Just had a phonecall calling me to a meeting tomorrow where I will be formally told my job is redundant

[weddingdress]

I work for a large organisation in a v junior management position. For last 8 years I have done this 2 days per week. I consider myself lucky to have been able to work in such an interesting and remunerative (relative to other p-t work) with such family friendly hours.

Senior Manager called and summoned me to a meeting (on my day off!) with the 5 others who do the same role in our region. Only thing he would say (when pressed) was that it's not good news and HR will be there. We have known for a while that our role doesn't really fit in the new structure and that they need to cut costs.

I expect to be offered the opportunity to apply for other jobs internally or to take voluntary redundancy. With redundancy being the only option of not successful with an application within, say, 3 months. (They have already done this with more senior roles)

The other jobs available are unlikely to be perfectly suited to p-t working (which are?) so I feel that I will be at considerable disadvantage here. So, my question is, is there anything I can do about that?

I would consider increasing my hours if that helps, but as they need to cut headcount, seems unlikely that will be on offer.

Not an expert on the law but..if there are others in your region in the same role being made redundant, you could consider teaming up with one to apply for one of the vacancies as a job share - if any of them are also working part time that is.

So long as you can work well together job shares are a great way of still being able to do management jobs part time.

weddingdress as a part timer you do have specific protection in that your part time status can't be used as a reason for selection for redundancy. However it sound as though your roles are all being eliminated and your hours are nothing to do with it, is that right? You are all being made redundant but, quite rightly, being given the opportunity to apply for other jobs that may be vacant elsewhere within the company. Have I understood that correctly?

If the roles you could apply for are nothing to do with the role you are doing now, I think offering to increase your hours so that you can do one of those roles is a perfectly valid thing to do. Presumably there are x jobs available, so it doesn't matter that much whether they are filled by someone who happens to be full time or part time, other than the fact that making an existing full time member of staff redundant will obviously cost more. But if you can do a full time job in less hours that's cheaper obviously so from that point of view you may have an advantage.

Yes, thank you flowery - the only way the p-t status affets things is that I think it will be difficult to get one of the vacant positions. I am the only person I know of who works full time in our division and there has been considerable resistance to p-t working for some time. No-one has been allowed to come back p-t after ML since I did and I have been "reminded" how lucky I am on a number of occasions.

I expect I know the answer to this (clutches at straws) but does the fact that I have 12 full-time years, before my 8 part-time ones, make any difference to the redundancy payment calculations?

Fraid not. Redundancy pay is based on your current earnings. A good way to think of it is in terms of a bit of compensation for loss of future earnings, which of course would be at the rate you are on now.

If you've got 20 years' service that should be a reasonably decent pay-out though.

Flowery, thank you for your help on this.

I now have my letter . I have to tick one of 3 boxes:

1. Voluntary redundancy (OK package exit date 3 Aug)
2. Apply for 1 of 3 vacancies at the same grade/salary as I'm currently on. Completely different job which doesn't appeal to me TBH and in any case c. 30 people could apply for the 3 jobs 3)apply for one of several jobs that are a grade lower and would involve a significant pay cut and also does not really appeal.

If I go for the VR, I can still apply for any other jobs that are advertised internally and if successful can withdraw my VR application at any time up until 3 Aug. There are a number of jobs advertised ATM that do appeal, but are all full-time. It may be possible to negotiate some reduction i.e term-time only, but unlikely to be 2 days pw. If I was to apply for and be offered one of these full-time jobs, but then decide I couldn't take it up because of the hours, would they then be able to say I wasn't eligible for the package as I had been offered alternative employment?

The alternative employment would have to be 'suitable', which usually means on the same or similar terms and conditions, including hours. So if you don't agree as part of a job offer to increase your hours, then the offer wouldn't be 'suitable'.

Having said that, as it is voluntary redundancy package, they can put terms and conditions on it, which usually involves reserving the right to refuse it but could also include something about applying for and being offered a different job. I suggest if/when you apply, you make it clear that you want to negotiate reduced hours, and think carefully about what you would accept beforehand. I would also suggest you double check with them that, as you would be increasing hours, unless and until you have mutually agreed any change in hours for a new job, your VR package still stands.

Redundancy package offered at Company include any new job which is deemed suitable can be taken on a 4 week trial period, if not suitable then can leave and keep the VR package offered. Needs to be 'good reason' though to end but this seems a fair way. This can also be extended to 8 weeks trial if mutually agreed. Maybe with the exit date being a few months away you could negotiate something like this to any new roles you apply for?