Am I about to get made redundant?

[NickD87]

I manage the PR function for quite a big company. I had a new manager start last month. It all seemed great to begin with...

I’ve been having a weird feeling recently and I can’t put my finger on it. But today’s call has certainly given me some sort of thought....

1. She has started to procure PR agencies. She has already mentioned a friend of hers is a freelance PR. I expect this person is being approached. She wants to move quickly and have them in from next month.
2. The company I work for has multiple brands. One, a software brand - very recently launched. When new manager started I raised I was not happy with the level of work required of me on this....particularly that it was out of scope with my JD and despite myself and previous manager bringing this up with the team, nothing had been done. I recommended getting a software marketer in. She agreed. Well....she now has a friend and former ex-colleague joining in a couple of weeks to take that on. Her background isn’t software marketing though....it’s brand and PR. My experience. Weird.
3. She mentioned on our call today that there is a big PR opportunity happening tomorrow with a big broadcaster. This hadn’t come through my desk...which is what I would normally manage. I have been given no idea what it is about, no opportunity to brief CEO. She says she has done it. Yet she doesn’t have the briefing docs or know enough about the company.

I’ve also been given some projects recently that are quite clearly set up to fail....

That said, she has asked me to start working on something new ready for end of next week. A big meaty project....but a very short time to complete, which coincides with the end of another big project I’ve been working on.

Now, I have actually been interviewing elsewhere. I have an interview tomorrow. I had a second interview earlier this week that went well. And a third and final interview for another company on Monday AM. I made the decision last month to come out of the pandemic with a fresh start.

BUT....if the signs are there that I am getting made redundant, should I hold off any offers until this is confirmed? I wouldn’t mind the redundancy pay. It’s only three months wages, but would be nice.

Should I just be quite clear and ask for it?

Redundancy would be their only option. I had top score on my PDR which was cascaded in January and I received my February bonus with great feedback.

I wouldn't base your future career options on a redundancy pay out that may never happen, or not happen in the timelines you want.

If one of your new opportunities comes to fruition and the job looks good with a better package, I'd take it and move on.

I can't stand nepotism (giving jobs to friends and family just because they're friends and family), so I couldn't wait to get away from a manager like that.

Take the new job if offered.

A role/job is made redundant not the person. From what you have said the role will exist but they are making moves to replace you.

What is likely to happen is they will make it unpleasant at work so you resign. Not nice but they are already starting to do this.

I’d not decide on a new job to get three months salary that seems rather short sighted

Why don’t you just ask her?

Sounds like they are going to make it so difficult for you to work there that you’ll be pushed out and forced to resign. This happened to me in one job. I was bullied so badly I had to stop going into work and leave.
Doesn’t sound like your going to be made redundant so I’d take the new job.

Take a new job - look forwards and get on with your life.

First get your offer of a new job under your belt.

Next - test the water. Reading your post are you worried that your role is being effectively outsourced?

You could try having an open conversation and suggest that redundancy wouldn't be unwelcome and see where it goes. A friend did thus recently where she knew her firm were looking to cut headcount.

I agree with PP the role is made redundant, not the person. So if they were to make you redundant they wouldn’t be able to fill the role for at least 12 months. Sounds like the are already making plans to have people in that role in some way or another.

The other piece is redundancy requires a minimum 30 days consultation but it could take months before they notify you are at risk. In addition it wouldn’t be unusual for a non compete clause afterwards which could really scupper your new job options.

I’d see how it goes with the interviews and jump ship.

The other piece is redundancy requires a minimum 30 days consultation

This isn't a U.K. requirement for 1 employee. A consultation is put in place for 20+ employees being made redundant at a time. It's to give the opportunity for affected staff to offer alternative suggestions to their employer that might avoid redundancy.

For 1 person, it can be a meeting with notice of when the redundancy is going to happen, plus any paperwork, such as the offer of redundancy which equals the statutory according to length of service with any enhancement according to the employers' policy. A decent employer will offer the employee to pay any solicitors' fees to review the offer and rubber stamp it as fair and legal.