Redundancy.

[LisaJ1986]

Does anyone know what rights are on this? My OH is pretty sure it's a case of 'last in, first out'. But i was wondering what that meant in terms of departments. I work for a dealership (obv. on mat leave) and i had a phone call today saying that had staff meetings throughout the 5 different areas we own and due to the mass downfall in sales they are considering letting people go. He says he hopes it won't come to that but i just wanted to get an idea before anything comes of it.

There is a woman covering my job but she is permanent within the company. So if i went back they'd move her elsewhere. But to be pretty honest with you i am not that fantastic at my job.

And if it was a case of 'last in, first out' then half the salesmen will go. So no one to sell cars and staff that deal with the sales will obviously have no work, iykwim?

I'm just wondering if i am at risk basically? Coz if i am i think i'll be gone. I wasn't sure whether i was going back or not but that's irrelevant. If anyone can help, thanks.

 

[Greatchill]

Hiya, its a terrible concern, and I totally agree its not the point whether you're thinking of going back to work or not under the circumstances!

how long have you been with the firm before you went on maternity leave? Have you been getting shinning reviews before you left the firm, or were they just average reviews?

In my view, if the firm were to fire you because you're now a mother (and you need to have some hard evidence to support this discrimination) then you have every ground to sue them. If however they are merely reducing staff force and quite a few others are going, and they work down the staff review charts and are getting rid of the bottom performing few, then the firm will have very good grounds for their action and you won't have a very solid case. I doubt the firm will just outright say "this is a last in first out policy".

Tricky situation. If you're really worried and/or think you've got a good case, I suggest you get some professional employment law advice. It may just take one hour of initial consultation to see where you stand, and some firms may even offer that for free. Just need to call around and find out. Best of luck!

 

[LisaJ1986]

I was there 10 months before i left for maternity.
I found the job a struggle but i put a hell of a lot of effort into it and did well. But then 3 months before i left i had to train the new girl, so my work was limited. I helped others the best i could but i spent a lot of time sat watching more than physically doing anything.
So i'm just unsure as to how it will go. But if there was a staff meeting surely i should have been there. It would save them calling me. Then he asked if my address was the same so i'm assuming i'll be receiving stuff through the post. I'm so confused.

 

[1sttimemum]

Im not supposed to be here lol
Anyway. I worked for northern rock and got made redundant at the end of august, they can only make you redundant i your job is no longer there i e i sold unsecured loans and we stopped lending them in september last year.

I had the option to deal with it now or at the end of my maternity leave, You do have more rights than the people at work, if you need anything, gimme a PM.,

I hope everything works out

 

[LisaJ1986]

Thanks for that. I just don't wanna be used as the easy option as i'm not there right now. You know, like they're used to me not being there and that's how they want it. I've not been invited to the christmas party this year if they are having one. It's usually arranged in August! I no longer feel like i'm supposed to be there now.

 

[1sttimemum]

like i say lisa, any questions just PM me

 

[LisaJ1986]

like i say lisa, any questions just PM me

Thank you.
I'll wait and see what progresses. Apparently there will be individual meetings so we'll see what comes of it!

 

[1sttimemum]

Just make sure they dont force you to have the meeting as you dont have to have them cos your on maternity. i was given the option of redeployment but declined it and was then made redundant, i made the choice to deal with it now as i didnt want it on my mind constantly

 

[kalia]

There are rules about them getting in touch and they may have felt that asking you to the meeting was out of order as you are on maternity leave and not supposed to be contacted much.

Edited because my answer didn't make much sense. I think I must have been replying to a different thread

 

[reallyoldmum]

They will legally have to send you the same paperwork as issued to all the other members of staff so dont panic at the moment about him asking your address.... With that said unless it is stated in your company policy that it is last in first out they can make the decision how they select candidates for selection for redundancy (the bit about the salesman - they could be seen as "key employees" and excluded from the redundancy situation if they so wanted). Most places I have worked have used the matrix approach to redundancy selection - these have to be transparent so they will look at issues like absence, time keeping etc - they can add a couple of criteria that a line manager would rate like attitude but the majority should be factual. If there is another role that you could do in the company then they should assess you against these departments also.......

Not sure if this is much of a help but if you want any other advice just PM me

Good luck.

Jane x

 

[LisaJ1986]

I got a letter from work today stating which jobs are at risk in which garages. Mine being one of them. So they may be losing one admin or splitting into two part timers. There's only 2. But this is at Grantham or Boston. So no idea where i stand.

 

[happy-chick]

Hi hun, I know exactly how you feel as my hubby works in the motor trade for a dealership as a mechanic/mot/diagnostic technician and they are struggling at the moment with 2 employee's already being made redundant (salesman and then their main manager yesterday ) therefore its a worrying time for all of the staff, I think my hubby will be ok due to the mechanics generating most of the money at the moment but its not nice when you have such uncertainty, i hope things pick up and your job is safe

 

[LisaJ1986]

I went into work for my first interview. They are basing the whole thing on scorings! Basically marking everyone at risk out of 10 on certain aspects of the job, like attendance and performance. I'm just wondering if it will include the time off i had during pregnancy? Like my Midwife appointments and scans? I forgot to ask while i was there.

Also with thins issue i have with cost of childcare they have asked if making me redundant might actually help me! I just don't know. The nearest and most convenient nursery round here costs £667 a month, which means i'll only come home with around £150. If i decide going back is not the best option he will make me redundant.

I just don't know what to do! It's all so confusing! But i need to have yet another interview too. And i was wondering if i get a little bit of money for being made redundant? I didn't think i was entitled as i have been there a year and a half, but he said something about the little bit of money should help through Christmas!!!

 

[Gem & Leland]

as for being better off you might be , go on the entiled to website and put in the details as if your were not working ? i cant put leland into nursery at all ! just 1 day a week is 210 min and full time anything from 900 - 1200 !!!! and i get no help ( well with 1 day i dont) but put a few figures in and see what it says

 

[rachie29]

they are not allowed to include time off for maternity appointments etc you are allowed those by law so if they do use that as a reason you will have grounds for action. they are also not allowed to ask if being made redundant will help you thats illegal. They can open to everyone the option of voluntary redundancy but thats it.

Also if they are looking to make a large number of people redundant in the company then there has to be a consolidation period and in some circumstances redeployment. I know this because I checked it out after I was made redundant last week - I was there 8 years so last in first out is not always the case.

look at http://www.directgov.co.uk it has lots of info on redundancy. They cannot select you for redundancy because you are on mat leave - that said I am pretty sure I was chosen because of my change in status (long story and there were office change arounds while I was on mat leave ) but I cant prove it so I just have to bite the bullet.

 

[rachie29]

as for being better off you might be , go on the entiled to website and put in the details as if your were not working ? i cant put leland into nursery at all ! just 1 day a week is 210 min and full time anything from 900 - 1200 !!!! and i get no help ( well with 1 day i dont) but put a few figures in and see what it says

thats expensive gem... what do they have toys made of gold!!!! no wonder you are better off.

 

[LisaJ1986]

I figured they couldn't include my pregnancy appointments but even when i had them i had to make up the time through my dinner hour!!!

They are asking for voluntary redundancies. He's been trying to put the whole thing off in hope that things will pick up! He's still hoping it will before he has to make a final decision! I guessed i sort of have an upper hand due to being on maternity. I'm just so confused by the whole thing! I've never been here before!

Gonna work everything out when i have a bit clearer head!

 

[Gem & Leland]

as for being better off you might be , go on the entiled to website and put in the details as if your were not working ? i cant put leland into nursery at all ! just 1 day a week is 210 min and full time anything from 900 - 1200 !!!! and i get no help ( well with 1 day i dont) but put a few figures in and see what it says

thats expensive gem... what do they have toys made of gold!!!! no wonder you are better off.

yeh i still need to work tho , just got to hope i can work round other halfs shifts !!! its a shame , leland would love nursey but i dont actually think i can even do 1 day a week !