In today’s climate of economic instability, being made redundant is a very real concern for more and more people. This is where sound redundancy advice and knowledge about the legality of redundancy procedures can go a long way in easing the stress of this ordeal.
What is redundancy?
When an employer needs to reduce their workforce, they are forced to dismiss employees and make them redundant. This can occur for a number of reasons – the job no longer exists, the job has been made unnecessary by a new system; the company needs to cut costs and cut down on staff members; or the business is moving or closing down. If this happens to you, take a proactive step in seeking redundancy advice. If you have been made redundant, you must be sure to take redundancy advice and know your rights on the issue.
Your redundancy rights:
Firstly, you have a right to consultation; this means that your employer must consult with you before they make you redundant. During this consultation, your employer should tell you why you have been selected as a redundancy candidate and allow you to suggest alternatives to redundancy. If your employer fails to do this, your dismissal from your job could count as an unfair dismissal.
Your employer must also provide redundancy advice for collective redundancies (when an employer makes over 20 staff members redundant at one time). Before initiating a collective redundancy, the employer must consult the relevant representatives or unions of the employees. If they do not do this, then the employees should make an Employment Tribunal claim where they may be entitles to up to 90 days’ worth of pay.
When selecting employees for redundancy, the employer must use an objective and fair process and offer redundancy advice and consultation to the affected employees. A redundancy should be based on evidence, and if this is not the case, the redundancy may be deemed unfair, allowing the employee to take the matter to an Employment Tribunal.
Being made redundant can be a less than pleasant experience, but it is important that you take this redundancy advice to ensure that your dismissal was fair and justified.