to not make me redundant, was informed of other kind that were available. I then met them again where I refused the jobs and was then given formal notice I was being made redundant. But I was in mat leave so it was a bit different!

Thanks, just checked on our intranet nd there is no redundancy policy.

If the redundancy affects more than a set number of people they are supposed to have a consultation period. If it is just you then I don't think they do. In a lot of the "cardboard box" scenarios you mentioned I think they put the people being made redundant on gardening leave so their employment doesn't end just yet but they don't have to (and can't) go into the office / workplace.
Really sorry you are worried!

thank you! Actually in the midst of the gloom, I had to laugh - on a website I was just reading about 'garden leave' and it explained it as '(ie you must stay at home and do the gardening, hence 'garden leave')'

Best to be pragmatic in these situations rather than relying on the law - esp if your directors may not be aware of UK law fully. You are entitled to have a union rep or work colleague with you - so you may want to have someone on standby? And more importantly think about what your ideal terms are if this does happen - is it better for you to work your notice or to have pay in lieu? What's your contractual and statutory entitlement to redundancy pay (direct.gov has calculator for stat entitlement)? Are there other jobs in the co you could be redeployed to? Ask for time during the meeting if you need to clear your head or phone your partner/a friend.
Sorry it is happening (if it is) but best to be prepared either way!

I recently went through a single-person redundancy.

They had to go through a 'consultation' with me first (not a set amount of time, it took a few days) which starts with them telling you that you are 'at risk' of redundancy.

As EATmum says you are entitled to have another person present at the follow up meeting where (surprise, surprise) it turns out there are no other suitable jobs for you in the company and you are being made redundant.

You need to think long and hard about what you want to get out of it, and if you think there are any grounds you might be able to use for unfair dismissal hit them with that - you can then use it to negotiate a compromise agreement and you should get more money.

I would also advise you to contact an employment lawyer - first meeting should not cost you anything and if it goes to compromise then your employer has to pick up their legal bill.

NB This is just based on my own recent experience, I am not an HR expert (or lawyer).

Thank you - this is very helpful - I intend to listen calmly and remain unemotional.