I was made redundant from Iceland Foods (IT position) a little over 2 years ago.
Because they were laying off more than a certain number of people (I think the limit is about 90 - 100), they were obliged by law to give 90 days consultation.
Secondly, because we were IT and had access to "sensitive data", we were required to take "paid leave" - which basically meant that we were sent home on the day that consultation was announced and were not allowed back on the premises without an invitation until our employment was terminated (some 3 months later).
Finally, the bit about pay ... we were actually given either a weeks pay or £250 (
whichever was the smaller) so working in IT that meant £250 for every FULL YEAR of service completed.
Three BAD things about this:
1. The previous round of redundancies were offered a much better remuneration package (I think it was something like a full weeks pay for every year plus a month or 2 or 3's extra as a "sweetener") - we didn't get this cos it was "wholesale redundancy (i.e. so many staff going - in total around 400!).
2. Although I'd worked for Iceland for 11.5 years only the last 5.5 were continuous years service
3. I actually got a job offer 2 weeks before I was due to be "officially made redundant" and my new employer wouldn't/couldn't wait an extra 2 weeks for me to start ... which meant I had to hand my notice in, which meant ... NO REDUNDANCY PAY
Still ... on the upside ... I had just had 10 weeks sat on me ar$e earning full pay
PLUS, I decided to go and do contact IT work (something I'd always wanted to do, but was just "too comfortable" at Iceland to go and do it). So I saw redundancy as my chance for a fresh new start
HTH,
Pete