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ecause redundancy isn’t something most Redundancy consultations
Bof us have to deal with very often, it can Before you panic, employers can’t just call
be extremely confusing to navigate. Here’s you to their office one day, drop the bomb and
a comprehensive guide to understanding move swiftly on. They’ll need to set up formal
redundancy and what it could mean for you. redundancy consultations, where your boss
will meet with you and explain the situation
Redundancy and unfair dismissal and why they’re letting you go.
Being made redundant is a form of dismissal
from your job. It might be that the company If more than 20 people are being made
no longer needs your role or that it needs to redundant at once, group consultations will
reduce its workforce. There are a few reasons take place. These are a bit more regimented
why this might happen, with some of the most than the independent ones. By law, a trade
common reasons including: union or employee representative will be
present at these meetings.
• A change in direction of the company,
meaning it no longer requires your role. These consultations are also the point at
which you’ll receive your notice period;
• The company is failing and therefore needs you can also raise any questions you have
to make cuts across the business. regarding your rights or pay.
• The company is being taken over or merging Notice of redundancy
with another organisation.
After your employer has told you they’re
It’s important to note that your employer must making you redundant, they will have to give
be fair when selecting who they’re going to you a notice period. Thankfully, they can’t just
make redundant. Sometimes organisations tell you to leave!
will ask whether anyone would like to take a
voluntary redundancy, or they might operate Your notice period is the amount of warning
a last-in, first-out policy. They may also select you’ll receive before your employment
you if your disciplinary records or attendance ends. Note that this period is dependent
aren’t as good as others. on the amount of time you’ve been at the
company. Of course, your employer does
Because your employer must treat employees have the choice to give you more warning
fairly, they can’t dismiss you for discriminatory than you’re entitled to if they wish. This could
reasons such as age, gender or religion. give you longer to prepare for leaving and
start finding a new job.
When dealing with redundancy, be sure to
gather all the information surrounding the Notice periods work as follows:
circumstances. If you feel your employer is
dismissing you unfairly, head to your local • If you’ve worked there between one month
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for professional and two years, you have the right to at least
advice on what to do next. one weeks’ notice of redundancy.
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