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Redundancy Confusion

9 replies

thetinygnome · 20/09/2025 17:30

Hi all, desperate for some clarity and unfortunately HR aren’t being very forthcoming! I’ll try to keep this as brief as I can.
Last week our entire staff team were called into a meeting to be told that there was going to be a big restructure and that we would receive emails later that day. I received an email that evening telling me that my role is at risk. The email said that ‘as your role is unique to the organisation, we have not applied selection criteria. We did consider ‘bumping’ of more junior roles but decided it would not be appropriate in the circumstances’. The email includes a copy of the proposed new organisational chart. It also goes on to say that my role and a more senior role are both at risk, with one combined role emerging. There are four posts that would sit under this new role.
Everyone else that I have spoken to that is at risk was also sent a list of roles they may wish to consider. I wasn’t. I received a copy of the job description for the role that is being created from my current role and the more senior role yesterday along with an email that said ‘please take time to review the draft job description and prepare any questions you may have ahead of (meeting date)’.
I am assuming that I have been sent this job description so that I can see the rationale for getting rid of my current role. It’s pretty obvious to me that I will be going. Is the meeting simply to give me a chance to suggest ways I could keep my role (which seems a bit futile really, but I understand there are boxes that need to be ticked). The new structure makes sense to me and I’ve got no urge to go in and embarrass myself by pretending that it doesn’t. So should I just be asking about redundancy pay, notice periods, that sort of thing? It’s hard to prepare for something you’re not entirely sure the purpose of.

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ThisAmberOrca · 20/09/2025 17:32

It means that you and the person with the more senior role are competing for the job.
For my organisation, it would be pretty open on who gets it - i’ve seen both the person in the more junior and the person in the more senior role getting the new role in the end.
Don’t give up the fight!

ThisAmberOrca · 20/09/2025 17:34

You are likely cheaper and potentially better qualified for the new role- it depends on the exact description. Have a good look if you would feel comfortable in the new role - and then apply.
If not, its a case of negotiating redundancy terms.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 20/09/2025 17:36

It means you are competing with the other person for the job, have you spoken to them at all? Are you really that certain they will pick them and not you?

thetinygnome · 20/09/2025 17:40

I know that the more senior person is definitely not in the running for it.
From everything that’s been communicated I’ve read it as ‘your role is being absorbed into this one, we aren’t considering you for any others’. For example, I know that the positions under this new role have been suggested to a few other people, along with the roles that are more closely matched to them. Surely if they had any intention of keeping me on they would make it clear that they would consider me for the new role but also suggest one of the positions underneath it?

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thetinygnome · 20/09/2025 17:41

ToKittyornottoKitty · 20/09/2025 17:36

It means you are competing with the other person for the job, have you spoken to them at all? Are you really that certain they will pick them and not you?

Absolutely positive. The more senior person had a separate meeting that morning.
This person is also my partner so I know what was said 😂

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ToKittyornottoKitty · 20/09/2025 17:41

It sounds more obvious that they expect you to get the new role if the more senior person isn’t in the running

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 20/09/2025 17:48

They have to go through the process of consultation, hence the meeting. Sometimes in redundancy, there’s a matrix and other roles are thrown into the mix, but them saying that they have considered and ruled out ‘bumping’ means that they don’t think that would work for you. See what they say at the meeting, ask if there are other vacancies you can be considered for, and have a think about whether there are other roles that your skill set would work in and ask why you haven’t been considered for those.

Best of luck.

ThisAmberOrca · 20/09/2025 19:03

They wouldn’t offer you a role reporting to the new role if they have you earmarked for the more senior role.
Much more painful all around to downgrade someone comparing to what is same level/promotion

thetinygnome · 20/09/2025 19:21

Thanks for the thoughts all, I appreciate them.

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