I've just been made redundant

[alicatsg]

and am the sole breadwinner. Is apparently nothing to do with me but just the state of the business.

This is after a 6 week review of our business by an independent consultant who has now just been appointed as MD of the team I used to run as director.

I'm so gutted. No purpose to the post really just wanted to tell someone what a shoddy day I'm having.

Tell your solicitor NOW

Just spoke to him. He was icily calm (always a good sign for me). But he is insisting I stay in the office as much as I can because he says it does make a huge difference to their discomfort and therefore likelihood to pay more. Which given had I left when they wanted I'd never have known about the new TweedleDum and Dee seems to be right.

But its really hard to be here.

Of course it is. It must be absolutely horrible. Believe me, you will have your revenge and it will be unutterably sweet.

What I can't understand is how they make you redundant, and bring in two people at your level. Could you not have been re-deployed? Are your talents sooooo specialist that you could not make a sideways step to fill one of those roles.

I admit it seems fishy to me.

They are now almost certainly acting unlawfully! Just stick it out in the office knowing that every second is going to be a valuable one in the longer term!
Surreptitiously monitor what the new bods do - as many things in common with what you do as you can spot or list. Calm your nerves with thisn mantra 'com-pen-sation...com-pen-sation...'.

We WILL we WILL get them.

'to the cleaners to the cleaners to the cleaners to the cleaners...'

Has any mention ever been made of your maternity/childcare arrangements?

Blimey ALicatsq this just beggers belief! Do they really think they can get away with this?

How's it going alicatsg?

long mtg with the lawyer today and we have our stratgey for going back to them agreed. The company I work for has put me under a strict non-disclosure agreement in order to continue discussions - I can only discuss my current status with DH and lawyer. Oh and they havea clause about not seeking other employment until 30 days after the termination agreement is agreed which I am contesting big time.

It just seems to go on and on and I really want it to all be over. I can't tell you how bloody tired I am.

alicatsq - even if you can't talk about the details, don't forget we're here if you just need a general vent! Good luck with it all - hope it doesn't drag on.....

its dragging , its dragging. Looks like the termination date will now slip by another 2 weeks. My job search is stalling in front of me. I'm really panicing today.

they are being petty to require you not to seek work for 30 days after the agreement! Compare it to the fact that not only have they not waited 30 days to recruit, they have already recruited other people!

I hope you stick to your guns and get a settlement that you are satisfied with. Even if you can't discuss the negotiations, can you start another thread on hypothetical situations? maybe check with your lawyer first!

my lawyer is arguing that till I sign the agreement I'm only bound by my contract of employment which doesn't say anywhere that I can't look for work. However if I have "reasonable expectations of employment" then I have to declare them and they will have an effect on the final settlement figure.

UGH UGH UGH

surely you are not required to reveal anything to your employers -other than anything required under the contract of employment? Besides, what if you have a good chance of getting a job, reveal this info, agree a lesser sum and the new job falls through?! (not that any new job will fall through, I am just using it as an illustrative example of what could happen to someone else).

I know - the whole thing makes no sense. However am off to a sssshhhh top secret interview and currently am wearing jeans and trainers... now have to get to pal's office to change into suit, heels and attitude, get to the interview and then back to her office, change and ..... flipping stupid but if I wore a suit they'd be onto me like a shot.

Oh and what do I say to these people when they ask why I'm looking? "I've been made redundant but can't tell you why due to legal negotiations but please feel free to look at this blogsite where the whole sordid story is posted and by the way I didn't post it there because I'm under an NDA?!"

ok ... have stopped ranting.... am going to go out and get killer job with prospects and no idiots.... see y'all tomorrow

OK so next update. HR bunny is now back from her lovely holiday, all tanned and sparky. So we met to discuss their pathetic offer and she accuses me of stalling - um... hang on, did I go off for a week in the sun in the middle of being made redundant? er no, I think she did.

Then she claimed that me raising the pay discrepancy 3 separate times with my line manager wasn't actually formally raising a query and so indicates that I was happy with the situation. WTF???

so now we're getting nasty. so much fun.

I see you are moving into the 'I am sooo going to enjoy taking vast quantities of money from you - especially as you have just insulted me by assuming that I am dim to work out when you are telling blatant lies' phase. I am really rooting for you here - remember to write down all these choice things that they are coming out with!

OK so we have resolution! They are paying me a substantial amount of money to shut up and go away, and are releasing me from all my non-compete clauses. Just suddenly the company seems to have completely folded! So this is my last day here and the team are being fantastic.

So ok I can't retire but at least I don't have to worry financially for the next year, AND I've got loads of interviews and even a couple of job offers. So it does actually look like we may yet survive all this!

Seriously - thanks to all on Mumsnet who have tolerated my rants and moans. It has been invaluable.

ps final irony - our 360 appraisals just came in - I scored top percentile across the board. Tosser was bottom quadrant. Am small enough person to admit this gives me HUGE satisfaction.

I am very pleased that despite the obvious upset and hurt of all this, you are going to end up ok.

WEll done - and very ewll done in your 360 appraisal - you should be very proud.

SURELY this can be sybtley pointed out to someone???? (HR?) It must be leverage, because with that kind of data, you could easily take then to court, no?

ALicatsg - THis whole situation has been disgraceful!

Thank goodness its resolved, but how many women DON'T fight????

WELL DONE! on your behalf.

I'm throwing a massive party next week for the team. I've been very spiteful and asked my boss to tell Tosser that he is not welcome.

Honestly, I would never have believed how badly a company could behave if I hadn't gone through this. Its been an eye opener.

WELL DONE!!! Enjoy the party next week

UPDATE for those interested! I just got a better paid, less hours job with their biggest rival after just 7 days out of a job!! YEEEHAH!