What to do next? Voluntary redundancy offered whilst on mat leave

[Gardengirl247]

I’ve been at my org for 8 years, moved into various posts during that time. Had one stint at a higher grade pre mat leave and can definitely do it. That was lower senior management level.

Whilst on leave I’ve applied for various jobs at said higher grade. Have been “merited” a couple of times (I.e if a similar job comes up we might call you but how long is a piece of string…) but no success. Didn’t get one role I thought had my name written all over it so that really got me down. Will keep going but feeling increasingly demotivated and like this isn’t how I’d like to spend my time off.

Worth saying I gave up my specific role pre leave so will be going back to do something different on return. This was my choice, feel I’d learned everything I could. Will need to be reassigned.

Last week I was offered voluntary exit along with everyone else. Terms are relatively generous and I was considering leaving after the various interview disappointments… but feeling torn. Bit scary to do immediately post leave and would that also put my career back a few steps as I need to find something else?

Final factor is no idea what I actually want to do for the next thirty years of my career.

Sorry major blurb here but wanted to put to paper and seek advice. My family are majorly risk adverse (think same place of work for 40 years, DH just wants me to be happy and friends don’t really have “careers” in a classic sense so don’t really get it -their words not mine!!!)

I should have added the redundancy process won’t conclude for a few months

What’s the recruitment market like outside your current company? Find out.

What are colleagues saying? Can you meet them for lunch and find out what morale is like?

If you leave, how hard will you have to work to build a reputation at a new place of work - and will that be harder with a young child at home? Most new mums find it pretty tough going, unless workplace is sympathetic

I'd take the redundancy and spend time with my baby.

If you've got a few months until you need to confirm then start applying for other jobs now and see where you get to

It's not sounding like it's going to be easy to move up in your current company but when will you know what role you are going back to?

Is it an enhanced deal that could mean you have more time to look for something you really want?

Due back end Nov , redundancy process concludes (as in it’s all over!!) in May

This is an idea but cannot sustain household on single income. DH and I more or less earn the same

Final offer of package is made in the new year and that’s when I’d sign on the dotted line but need to express my intention in next few weeks

Career wise if you've been at the same place for 8 years and not progressing it's way past time to move on anyway.

Provided your current experience/qualifications meet job specs of jobs that are marketed now I would take the jump and the money.

Given you were going back to something new anyway it's not that much of a jump to learn a new organisation too.

Legally you should be offered a SAE instead of redundancy; is this a wholesale layoff or selected roles? I'd go back and find a new job in my own time.

Sounds like you are civil service or some similar government org with the merit approach. 8 years is likely to be 8 months pay. Plus the first £30k is tax free. And May is early in the tax year (better to get a payout early in the tax year than later to reduce tax paid which means you can survive for longer without a job).

Key things to me would be:

• Do want another child soon? So maternity pay and terms factors into the decision.
• How much the payout is - and how long you have to find alternate work
• What role you do - and opportunities outside your current employer, or industry.
• If you are in a public sector job - then can you move to non-public sector work?
• Pension
• Flexible working: with a young child that really helps, so if your current employer is good or flex working lean towards staying. BUT if other employers are too then less of an issue.

Good luck.

Bear in mind that any subequent rounds of redundancy may not be voluntary and may not be enhanced. I've seen it happen a couple of times especially if they don't get enough 'volunteers' initially.

I’ve been at the same grade most of the time but moved around and done lots of different roles. Did one year at higher grade secondment so not quite not progressing although it absolutely feels like if and I get your point. It feels time but just worried with baby and toe about taking the plunge I guess! Good point about going back to new role almost like taking said plunge anyway.

Given your update, I would express intention to take it, that gives you a good 3 months to find something else

Until you know what role you'd be going back to, you don't know if you'd want to stay anyway

Not civil service but same kind of thing. No more kids. Payout will technically tide me over for 8 months. Just worried about the cliff edge of leaving and not being able to get similar pay etc, and the whole timing of doing this with an under 2! Great flex with current employer

I get made redundant in December. Technically not voluntary but I did negotiate to leave 1 year earlier than they originally planned.

I'm also pregnant and due in a couple of weeks. So I'm facing redundancy, maternity and job searching all in one. I'll get enough from redundancy + statutory maternity to tide us over for 10/11 months.

There are worse things! 🤣

That said, I started a new role and new company after my last maternity and honestly I think I preferred it to going back to the same old. Plus it pushed me forward career wise and showed prospective employers that my career was still a priority.

Get in touch with some recruiters and find out the lay of the land. 8 months is a massive amount of time and anything you find earlier means a decent chunk of money into savings!

Job market is poor right now. I know people who were out of work 12 + months with a lot of experience. I wouldn't risk the voluntary right now.

@Gardengirl247 I feel for you on the job front, I have had a similar issue in the past. Especially when you know a job is perfect for you and you don't get it.

Just a thought because this is what I did...instead of working for someone else I decided to buy myself a digital business that earned me an income where I could work from home. No more bosses, no more being tied down to a job, I can attend all of my sons events etc etc etc. I bought one that wasn't doing that well so was cheap, but after watching some YouTube channels on how to grow an online business in the field mine is in (e-commerce dropshipping) it started to grow and grow. It is now earning me over £2k a month which is more than enough for me right now. It really was the best thing I ever did. No more crappy sales exec jobs for me!

What is a digital business?

8 months worth of pay isn’t enough, stay and keep promotion hunting

It's voluntary at the moment, so this is incorrect

What would you be after?

This is my fear, I’d be after public sector though and am a bit of a generalist so perhaps that offers me a bit of comfort but who knows. We can’t live long term on one income sadly.