Redundant but having to training others my job

[Linlithgowlady]

My role in a global bank is going offshore next year around April 2025. However I have been training offshore teams for over 8 months already and I still haven’t had any consultation or word from HR or anything in writing about redundancy. Is this legal? Should I not have had some sort of official notification by now? I am at the point most of my role has already been divvied up and I’m just here for oversight purposes. Any responses would be useful thanks.

They can't stop paying you until they have gone through all the formal redundancy processes so keep quiet about it and maybe you'll be paid for 3 months of job hunting when they realise their mistake. It's not your problem to make sure they remember. If you don't get proper notice you can enforce getting paid what you are due through the courts if necessary. Have you been there more than 2 years?

My manager has told me (after I worked it out for myself) I will be made redundant at some point next year which is really what I’m querying - is it legal to expect me to have to train others up over such an extended period of about a year, without any official HR communication regarding my eventual redundancy?

Why would it be illegal?
Your contract probably specifies "and whatever other sundry duties as the business needs". Training new staff is what the business needs. Refusing to do reasonable work that is within your capacity and skill set would be a disciplinary matter. They may be hoping to save themselves a redundancy payout by stretching out the process so that you just find another job and resign, but that'snot illegal either. Businesses are allowed to make redundancies when their needs change. I hope you aren't putting in any overtime and are taking every opportunity you get to work on your CV etc.

I just wondered as it feels unethical to stretch it out over such a long period without actually consulting myself on it. You are right, they probably hope I will leave but Ive been here 8 years so I’ll probably just wait until the time comes. Thanks for your response.

your role is being moved though - could you take one of the offshore roles?

In your shoes I'd start looking for something new now, but let the redundancy thing play out. Redundancies are very specific types of job losses. Are you in a union? If you have had no official notice of redundancy, and you join one now they may be able to help you on this matter.

Thanks yes I’m in a union, good point I will ask them. No chance of an offshore role as salaries are cheaper in India hence the reason for it. Yes started a job search. Thanks again very helpful.

if It’s a big company then they are probably doing everything right.

your very fortunate that you’ve got so long to prepare yourself and find something new.

In a big company thpugh surely there will be other roles in the UK that you are capable of doing? They do have to make reasonable efforts to find another role for you and with a long lead-time that could include supporting you to gain any necessary qualifications for a new role at the same time as training your replacements?

I have been in a similar situation. We were told our department was closing but not given definite timescales. It was horrible having to go in every day knowing the letter was coming at some point. If my redundancy payment had not been worth so much I would have just left.

I keep trying for other roles internally but can’t get an interview as I think there are so many redundancies happening unfortunately. Just finished a degree in the summer, through work, but I might need to start looking into more specific training to keep my options open.

I can sympathise with you completely as it’s a horrible feeling knowing it could happen one day, just not sure when. I am the same, it’s too much money to not hang around for but it’s awful in the meantime.

My company did this a few years ago, I still think it's a perverse tactic to offshore and expect those losing their roles to train the replacements.

Until you receive notice that you're at risk of redundancy, officially your job isn't at risk...even when you can see the writing on the wall. Quite a few of my colleagues with service short enough to ignore the potential redundancy package just walked in their own time. Found jobs elsewhere and left. Unsurprisingly, they couldn't recruit to backfill so it did cause the company problems (diddums!).

Legally this plays into your favour because an assumption of your role being made redundant isn't the same as official notice. When they pull their socks up you'll be entitled to all the statutory notice and payments.

In the meantime polish your CV, get your LinkedIn active, shiny and engaging and be ready for the announcement.

I'm sorry their doing this to you, really hope you manage to sort a better move for your next chapter in your working life.

Thanks for reply, I agree, it’s very perverse, which is why I was wondering if it was even legal as it is having a negative effect on my mental health the longer it drags on. I may well just seek another position anyway and forget the payout. Some things are worth more, and yes it will leave my company struggling for a few months but nothing less than they deserve. At least I have time on my side at the moment to look. Thanks again.

Work out what your redundancy might be. If they’re paying above statutory then it might just be a case of grin and bear it.
They aren’t likely to reverse the decision so you know it’s going to happen.
Are they offering any retraining? My MIL was given 12 months notice of a shutdown and did so many free courses. They approved all sorts of stuff from first aid, technical skills, business courses. She was planning to take early retirement anyway but signed up for everything on offer.

If you are doing a degree through your employer and you graduate next summer, isn’t it in your interest to stay for as long as possible so they continue paying fees?

Also - it is possible your manager spoke out of turn and you shouldn’t have any official inkling yet of your forthcoming redundancy (though you might have put two and two together of course!)

Have you worked there long and what is your salary level?

If I’m being cynical and you have many years of service at a relatively high level of pay, that they're hoping that you find a new job before they have to make you redundant and have to pay your redundancy.

I have finished the degree, they never paid for it though, it was funded by a gov scheme. Yes I did wonder about employer mentioning it, too, without anything in writing. Although it was really evident what was happening. It’s just awful because it’s dragging on and on and it’s hard to remain positive. Thanks to everyone for the responses. I’m just going to look now for a new position, and worst case scenario I have gained interview experience and I am still there when made at risk. I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else, and so sorry to those who posted saying they’ve gone through it too. It’s tough.

Ah, I am glad you have finished the degree.

I think it’s a good idea to start applying for things, feeling in control of stuff is important for your mental health

I’m not on a huge salary (high 30’s) but been there 8 years and should get 4 weeks salary for every year, but it’s just dragging on so long. Definitely going to start a serious job search now as I feel like life is on hold and need to take some control back.Thanks so much for all the replies, very helpful.

Honestly op. It sounds like your work load is light now so I'd treat the next few months as paid development time. I'd sign up for online courses relating to your role and others you're interested in. I'd spend work time working on your cv and preparing interview answers so when your redundancy comes through , you have your cash and have unskilled .

Big companies usually have access to lots of online training. Think about what sort of role you want to move on to. Where are your wesker skills with reference to that aim? Technical, soft skills, whatever - train yourself, not just everyone else.

They are supposed to annoubce/ communicate as soon as the change is known, but it this is quite flufufy ang difficult to enforce/ prove as eg they can say they foresaw making cuts but not the more precise details of who/ how etc.

If its less than 20 redundancies, no minimum time frame for consultation. More than that and it's 30 days ( 45 for 100+) so still well within timelines for April.