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Original poster

Given redundancy notice day I return from maternity leave

18 replies

Ohbuggermebugger · 06/02/2017 20:18

I've been told my job is ear marked for redundancy the day I've returned after 5 months ML.

I'm an events manager and I've been told my main event will still be going ahead later in the year and I will still be needed to work on it during this redundancy consultancy period and in time my notice period. Apparently my job will be covered by a 'consultant' who will work on it for several months before the event.

Is this legal? They will bring someone in to effectively do my job nearer to the event.

OP posts:
HarlowHepburn · 06/02/2017 20:20

Contact yesslaw.org.uk. They're a charity that offer fixed-price advice. They really helped me out when I was made redundant on mat leave.

Jenniferb21 · 06/02/2017 20:23

Irwin Mitchell are a fab firm who offer free legal advice on their 24 hour telephone service/ helpline.

I have a legal background but would need a lot more infor to advise you. To bring a tribunal case you need to have worked there for 2 years btw for this sort of claim.

Best of luck it sounds like they've put you in an awful position here.

dementedpixie · 06/02/2017 20:31

Did they consult with you beforehand?

Original poster
Ohbuggermebugger · 06/02/2017 22:46

Thank you for the recommendations.

The first I knew about it was being asked to attend an 'all staff' meeting last Friday, which I couldn't make, I then received an email asking me to attend a mtg today re company restructure/redundancies.

OP posts:
TheHobbitMum · 06/02/2017 22:51

You could also call ACAS for advice?

Original poster
Ohbuggermebugger · 06/02/2017 22:57

I have remote access to company drives and just looked in my HR folder (I'm sure I shouldn't be able to read everything in this folder!) There's a copy of an email from my boss to HR asking if I could be disciplined for not following proper procedure when I was off sick i.e. not calling before 10.30am (I emailed) just before I went on maternity leave (had to go suddenly at 8 months due to baby being at risk) and HR is advising her to be very careful and also very careful what she puts in writing incase I take them to a tribunal!!

OP posts:
redcaryellowcar · 06/02/2017 23:01

I'd screen shot or save to elsewhere the letters from HR? Seems very odd you can view it?

flowery · 07/02/2017 09:11

so you are in consultation now?

I would suggest raising the fact that this doesn't seem like genuine consultation as they seem to have already decided what's happening. The idea of consultation should be to give you an opportunity to make alternative suggestions as to how they can meet whatever the business need is driving the redundancy, to ask questions etc.

So as part of the consultation I would suggest putting on the record that you are concerned that:
a) this isn't a genuine redundancy situation due to the fact that the need for the work isn't disappearing;
b) that it is not a genuine consultation because they have already decided; and
c) that this is happening as a result of you taking maternity leave, which would be unlawful discrimination.

Original poster
Ohbuggermebugger · 09/02/2017 13:19

Thanks flowery.

I've found all manner of emails now. One from my boss to internal HR assistant telling the HR assistant not to answer my email about dates I was off sick before I went on maternity leave, I had about 3 weeks off in total and they had stated they didn't have a certificate for one week so I had asked for the dates so I could get a copy from my GP, HR assistant was told not to help me! There's another one from my boss to HR assistant acknowledging a conversation they have had and HR assistant had stated she was unhappy being asked not to help me. There's even one from the external HR consultancy they use, and in that email they are being advised not to put anything else in writing to each other because if I take them to a tribunal I can ask to see all communications with the HR consultancy!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohbuggermebugger · 09/02/2017 13:20

Yes Flowery the consultancy process officially started this week.

They've stated they expect the process to take a month and they've already asked an external freelancer to quote for x number of days to work on the event.

OP posts:
BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 09/02/2017 13:21

Contact ACAS they were brilliant when I was made 'redundant' when dc3 was only 4 weeks old. My case mananger was brilliant and ultimately I got the outcome I wanted. I'm sorry you're having to go through this.

Original poster
Ohbuggermebugger · 09/02/2017 13:23

Thanks Bernard I will do. I'm glad you the outcome you wanted. It's an awful position to be put in.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohbuggermebugger · 09/02/2017 13:23

got the outcome (oops)

OP posts:
Cloeycat · 09/02/2017 13:24

This sounds really dodgy and also really shitty thing to be dealing with when you've just got back to work. Definitely back up and keep all of those emails if you can

mrsenasharples · 09/02/2017 15:44

Wow just wow

No advice just wanted to say best of luck. What a bunch of cowboys.

girlelephant · 09/02/2017 15:56

Another wow! Have you taken screenshots of the things in your HR file?

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