Aware of plan to eliminate my role at end of the year - WWYD

[WinterIsComing2025]

I have become aware that I am imminently going to be made redundant. Can’t reveal too much about how as it’s going to be potentially outing but I have evidence that the company will eliminate my role this year - risk of redundancy has not been communicated to me. I have been working for the company for 4 years.

I’m completely astonished that my employer is careless enough to have let this slip out in this way.

Apart from obviously needing to look for a new role, what would you suggest I do in response to being aware of what’s being planned? Do I respond to the information I have in writing? Or say silent and just wait for the inevitable. What can I start preparing to help myself during the redundancy consultation?

What would you do in my position?

I'd upskill and see what you'd get as a package. Might not happen though.

What's the evidence?

Say nothing.

Start job hunting. Depending on your role it might take longer than you think to get something new. 4 years won't be a big package.

It’s a document confirming the plan to eliminate my role. I can’t say more than that but it’s clear and objective evidence that a decision has been made to eliminate my role and that I will no longer be employed at the end of the year.

Are there likely to be other roles opening up, is it a restructure?

Does your manager no they’ve released this to you?

Oh, in that case, that's bad.

presumably, you came across it by accident, or by somebody else's cock up (accidentally divulging it)?

I'd go and see your boss and watch them squirm.

Hopefully, it'll give you time to save, upskill and on the plus side, you should be in for a good payout. Hopefully you're young and will be re-employed in no time, if not, then public sector or third sector would be your best best for a new job.

I'd start applying for jobs and look forward to a pay out. At least you've been given the heads up early. I wouldn't bring it up with boss...not really sure what that'd achieve?

Just start looking for jobs and wait for a payout

Start applying for jobs now. If and when you get one, ask for a start date in the new year - likely now anyway - take your redundancy and go.
And, look for temp agencies that can line something up for you for then.

I don’t know at the moment, will only know more when it’s formally communicated. Which is why I’d like to start preparing my questions now.

Be polite and gracious
When they tell you, say that's a shame but obviously you'll keep giving 100% until they want you to leave. Be friendly and upbeat - make them relieved.
Then ask if there'll be any package of training or cv review.
Because it's going to happen so get as much as you can.
I found out equally brutally. So hugs

I think it’s incredibly stupid of them. It got me thinking about how a meaningful redundancy consultation could ever occur when I have something in writing making it clear that I will be gone.

The only reason for bringing it up to HR would be if this had any legal consequences - I thought there were set rules for how to determine and communicate redundancies. And yes, I’d like to make them squirm for being so stupid and also insensitive.

1. Say nothing
2. Start looking
3. Try and time it so you get redundancy and then start new job

optional

1. Go to a GP sign off with stress and jobs hunt full time
2. Use the document to negotiate higher payout with immediate exit.

Wait until they put you at risk of redundancy. Present the document showing that the decision has already been made, that the consultation is therefore a sham and decisions are pre-determined. Wait for them to pay you off. Look for a new job in the meantime between now and then so you can get a bigger pay-out and go straight into something else (if you want to)
Sorry they are so incompetent.

That’s what I was thinking.There’s no point in pretending to have a meaningful consultation. The final decision is clearly made. Which I know is not unusual. It’s just that I have the evidence of it.

Well it's already the end of Oct so they'll need to get their skates on if they really intend to do this. There has to be a consultation period first.

Are you sure this is a fixed plan.

But in any case, update your cv, LinkedIn page and Totaljobs and Indeed profiles.

Start putting feelers out to ex-colleagues who may be able to help you find a new role. Consider your financial situation, review any major planned spends if you are not secure. Clear your credit card.

Good luck.

I wouldn't say anything. There's a chance they may be planning to offer you another role ?

To be honest, none of these 'consultations' are really consultations are they? IME once they have decided what they want to do, that is it. I would get all your ducks in a row and when they start negotiations, produce the doc and use it to negotiate a better settlement.

It’s clear from the document I have that they will not be offering me another role.

Yes that’s my feeling too. But they have to be seen to have a meaningful consultation I think, maybe some with HR skills will come along and confirm.

I was going to post exactly the same as this.

Let them start consultation, bang on about decision not final, trying to avoid redundancy - exploring all options blah blah

Then show them that document and invite them to discuss a settlement.

There’s plenty of time. They need to inform me before the end of November, allow 2 weeks for a ‘consultation’ then they can pay in lieu of notice and it’s all done.

Does that meet the criteria for constructive dismissal? It can be proven to not be a fair and confidential process for redundancy which you’re entitled to. You’d probably have to be resigning pretty quickly after discovering this though. Might be worth asking an employment law specialist.