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Original poster

I have just had some shocking news - redundancy

117 replies

lisalisa · 03/08/2006 16:37

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Uwila · 03/08/2006 22:12

Lisa, how is your Dh taking this news? Is he being supportive? I think he runs his own business (taxi service?).

I just keep thinking of that thread (you know the one) and then to have this going on at work. And five kids to go home to. I hope you are getting some good support tonight.

Hang in there.

Original poster
lisalisa · 03/08/2006 22:18

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Blu · 03/08/2006 22:26

Lisa, I'm SO sorry to hear this, you have had so much on your plate recently.

I know nothing of these things - but just go for a great big huge payoff!!

Good luck, and i'm very pleased to hear that your DH is being sensitive and suppportive.

MrsJohnCusack · 03/08/2006 22:28

lisa sorry this is coming on top of lots of other things

you're getting some great advice from more knowledgeable people than me on here and we'll keep it bumped so more people read it and add to it

yes take a lawyer. and as others have said, don't agree to anything at the meeting - you go away and consider it on your own and in your own time.

suejonez · 03/08/2006 23:13

Do you have a good lawyer? CAT me if you want to use mine.

Latipsoh · 03/08/2006 23:21

There are some good websites for Employment issues.

EOC.co.uk (equal opportunities commission)
Emplaw.com or .co.uk - I have found this VERY helpful.

ACAS, a employment law associated friend tells me, are rubbish and a waste of time. They tend to just pay lip service I gather.

Uwila · 04/08/2006 08:08

Bump for the morning crowd...

bossykate · 04/08/2006 10:07

hi lisalisa

speak to antony perlmutter at curry popeck 020 7224 6633. he handled my compromise agreement when i left my last job and before that gave me good advice on how to approach the situation.

good luck.

bossykate · 04/08/2006 10:08

btw i did have a consultancy period even though it was not part of a mass redundancy - all the more reason to speak to an expert to get the right information!

Bugsy2 · 04/08/2006 10:45

Heavens Lisalisa - just seen this. Sorry to hear your news.
I'm not a lawyer but have also been made redundant twice & gone on to better things.
Some fantastic advice here - hope it may be useful for you. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

MrsJohnCusack · 04/08/2006 10:46

yes I only meant that consultancy was compulsory when it's over 20 people
is good practice to have a consultancy period anyway though and hopefully if Lisa goes in all guns blazing accompanied by scary solicitor this redundancy may turn out to her advantage

Original poster
lisalisa · 04/08/2006 11:54

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Original poster
lisalisa · 04/08/2006 11:56

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Original poster
lisalisa · 04/08/2006 11:56

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whiffy · 04/08/2006 12:43

If you can't take a solicitor to the meeting just listen to what they say, take notes, don't say/agree to anything and tell them you'll get back to them. Then call a lawyer.

If you're in London call Alison Downie at Bindman & Partners as she is the woman to put fear of god into most other legal companies. Google her name and you'll see why. I used B&P years ago and they were fab - free first intro meeting and then when I presented their name to my company (one of largest Accountancy firms in the world) my company went from very assertive/aggresive to rolling over and throwing money at me. In the end I didn't even need to use B&P really as the name alone was enough to get my firm treating me nicely.
An alternative name is David Green at Charles Russell on 7203 5052. I used him a couple of years back when my company decided to cut my salary when I told them I was PG (LOL!).

Good luck, having gone through it THREE times, ~I can assure you that redundancy not the end of the earth and can be profitable - I am also professional though not lawyer and it has never held me back in any way. I also have 2 friends dumped by their lawyer companies just before making partner - I suspect it is much more common than you realise..

suejonez · 04/08/2006 12:53

Lisa, email me on suejonez at aol dot com

You can take union representative instead of a colleague but I'm guessing you're not in one.

Cam · 04/08/2006 14:09

lisalisa, can I say that if it at all possible to find a work colleague who you trust it would be good for you to have someone for the moral support at the meeting.

Plus with a "witness" there it will be harder for them.

Original poster
lisalisa · 04/08/2006 15:08

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suejonez · 04/08/2006 16:40

most people i have made redundant (yes do unto others as you have had done unto you!) didn't bring anyone with them. If you have someone humane talking to you they will just give you basic facts, give you a letter to read then let you go away to consider it. Droning on sympathetically is a nightmare, you just want to get out of there quickly.

Rehearse saying to yourself "thank I'd like to take this home now to read" and nothing else. trust me things get easier once you know where you stand not in this horrible limbo, after the inital shock of whatever they say you will start feeling more able to start making plans.

Uwila · 05/08/2006 19:16

Just thought I'd bump incase anyone else has any advice for you.

Original poster
lisalisa · 06/08/2006 00:49

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Uwila · 06/08/2006 14:09

You could always have a sick child on Monday. I mean really with 5 to choose from, ONE is bound to be ill at any given time.

Can they go ahead with the meeting if you are not there?

WideWebWitch · 06/08/2006 14:10

Good idea Uwila. And I'd use the day to fully brief your lawyer.

meowmix · 06/08/2006 14:36

Lisalisa - don't panic.

I don't think you'll be allowed to take your solicitor into that mtg, you can take a union rep or colleague - but be very careful with the latter and only use them as a witness not as a sounding board, their position is inevitably compromised.

Agree to NOTHING in the initial meeting. Simply listen to what they have to say, take notes and state that you will discuss with legal representation before responding to them. Don't agree or disagree to any proposals, just listen and state you'll come back to them.

Best case is probably to try to move to a compromise agreement rather than redundancy. During discussions you have every right to be in the office and even tho its the hardest thing possible I do recommend that you do this - 1) it freaks them out and makes them throw more cash your way and 2) you find out more about the history that can then be used in your case (for example when I was there they appointed 3 directors just after making me redundant which meant I could go for them big time but I wouldn't have known had they not been forced to meet me....)

Also when thinking about your package bear in mind things like getting to write your own reference, a clause that stops them saying anything negative about you, laptops, employment consultancy etc etc. You can barter any of your confidentiality clauses quite nicely here too. If you're not happy with your lawyer then I used a fantastic guy at Kennedys who I can put you in touch with.

Hang in there - its horrible and it takes a while to get over BUT it was probably the best thing that happened to me professionally now that the dust has cleared.

meowmix · 06/08/2006 14:45

don't call in sick as will be used against you in negotiations, and esp. if it gets to tribunal. You need to keep people thinking positively about you "professional to the end" is your mantra because you run into them again in the future - don't burn any bridges.

You don't have to agree anything in that meeting and I'd say at the outset that you are seeking legal advice so therefore will not be agreeing anything.