Redundancy - my rights?

[Dave20046]

What a jolly ****ing start to 2009, my first living memory of 2009 is someone nutting me and running off - I should've guessed that was a bad omen. We got the dreaded email of death today 'A letter from the managing director'.

It was basically to the affect of
'since things are bad at the moment we aren't making enough (apart from taking on a 30 year old suited bloke with a beamer in sales yesterday) so want to bin all the scrotes that we don't make enough of a margin on. You'll be fired asap'

I work for a small private company who do IT, sales makes the big bucks but we turn over by repairing machines for manufacturers under their warranty and general day to day repairs + going out serving support to schools and businesses in the area (my job). Be it being their inhouse support for so many days a week or trouble shooting their network etc. However recently I've been plonked on a morning a week at a school that the boss hates having the contract for, he's been having a go at me all week for no reason, for example parking on a yellow line (in my own car).

My main question is how does this redundancy thing go? I've been there a bit less than a year. What am I supposed to do or say when I get called in? A colleague recommended not to stab.

Any help .org?

[Thingus]

Sorry i don't know the rights. But if you've only been there less than a year i'd be wary if/when you go in.
Know your rights but don't shout them all over.
Two people who have been at my place for about 10 months, contracted and full/part time, were let go with no notice and one weeks pay last week. If that can happen here, (within a global wholesale company) then i'm sure it could happen there.

Sorry to hear all that bud, good luck an' all.

[ThEGr33k]

Ah carp. Sorry to hear about your plight!

I cant help with your main question unfortunatly... Keep me/us upto date on how it goes with finding another job as when I come out of the RAF near the end of this year its a similar job field ill be coming out into! So id like to see what chances of getting jobs ill get. :rolleyes:

[Viney]

What a jolly ****ing start to 2009, my first living memory of 2009 is someone nutting me and running off - I should've guessed that was a bad omen. We got the dreaded email of death today 'A letter from the managing director'.

It was basically to the affect of
'since things are bad at the moment we aren't making enough (apart from taking on a 30 year old suited bloke with a beamer in sales yesterday) so want to bin all the scrotes that we don't make enough of a margin on. You'll be fired asap'

I work for a small private company who do IT, sales makes the big bucks but we turn over by repairing machines for manufacturers under their warranty and general day to day repairs + going out serving support to schools and businesses in the area (my job). Be it being their inhouse support for so many days a week or trouble shooting their network etc. However recently I've been plonked on a morning a week at a school that the boss hates having the contract for, he's been having a go at me all week for no reason, for example parking on a yellow line (in my own car).

My main question is how does this redundancy thing go? I've been there a bit less than a year. What am I supposed to do or say when I get called in? A colleague recommended not to stab.

Any help .org?

Tons of stuff here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/index.htm

However, under a year, you are entilted to basicaly nothing. They could say to you, dont come in tomorrow and there would be nothing you can do about it. Employment law really kicks in after 12 months full service.
Check out the website and you should be able to find the answers you are looking for.

[jamesterror]

Hi,

I'm new here but this is what the law stats, under Employement Rights Act 1996 - "You must generally have at least two years continuous service with your employer to qualify for a payment."

Link;

http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/employment-legislation/employment-guidance/page15686.html#General_rules_on_length_of_service

[Dave20046]

Cheers for your comments guys.
I've looked at the links but as already stated it looks like a case of 'what rights?' :(

[shonadoll]

I'm sorry, that's crap news. I hope they at least give you some sort of pay out.

[Dave20046]

I'm sorry, that's crap news. I hope they at least give you some sort of pay out.
It's not looking likely :( Ho hum hopefully find something, if not then it may be a case of selling my vehicles and setting sail to find a job further afield.

[Thingus]

Phone citizens advice? Suppose that's what they're there for, amongst other things.

[seedy100]

I went through this about a year ago.
****e times Iam afraid.

One of the best places to go for info is about your rights is ACAS

www.acas.org.uk (http://www.acas.org.uk)

Read as much as you can from their advice to EMPLOYERS as well as that to employees (you will see the advice that they are getting).

You should also be able to talk to an Acas advisor, but I guess they may be a bit busy at the moment!

Good luck

[lily]

First off sorry to hear this. All i can do is tell you what we recently did at work.

Anybody with under two years service (the lenght of service you need to qualify) got a payment made to them of their notice period (most of us were on a month). If they signed a compromise agreement we paid them tax free.

Anybody who had over two years service got paid their notice period plus how ever much Stautory Redudancy pay they were intitled to. They also got offered it on a compromise agreement.

However by signing a compromise agreement means you sign any rights away to come back at the company.

You also have the right to know (if they do pick you) what their qualifiying system is and how they have reached their decision about who goes.

If they are getting rid of a certain % of people they have to have a consultation period to which nobody can be told who is leaving until the end of the period (as technically no decisions should have been made)

I beleive in theory that they can't tell you in your first meeting that you are redundant and to go home!!!! (doesn't mean they won't) but if they do, tell them that you are going to go home to think about your options, and you would like a second meeting. Then go to find advice from somebody!

Hope this helps, and i hope you don't get bad news

Lily x

[Biker Biggles]

You need to check exactly how it applies to your case but with less than 12 months service you have very few rights.There are some exceptions,like if your dismissal is based on discrimination(sex race etc)but dont hold your breath.

[richie95]

normally a week salary for every year service, if under a year, get nothing, you might get them to agree to 3 months notice in pay plus any holidays you have, but in effect they can give you 28 days notice...
most companies with integrity will comunicate with the union and enter negotiations for any voluntary redundancies etc to halt the process but... private companies tend to fly by the wire................. sorry to hear news, good luck with job hunting

[Ed]

Aw Dave, am sorry to hear this. As others have said, basically it's 'what rights?'. However your employer will have to consult, as Lily says - depends on how many are going - but it's a bit meaningless. I used to write the letters for the HR department, and they basically said 'we're making a loss, we wish to consult with you on potential redundancy' and invited the employee's views. Not a lot most can say...

Be sure they follow a fair process. The BERR website has a lot more detail on this than I can give.

Try andget any payment under a compromise agreement, that way the first £30K is tax free. But whether the company wants to pay your fees for this (typically £250 - £300) is another matter.

Good luck.

Ed

[Dave20046]

Thanks for your comments,

First one went today, no notice just told to leave, gets paid until the 16th of jan :(
The guys that's left has told me the MD said 8 people will be going and implied he just wanted a sales and box shifting company. Which would mean tech will be shut down.