Anyone found out by accident they’re to be made redundant

[Lockettree25]

As the title says, I found out from someone I work with that I’m to be made redundant. This was a few weeks ago and I am struggling so much to keep going at work pretending all is fine. I spoke to acas who suggested not to say anything and wait to see what they say. I feel so down, I’m embarrassed that someone else found this out before me & told me, worried about who else knows, I feel so stupid. Every day I feel anxious & stressed. I lie awake trying to work it all out, timescales etc so then I’m exhausted. I just want it to be over with as I’m happy to leave now, I’d just rather not have found out this way!
Just wondered if this has happened to anyone else & what did you do? Feeling very isolated.

@Ncncnca what is an SAR please?

workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/subject-access-request/

Not exactly the same as you but I found out my role was being made redundant when I was included in discussions on restructuring our division, with me being a head of one of the areas included.
In the first meeting I went into my boss presented the slides which showed the new structure and my area was no longer there! Everyone else in the role looked at me and there was a bit of tumbleweed…..
I didn’t say anything about it there and we got on with organising the next level of detail including creating new roles and the role profiles.
Approximately 6 months later I was officially put ‘on notice’ of potentially being made redundant and was told I could apply for other roles in the new structure, some of which I wrote the role profiles for.
They got a shock when I said no thanks, I’m just going to take the money and go, their error was the roles they thought I might go for were just ‘alternative roles’ and not ‘suitable alternative roles’ so no obligation on me to have to try the role out.
At the time in the initial meeting and for a few weeks after it was awkward as people didn’t know what to say to me but I just got on with my job to the best of my ability and considered what did I want. I was lucky that I wanted to go and was able to do so.
Sorry that was a ramble but consider what you want in this situation, even if it is true if doesn’t mean you will end up leaving as it’s the role and not the person redundant and there could be other opportunities. You’ve nothing to be embarrassed about and I agree, I would ask for more information and see if they have carried out the process badly and then go from there.
Sorry you’re in this position.

Your colleague is a nasty cow. This knowledge is power, get on top of your CV now but don't slack off too much just in case the cow has got it wrong.

if the day does come, and you receive the envelope then at that point I would tell management how you found out, that this colleague has been rubbing salt in the wound and you are not happy about her lack of professional and the fact that HR had this discussion within her earshot.

That might come to nothing but she may go down in the estimation of her seniors.

Good luck!

So sorry, it's really hard not to take it personally but knowledge is definitely power as PPs have said. Like someone else said it might be that they'll expect you to reapply/ apply for alternative roles etc so gives you a chance to think about that.

See it as a great opportunity to get your ducks in a row; see what else is out there; is there any work you like to have a copy of etc in case they shut down access - make sure to print out/save down.

However depending on size of your company there should be a consultation (remember it's the 'role' that's being made redundant not you).

The massively paranoid part of me is wondering if they told you as a way of trying to manage you out or get you to quit ahead of the process to avoid payouts?!

Personally I wouldn't say anything, if / when you do get called into a meeting don't agree to anything, just listen and if you can record the conversation.

Good luck, sorry again it's really stressful, I once got made redundant (last in first out) then they tried to retract it as they'd not accounted for someone going on mat leave and realised they needed someone to do the work.

Needless to say I said thanks but no thanks and managed to get something else relatively quickly.

I worked out when a couple of people left and weren't replaced. I do work in this field though so know the signs.

I found out when my CEO (toxic woman) made my director redundant as surplus to requirements now he’d managed a restructure for her. I had access to her inbox as I’d covered for her EA and she’d sent an email to her ELT with a To Do list which included “Paulie W - redundancy?”

Slept (badly!) on it that night. Knew they would try to offer me statutory. Researched other public sector/not for profit packages, then went to see the COO as I had a better relationship with him, and asked for a deal. Took a bit of negotiating and a non-disc agreement but got there. At the same time I’d been applying for jobs, and got an offer the day after I signed the NDA. Had a month off and started on a better job, with a better salary and pension.

The person telling may not be trying to be mean. They may have thought you were better to know so you could get things in order.
I don't really think they should have said something but they may not have done it from a bad motive.

Op, use the time to sort out a new job, and work out what redundancy package you are likely to get and what you may be able to negotiate.

I found out when i heard my line manager talking to another manager about who would be taking over certain aspects of my job. I was the only one who did these things so could only be talking about me. My desk was right outside the managers office and they stupidly left the door open.

So use the knowledge to your advantage whether its getting in early with looking for new jobs and as a previous poster advices - getting your ducks in a row. In my case I had just discovered i was pregnant so made sure I formally told them before they could officially me redundant.(i was leaving anyway after maternity but they didn't need to know that) - resulted in a nice payoff.

Buy an income protection insurance, they are expensive but if you trust your insider information- gamble on it!

I remember years ago I was working somewhere, and my colleague who was senior but newer than me and kept bringing up she was more senior, told me that she had over heard that someone was being made redundant and that it was me. She almost couldn't help herself gloating.

A couple of days later she was taken off to a room and talked to, then they came to get me after she went out. They told me that she was leaving with immediate effect. It wasn't me they were getting rid of but her, she hadn't been doing the job properly from the start.

They may not always be correct.

I also say this as someone who is a staff rep and knows who is being made redundant and who isn't in restructuring etc. She shouldn't be going round telling people what she heard, it could get her in lots of trouble. Until you see it in a letter anything can happen.

I'd feel very lucky to get a headstart with job hunting and put all my energy into that.

Surely the company should be alerting you to possible redundancies. Also ensure that the position is being made 'redundant' not you - they cannot use 'redundancy' to get rid of you and then still have the post (or similar enough to be the same).
Still update your CV and start looking for other jobs.

How long have you been there and what kind of redundancy package might you expect? What kind of work? Any clauses in your contract that prevent you from working in similar companies etc?

If your CR package isn't not enough to live on for several months then I'd start looking for other work now, it is much easier to be a picky and perform well in interview when you don't have immediate financial worries.

If you might be entitled to a significant sum on redundancy then I would approach your boss and make them aware that you have an inkling something is up and ask if they would be open to negotiation on a mutually agreed resignation package. You may save them money on the HR exercise that CR involves and that could also mean more money or better terms for you when you leave.³