I’ve lost my job

[Emilyjayne9421]

I was told yesterday. I’m a mess and am looking for any advice regarding next steps, both emotionally and practically. The reason given was that it’s a purely economical decision and nothing to do with performance. I have been doing well, no complaints or issues. I have a meeting next week to discuss the process of redundancy. I have been there just short of two years and am aware I don’t have employment rights like I would have if over two years. One month salary was mentioned. I know the company has been struggling but I’m feeling a whole range of emotions. Hurt, angry, confused, scared. My husband works full time and we will be ok for a while. Has anyone been through this and what did you do in the first few days and weeks. I think I’m feeling mostly shocked right now. I loved my job and would’ve stayed there for a very long time.

I'm sorry this has happened to you. I've no experience but I'd suggest you make sure you get a reference or at least confirmation of employment in case the company goes under.

Sorry this has happened to you. I think many more companies will be making redundancies due to RR NI hike coupled with the NMW pay increase. It's no reflection on how you performed in your role it's purely financial reasons. Get a reference. Start looking for new jobs. Make sure you get any holiday entitlement paid. If under 2 years in post you were always going to be targeted one of the first if your company is in financial difficulties.

This is a good point however I believe it's statutory notice that's counted, not contractual notice. The statutory notice is 1 week so you'd need to be told within a week of hitting your 2 year anniversary.

No that takes me to around 3 weeks under 2 years unfortunately. I have so many questions but I need to be calm and today wasn’t the day to ask them. I’m meeting with the bosses next week to discuss further.

Sorry to hear this. Sounds like they've carefully timed this to fall just short of your 2 year mark...

Have a few days to adjust, then start planning.

Look at family finances - how long can you last on 1 salary? Take an initial look at what's out in the market in your area. Update your CV and LinkedIn profile, based on your experience in this role and the skills the market is looking for. Reach out to your network. Contact agents. Start applying.

You need a thick skin for job searching at the moment. And I think these days you have to apply for a lot of roles to get a bite. But you'll get there.

I would also use your temporary free time to do some social/creative/fun/family things you enjoy. Don't just stay at home, applying for roles and worrying.

I’ve been on gardening leave for 2 weeks but I’d had a full 9 months of hell before that. Think they’d been trying to make me leave due to new bosses behaviour so didn’t have to pay out redundancy. I stayed the course but finally made redundant. While I’ve worked there over 2 years I still am the main breadwinner and have debts and bills to pay. NB any money they give you is tax free up to £30,000. Ihave been job hunting like mad and in last 2 weeks have got 4 interviews within that time. Down to last interviews with 2 of them. Be hyper positive and talk about the opportunities you had in your last role. Also don’t take it personally! It’s happening everywhere right now! Finally think about what you can do rather than just what you did so. Use all job search engines that give you suitable roles you’d be willing to apply for! Think about transferable skills. Linked in does lots of training so show you’re active on there. There is also nothing wrong with taking a couple of weeks off to reflect on what’s happened. I have a colleague that was laid off a few months before me so I keep in touch to see how they are on their journey! Someone also talked about applying for new job seekers allowance which I understand is it means tested as long as you have paid NI contributions for a few years (I’ve still to look into that). I’m also going to start reclaiming child benefit. You may be eligible for tax refund! Well wishing you all luck on this journey! And get out in the fresh air! I had my first long walk in a while! Enjoy the spring as you may very soon be working 9 to 5!

I'm so sorry you're in this position. I found myself in the same last year. The company I was working for notified our department that they were considering withdrawing from a contract essential to our work. It took them 3.5 months to give us the decision that they were, indeed, going to withdraw. So bloody stressful. I did get redundancy pay and my supervisor was able to get us into an alternative company but it's not something I would want to go through again.

I don't think that legally you're entitled to any redundancy pay if you've been there for less than two years, so their offer of a month's pay is actually pretty decent. Good luck xx

OP isn't entitled to redundancy due to length of service so any money paid outside of PILON will be a settlement figure and subject to tax and NI as normal.

Only compensatory amounts (if any). Payment in lieu of notice, holiday pay etc are not.

I was there a few years ago OP. I also had the same shock, anger, fear etc. I'd worked there 8yrs, but only about 3 on a permanent contract. If you have an union- contact them. If not, look at the ACAS website for advice. Don't forget any accrued leave.

Remember that the ROLE became redundant, not YOU! I had to keep saying this to myself, and also prep incase I was asked during interviews why I left.

I had started a diet to get a bit fitter just before they gave me notice. Whilst working my notice, I started getting up earlier and doing long walks around the park/beach etc. It was great to clear my head and I ended up losing 10kg. In the end, it was the best thing ever leaving that role, but at the time, I just felt so let down.
Best of luck.

What you said was 30k of any settlement amount was tax free, it's misleading to the OP if her "settlement" is actually just PILON and holiday pay. I was simply explaining.

Being made redundant feels like a body blow, OP. When it happened to me, also with no entitlement to redundancy pay, I did a deal with myself to be super-professional so that I would always be able to look back and know I had behaved impeccably - being courteous, continuing to turn out good work during my notice period, resisting the temptation to moan to colleagues, turning up looking presentable after sleepless nights.

The organisation that made me redundant offered me freelance work. I then went on to freelance for 10 years for other organisations. Freelance wasn't something I had considered at that point so I would now say to someone in your position, keep an open mind, and keep faith that you will find a new job or way to earn your living.

Make sure you take opportunity before you leave to ask colleagues what they think you have achieved in your time there and get some feedback on how you are as a colleague, asking people to give you LinkedIn reviews.

And do you think the OP knows that for sure? Or do you think it's worth clarifying?

”Sorry to hear this. Sounds like they've carefully timed this to fall just short of your 2 year mark...”
@Carrotsandgrapes dont think that’s really fair - they could have just fired her if that was the case. Offering any sort of redundancy sounds to me like they’re at least trying to be nice in an awful situation

Im really sorry OP, it does feel awful (have also been there). If you know you’re good at what you do, you will find something else