Can my employer just let people go without redundancy?

[Wetwashing00]

It’s obvious from this virus outbreak that businesses are losing money.

My employers are currently having a crisis meeting to discuss closures of certain departments and how to manage staff working hours.

I completely understand that it’s not ideal to pay staff when there’s nothing to do. So the question of job losses will arise.

Can my employers just dismiss employees because of business losses? Without paying redundancy?
Who would get dismissed first? Last in first out? Or depending on the need for the role?

How long have you been there? I may be wrong, but I think you need to be there two years to qualify for redundancy, but statutary redundancy isn't much TBH, something like a week or two for every year served. Usually companies own packages are better.

Technically I’ve been there for 10 years, although I have just moved departments which needed a new contract.

Can they dismiss staff without offering redundancy at all?
Regardless of length of service?

No, they can't dismiss without following proper procedures.

What does your contract say? They might be able to implement short time working if there's insufficient work. See here www.gov.uk/lay-offs-short-timeworking

No, if they don't need the staff any more due to a reduction in work, it's redundancy so they'd have to follow appropriate procedures and pay redundancy pay to those who qualify for it.

How they decide who to make redundant is likely to depend mainly on what jobs are still needed and what jobs aren't. If they need fewer of several jobs, they will use selection criteria. Last in first out is poor practice now, and may be age discrimination as well, so it's usually around performance/skills/conduct-type factors.

Thank you,

I’m being asked a lot of questions by staff and I’m not sure how to answer. Im not sure wether to be worried about my own job, I haven’t received my contract yet, it was supposed to have been sent yesterday. Although I’ve been doing the job since September ‘on loan’