Facing redundancy - am on ml

[Flyfishing]

I am due to return to work before the end of the year and have just been told over the phone that I am facing redundancy along with the rest of my team.

I am scarred witless and need to ensure I get the best possible redundancy deal as have DCs to support and we can't live on dh's salary alone.

Can you please help me work out:

• how to conduct myself during the consultation period (starting now)
• how to find out what redundancy scheme my company offer (who do I ask about this and when?) so I can start estimating the impact this will have on my family
• do I volunteer for redundancy or would this decrease my payout
• do I get a solicitor involved and at what stage?
• how to get the best possible deal
• What are the most important 'Dos 'and 'Don'ts'?

Thank you

I was made redundant during my ML - but to be honest it was a massive relief.

-Firstly act as if it isn't happening in a way, plan as if you are not going to be made redundant. Also you are somewhat protected by law in that if there are jobs anywhere within your company going you have to be placed in one above other people. A friend was made redundant but her entire team went and there were no other jobs - it has to be one of those types of situations.

-Your management has a duty to ensure you are given all the details regarding consultations/packages/etc. If you are not getting anything ensure you contact your management.

-That info should tell you about voluntary redundancy - if its possible/terms/etc. Usually if they invite VR its normally at a better rate.

-You would only need a solicitor once and agreement is drawn up, unless you felt something really dodgy was going on.

-Honestly, just make sure your management are keeping you up to date. Let them have an email address if they don't already so they can forward you communications regarding the consultancy.

Don't panic yet

Have they given or are they sending you anything in writing? Have you been invited to a consultation meeting?

Details of what voluntary redundancy would entail if it's available plus details of what your redundancy entitlement would be should be provided to you during consultation. If not, ask your line manager for both of these.

You don't need a solicitor at this point.

As you are on maternity leave, if there is a suitable vacant position available you should be offered it and not expected to compete for it. Details of jobs available should also be provided to you.

Have you really not been told anything?!

In terms of getting the best deal, unless they do something unlawful in the process you don't really have much of a basis for negotiation tbh. They may offer more than statutory redundancy pay, but it's not usually about getting the "best deal", you get what you're given usually.

I wouldn't act as if it's not happening. I would ensure you stay in contact with your manager, and make sure he/she knows to invite you to meetings etc.

Do you have any redundancy protection (on your mortgage for example)? Idaho these very rarely pay out if you take voluntary redundancy so although you may be offered a better payout, you would actually end up worse off.

*If so, not Idaho!!

....following on from flowery's excellent advice, if you want to do research on the added protection you gain during maternity it is worth looking up the MAPLE Regulations (easy to find on-line). There is also some really good advice on ACAS see the link below. This is aimed at the employer as a checklist, but is good to read over to give yourself a few pointers....

www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/r/f/Managing-redundancy-for-pregnant-employees-or-those-on-maternity-leave-accessible-version.pdf

All I would add, is that in my own experience I sought advice from my solicitor at an early stage which proved to be priceless. However, in the first instance I would recommend that when you attend meetings you ask as many relevant questions as you can and make sure you get adequate responses. Most importantly make sure that all meetings are accurately recorded and I would keep a record of any contact and correspondence between yourself and your employer.

My advice would be to get good legal advice early on. As you are on maternity leave it is very easy for the redundancy process to become a little bit disorganised. I speak from experience. I was put on consultation during my maternity leave last year. They resisted making me redundant and tried to make me take jobs that I really wasn't suited too. I think they were trying to save money as I had been with the company 10 years. I ended up handing in my notice. Imagine my surprise when I found out that my old job still exists and the woman that covered my maternity leave is still in it. To make matters worse she has negotiated a 3 day flexible week! Furious!!!I've just had a meeting with a solicitor and there's nothing I can do - there is a 3 month cut off on taking a previous employer to tribunal. My advice to anyone facing redundancy on mat leave is get proper legal advice throughout your consultation. There is a reason many woman don't return to the workplace after having kids - it's because it's very easy for companies to discriminate without recourse and the woman is generally too knackered to notice.