Redundancy

[WAMozart]

My employer announced this week that they are looking at redundancies- possibly around 10% of the workforce. This is due to an error in their financial modelling.

We are going to be told more in January. Not sure what I should be doing- everyone is feeling really worried. I am a fairly recent recruit (although not the most recent) and am doing well but as far as I know all my colleagues are also doing well- I can’t see anyone who is an obvious candidate for redundancy.

Would you look for a new job to be on the safe side or just sit tight? I feel so worried and it’s so hard to know what to do. I love my job so wouldn’t choose to leave but equally don’t want to wait and then find I’m redundant. I’m an older woman (late 40s) and am also worried that will count against me in job hunting.

If you have been there less than two years, I would start looking.

Yeah I’ve been there just over a year 😭

Less than 2 years is tricky. Polish up your CV and LI and start looking. It's a tricky time of year for recruiting but it'll give you a head start if you're prepared. Burying your head in the sand won't achieve anything.

Why would being made redundant count against you when looking for another job? It happens to lots of people and there's no shame in it.

I’d start looking tbh most jobs now will have closing date into dec then interview process so it would probably be into the new year before you hear back from applications

also being new isn’t always a disadvantage one times they want rid off existing dead wood

Definitely start looking and applying now. Getting a new job takes time and being there less than 2 years means they only have to serve you notice and you are gone.

I would start looking.

Same thing happened to me in the summer. Luckily, enough people opted in for voluntary redundancy so no one was actually made redundant. All the people who wanted to go, did. Is your company offering an incentive for voluntary redundancy?

I started applying for new jobs just to be on the safe side but luckily enough, I stayed

I too would update your CV and start looking. Its odd that they have told the staff now about possible redundances next year! Surely it puts everyone be on edge and have a crap Christmas! I'd start saving a bit extra each month, if feasible, just incase you are cut. Do you have a union?

I was made redundant several years ago at 38. I'd been there 8yrs and felt a range of emotions. It was the best thing in the end. On my CV, I just put the date I left the company. I don't recall being asked why I'd left, but if they had, I would had said that the role became redundant during a restructure- which was true.

Thanks everyone. Agree it’s odd timing- we suspect maybe the news was going to leak anyway so they had to tell us.

Feeling really worried now.