I might be being made redundant....UPDATE

[karen_moomin]

Today is a very strange day for me, mixed emotions and generally very weird. The main reason for my post is to get it off my chest and just to see if anyone has any advice on redundancy.

You may remember a couple of weeks ago I posted about not being given an inflation payrise due to company changes (we have been bought out by our parent company, a multi-million pound oil distributor).

Today, a couple of our new directors were in our offices, and we were all interviewed by them. I had no idea this would be happening and was totally unprepared for what they said.

They didn't mess around or beat around the bush. I was told that they would be closing the premises and relocating to Yorkshire. Would I be prepared to move? (no way) or would I be prepared to work in a field sales role? (no way). They asked me if I'd be prepared to train someone else for a few months (not the sort of job you can "train" people on, taken me 3 and a half years to get where I am now).

I am finding it difficult to get my head round how quickly everything is happening. One minute I have a job and it's very secure and the next minute I'm being told in a couple of months I won't have a job.

The outcome on the future of the company is on the 24th Feb, so nothing is official yet. Apart from being offered to relocate, I guess the only alternative is to be made redundant?

I'm angry and upset, but on the other hand I'm happy at the prospect of new opportunities (I had been thinking about leaving for ages). However, I'm scared, because I have a mortgage to pay. I feel very confused and weird about the whole thing though, I can't explain it!

I'm on a 2 month notice period. I am going to research redundancy pay and decide if I'm better off handing my notice in before they can make me redundant.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Does anyone know of a good website about redundancy, as I don't know where to start.

[sanchezz_182]

stealing everything that isnt bolted down, an if it unbolt it an take it anyway!! thats what i would do
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[lumphammer]

Check out this site:

https://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment/redundancy.htm

Whatever you do don't quit before they make you redundant. As you have been there for over 3 years you will be entitled to redundancy pay.

At least you know it's coming - my g/f was given 1 hours notice.

[yambabe]

Go to the DTI website for advice. https://www.dti.gov.uk/er/redundancy.htm

(note to self: must learn to do the "URL" thing!)

It's a scary feeling having the security blanket whipped out from under your feet, but try to stay positive and look on it as a fresh start rather than a sad end. Now you get to go out and do what you really want to do but were always maybe a little scared to before?

Don't worry about your mortgage either. Temp jobs are easy to get at the moment and even if it's only a stopgap you shouldn't have any difficulty making enough to pay the bills.

Good luck, and welcome to your new life!
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[nrml76]

Do you have an income protection plan to cover your mortgage? If not, it might be a good idea to negotiate a mortgage holiday with the lender now itself, rather than risk not paying and the problems it would bring up. Wishing you the very best.

[BigChris]

[Aikman666]

Just hand in your notice...steal what you can (laptop, desktop, stapler?). Then smack your manager! Job done!
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Good luck.

Firstly it depends on the redundancy package. The min is pretty useless, but most reasonable size companies will offer rather more.

If the redudancy package is pretty poor then consider relocating, even if it is just a tempory measure and you commute for a while (depends where in Yorkshire, Sheffield is commuteable, Hull probably isn't). Or even do what Charlotte does and commute for the week. This way you have far longer to look for a job.

DO NOT just hand your notice in. If you do that then any payment insurance (such as on your mortgage) will not cover you.

Good luck.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[MarJay]

Don't leave, let them make you redundant.

1) Its easier to say to your new employer that you were made redundant rather than left without having another job lined up

2) you'll be throwing away your redundacy package.

If I were you, I'd get looking at jobs now.

I know that when Bendy was made redundant (she had been dreading it for ages) she suddenly felt relieved and saw it as a new start rather than a disaster.

Its probably the jolt you need to go and get your dream job!
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Paivi]

Sorry to hear the news, Karen!

Like lumphammer said, don't quit, as that way you're left with nothing. Unfortunately, I know several people who've been made redundant over the last few years, and the minimum amount they've got was three months (she was more than happy with this, having only been there four months!). Legally, I think they're only supposed to pay you one week for every year you've worked there, but for goodwill, they'll probably pay more.

When I was made redundant a few years ago, the company paid for me to go and get legal advice, saying that they have to. I have my own lawyer (quite handily, specialising in employment law), and they paid his bill without questions. They also paid for a three-month period at an Outplacement consultancy, which included several sessions with a career advisor, in case I wanted to think about my options. You'll also then have access to computers, printers, phone (all paid for by your company), and several experts in the field.

Don't worry too much about your mortgage: if you don't have payment protection (do you not have to have this?), apply for job seekers allowance immediately, as well as housing benefit and council tax benefit. This way, hopefully your mortgage and council tax are covered, so any settlement you'll have will cover the bills until you find a new job or are ready to set off to a new career.

Hope it will all work out for you, Karen, as I have been there myself and know how traumatic it can be!

[Shaun]

[msgander]

find out what redundancy policy they have, ie statutory redundancy pay ie (max of £280) per week's redundancy they owe you or do they have a company policy...

PM me your age and length of service and I will give you a figure!

Dont leave, take any redundancy money due your way.....you wont benefit by leaving in anyway at all....
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Always believe that your guardian angel flies a bit faster than you...............

[Adam_P]

I've been made redundant four times now Karen, don't worry, its not as scary as it initially seems.

As everyone else has said, take the redundancy, you should get everything you'r entitled to.

Everytime I'd been in a job for a year or less though, so I didn't get anything. If you can't get a temp job immediately, my only other advice would be to sign on as soon as you can. That way you'll get stamp and other things paid for you.

On the mortgage front, not sure as I don't have one. But others have given advice and I would have thought if you tell the bank what's going on they'll actually be able to help you rather than suddenly becoming harsh about it.
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[R6jonny]

[karen_moomin]

Thanks for all the support and advice, it's much appreciated.

Having slept on it, I still feel weird. But I'm excited about the future.

I didn't take out income protection, as my words to my financial adviser were: "I will clean toilets for a living if necessary". And I will. There are plenty of jobs out there, I will do anything. I don't need to sign on. In fact, I refuse to sign on!

Luckily, I have very low outgoings (no loans or anything either, and no debt) or else I would be very scared right now. I also have McJam who pays rent, two part time jobs (not much £), and McJam has said he will support me temporarily if necessary. So in that respect I'm a very lucky bunny.

I'm going to look into the redundancy links (thanks!) and see what's what. I just wondered that because I'm on a two month notice period, if it would be better to hand that in and do some "garden leave". That way I'll get at least 2 months wages which I'm guessing is more than a redundancy pay out.

[msgander]

if you hand in notice, there is no guarantee (unless they have told you they are happy to pay you) that they will give you garden leave, you could end up having to travel etc!

Sit tight and wait for their offer....!
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Always believe that your guardian angel flies a bit faster than you...............

[akaDAVE]

I was made redundant a few years ago. It was the best thing that could have happened. I was miserable in a company that was on its last legs and I needed a kick up the arse anyway and with a few grand in my pocket in summer it was great.
My girlfriend has just been made redundant and it looks like it will be a positive thing for her to move on.
It is always going to be a shock to have to look for another job suddenly when it's all you've know for the last few years but you'll be just fine.
Don't see it as a negative thing, it is simply the movements of a business.
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GSXR600

[Gti]

[greatmoorred]

sorry to be a miserable bugger, but.
I was made redundant 14 months ago, with the usual 2 hours notice. Which after 6 years was a bit of blow.
The last year has been a nightmare, jobs wise. There are no jobs in printing in my area, so i have had to go back to building. Taking various crappy jobs for awful wages while i try and get things sorted.
Im not looking for sympathy, before anyone flames me. Im just saying that all this happy clappy "a new start" stuff is not necessarily the case.
Good luck.

[biker-dj]

Hold out for redundancy whatever you do IMO, I used to work on the Channel Tunnel and had redundancy hanging over my head for a year but surprisingly when it came it was a huge relief. It's not a fun time but I am sure if the worst comes to the worst you will find a new direction career wise, usually something good comes out of an uncertain situation. Good luck and don't let this predicament get you down
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Ride with the music!

[karen_moomin]

Well, it seems things are finally happening.

Tomorrow in the post I am going to receive a "pack" which will tell me what I already know because my boss already sneaked me a photocopy which I have here.

The pack is a letter from the new MD telling us about the new structure of the company which, surprise surprise, includes the closure of the office I work in and all operations will be based in Bradford where our other existing office is.

Our jobs (there are 4 of us based in the closing office) will be up for "job selection process" and we are invited to apply for them, should we wish.

There is NO mention of redundancy.

We have been invited to an entire company meeting on Monday to discuss the new structure, and challenge it if we want to.

I have no intention of commuting to Bradford (it would cost me around £5k net per year, plus I'd have no life). So the way the letter reads, if I don't want to move/commute to Bradford, then I have to 'leave'.

I am worried about not getting redundancy, but my dad is positive that a relocation entitles you to redundancy.

So confused!!

PS. To make matters worse, 1000 people have been made redundant at North Staffs Hospital, so my competition for a new job has just increased dramatically.

[Itchy]

[Kickstart]

Hi

They can move you (depending on the contract, but generally) to work a reasonable distance from home. According to work the official view is that an hour to and hour and a quarter commuting time is reasonable.

I think if they want you to go further than that then they would either need to pay you in some way for it (relocation package, etc) or make you redundant (or just get rid of you,giving you a watertight case against them for unfair dismissal).

Don't think they can get out of giving you redundancy, although they can get away with paying you the legal min. However even if they did that then you have been made redundant which has various benefits advantages over just leaving.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Mrs Kickstart]

Hi,

I would wait and see what is said on Monday, dont them rush you to a decision (if they try it will be in their favour !) and proabably not apply for a position if you dont want it (if they offered it you could lose any notice/redunancy you have)

You probably have legal cover with your house insurance if you need some proper advice on what is and is not legal but you will need your contract for this.

Hope it turns out ok
Regards
C
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[Flip]

Good luck with whatever happens K.