Would I get my redundancy money if.....

[JackBannister]

My company is reducing its workforce in a re-structure following a takeover of another company last year. All employees will have to undergo an assessment centre for the reduced number of jobs available.

We have been told that we must attend the assessment centre even if we want the voluntrary redundancy package otherwise we will forfeit the package.

Will not attending the interviews due to sickness (with doctors note)/pre-booked annual leave, when one wants to take redundancy forfeit rights to the package? Other employees who registered an interest in VR within a specified tight timeframe, in a similar role, have had their VR confirmed.

Please advise
many thanks

if they have said you forfeit the right is it really worth taking the risk?

They can put whatever conditions they like on a voluntary package. Why are you sooo keen to get out of the assessment centre. Do it and put up with it for the money .

Sorry, I don't think I was too clear.The company have said that refusal to attend forfeits redundancy. However, the assessment centres are due to be held over 8 working days over Easter. Many people have taken annual leave and a friend of mine is currently off sick and worried about what will happen if she can't attend as the company want all assessments completed by a certain date. therefore, if someone cannot attend due to a genuine reason but want VR, how does the company in this instance proceed?

It's really completely up to them. As Ribena said they can put whatever conditions they like on VR. No one has a right to it, the company will alway retain the right to refuse the package to people who volunteer, otherwise you might end up with entire departments leaving or all the good people and none of the rubbish people.

How the company proceeds is entirely up to them, I would suggest your friend makes clear that she is requesting VR and speaks to her manager/someone in HR about whether by being off sick on the assessment day she will lose that opportunity.