Redundant but having to work notice

[AnnaQuayRules]

Has anyone else been in this situation? We've gone through a restructure at work and as a result I am being made redundant.

I have a 3 month notice period and have been told I need to work this - but my job will no longer exist so I have no idea what I'm actually going to be doing for 12 weeks. Or who is going to be line managing me.

Management are refusing to budge. I'm feeling stressed about the whole situation, not just about being made redundant but also about having to work for 3 months alongside colleagues who have secured posts in the new structure. Has anyone successfully challenged this and been allowed "gardening leave" or similar?

I've had to work notice, but always had tasks/work to do, and the same line manager.

Presumably you have to appear at the place of work?

I did.

I was given a few specific (short) tasks / projects to do, helped the team taking over my tasks, closed some stuff down and cleared up properly and faffed around quite a lot, catching up for coffee with old colleagues, taking long lunches etc. It was fine!

I had this and the worst part was I wasn't allowed to tell anyone! I signed an agreement for additional redundancy money which stopped me from talking about it, all the rest of my team were based in other countries but we spoke several times a day and were making plans for 2026 and I couldn't say I wouldn't be there! Eventually I got gardening leave I think just because it was so awkward for our manager who was the only one that knew

@LlynTegid I predominantly WFH, only go into the office once a fortnight usually.

@WarmLilacHiker that's awful! You poor thing

Can you just coast and skip meetings and not do much? Not ideal, but if you have no work then won't be missed? Or how much contractual sick pay do you get? Can you get a sick note?

Ask your manager what you’re expected to do and do it. You should also get time off for interviews and any holiday outstanding if you want to take it rather than be paid it.

Yes. My organisation made a decision not to issue payment in lieu of notice (PILON). They find work for you during your notice period.

I would probably do this. And use the time to job hunt/courses search.

I had to do it for 6 months when they essentially cut out the most experienced/expensive staff as the division was on its last legs (manufacturing sites moved to India). Soul breaking. But I couldn’t walk away from 24 years redundancy payment.

Most of it was spent half heartedly writing procedures/instructions for those left behind to refer to when they hit problems or answer any questions while I was still there.

I used a lot of it to sort out CV, do LinkedIn, job search and applications/research, prepping for interviews, some interviews (for practice as hadn’t done one for 24 years)

I would say don’t look/ask for work to do, but use the time wisely and don’t burn any bridges however tempting.

I had this. Had to turn up for work for 3 months with nothing to do. I used the time to study for a qualification and apply for jobs.

Use the time to do a course and look for other jobs.

Has it all, already been negotiated? I bought my union rep into my meeting when my role was made redundant due to restructure. She picked up a few things and helped me negotiate leaving earlier. Are you in a union?

-Do you have any annual leave to use up? I think you still accrue it whilst working the next few months, so should be able to leave at least a few days earlier
-Take half/whole days off for interviews
-Do a short course or upskill is possible
-I too wouldn't go out of your way to find work to do unless they ask. I spent ages tying things up and researching lots of things to make the next person's life easier. I wrote out a comprehensive hand over to my then manager. I found out she'd thrown it in the bin!
-Remember when you go for other jobs, if asked, 'the ROLE became redundant' rather than saying 'I was made redundant'.
Best of luck x

You are entitled to reasonable time off for job hunting. I would do an awful lot of that.... what's the worst they can do?

I was put on garden leave so that’s a bit rough. We did have colleagues who were made redundant in another company and had to work notice! We went from 23 to 16 staff! They should give you reasonable time off for interviews and job applications! In fact use your time to do that!

I’ve had to do this. I kind of checked out, a lot of work was taken off me so I did what was left over, didn’t ask for anything else, and kept my head down. I also attended interviews and booked appointments with agencies during this time. It wasn’t easy, I guess I just kind of trudged through it. I wasn’t senior enough to get gardening leave.

You have to work your notice otherwise you will be liable for tax on any PILON. If your organisation has it (and if in public sector it wont) you could go on garden leave. In realty they wont expect you to do much so utilise the time as best you can by going to job interviews, learning skills etc. Don;t go off sick, that will be on your record for any future employers, and you may find it hard to get interviews if your status is absent from work.

@Angrybird76 PILON is taxable whether or not you’re being made redundant. It’s only statutory redundancy pay that is non taxable (and then there is a threshold beyond which tax is paid but few of us get that far!)

If you are legitimately stressed, you can legitimately go off sick with stress.

Depending on how sympathetic your GP is, and whether you cry in front of the GP, you may get a sick note for 3 or 4 weeks.

I had to but there were several of us going and several staying in our dept so we just found things to do, but it was fairly light on actual work, however it was actually quite a relief to just have it all finalised and enjoy spending our last few weeks together without all the fear and doubt that had gone before, plus being allowed to apply for jobs etc in work time, longer than usual lunch breaks etc. No WFH though, it was a fully onsite job.

Have you checked the notice is correct as it’s often different to the notice you’d have to give if you were resigning. Redundancy is essentially the org dismissing you. For example, if I resigned I’d have to give 12 weeks notice but my employer only had to give me 1 week as I’ve not been there over 2 years.

Yep, happened to me. Did the bare minimum to be honest.

I had to do this. I did the bare minimum. Used to set up meetings with myself and go for a nap.

No don’t use annual leave! You should get paid for unused annual leave in your final pay.

I'd do what I was asked,and that's it. I'd focus on getting my CV in great order, applying for jobs (and hopefully interviewing,) and doing any online training that's available.

I was given a week's notice and PILON, so I spent my week clearing out my laptop of any docs I wanted (training materials etc), and organising my leaving parties... (plural, in different locations.)