Am I Eligible for Voluntary Redundancy?

Author: Natalie Martin

Voluntary redundancies occur when a company is facing financial difficulty or has too many staff for the job that needs doing.

If you're wondering whether your employer is handling the voluntary redundancy process fairly and within the law, you can use our free Redundancy Rights Checker.

Employers often prefer to offer voluntary redundancy rather than compulsory because it is better for work morale if employees feel like they are not being made to take redundancy, but are being given the option.

Voluntary redundancy can be expensive for employees though, so even though they have offered it to everyone they might still decide to pick and choose who they allow to take it.

Your answers to the below questions should give you a good idea as to whether your employer is likely to choose you for redundancy.

1) Has Your Company Offered Voluntary Redundancy?

A) Yes, we have been asked to put our names forward
B) There are to be redundancies but voluntary redundancies have yet to be mentioned
C) No, but I know the company is in financial difficulty

2) Are You a Long-term Employee?

A) Yes, I have been at the company for over ten years
B) I have worked there for around five years
C) No, I am new

3) How Old Are You?

A) Over sixty
B) Around 50
C) Under 40

4) How Many Redundancies Need to be Made?

A) Around 30 -40% of workforce
B) Around 10-20% of workforce
C) Under 10% of workforce

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5) How Specialist is Your Role?

A) There are a number of people that do my job
B) A few of us do the same job
C) I am the only one that does my job

Your Answers

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Mostly A –You Stand a Good Chance

On paper you sound like you are the ideal candidate for voluntary redundancy. If you have been with the company a long time it will cost your employer more to offer you voluntary redundancy because they will have to give you a large payout. They may however prefer to offer you voluntary redundancy if you are thinking about winding down or retiring.

Offering voluntary redundancy to those that are looking to retire boosts the morale of the other workers and makes them feel more secure about their own role. If there is more than one person who can do your job you will be less of a necessity to your employer as they can rely on one of your colleagues to fill your role.

If they are looking to offload around 30-40% of the workforce through voluntary redundancy this will increase your chances of your application being accepted.

Mostly B - You Should Apply

You sound like you could be eligible for voluntary redundancy if this is what your company has planned. Not all employers will offer voluntary redundancy, even if there are redundancies on the cards. It is not a good idea to put yourself forward for voluntary redundancy until this has been officially been requested for by your employer.

If there are a couple of you that do the same job it will depend on how many people apply for voluntary redundancy, it may be that your employer has to choose between you all.

In this instance if the company wants to show employee loyalty and create a good feeling amongst the remaining workforce they will normally opt for the older candidates and those that have been with the company the longest. If you are not planning on retiring though you should be careful if you volunteer for redundancy late in life, as your chances of finding employment elsewhere could be reduced.

Mostly C – Your Chances Are Slim

Unfortunately it sounds like you are unlikely to be offered voluntary redundancy. Your colleagues are likely to be offered voluntary redundancy before you because they will have been there longer. If you are the only one that does your job your employer is likely to want to keep you. If you are new to the company your employer will be unlikely to offer you a large payout because you have not been with the company for a long time. Larger corporate companies will not always follow these guidelines and if they are keen to shed a lot of staff they will choose those where their roles double up.

It will ultimately be your employer that decides who they are willing to offer voluntary redundancy to. If your job is one of a kind it is less likely they will want to part with your skills, unless off course they are not needed anymore. If you apply for voluntary redundancy and are unsuccessful it may lead to an uncomfortable working atmosphere as they know you want to leave.

But for many voluntary redundancy offers a get out of jail free card and a hefty lump sum, for those who can find employment elsewhere.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Settlement Agreement Checker lets you describe the settlement agreement you have been offered and get guidance on whether it is fair. Find out what you could negotiate for. Try it now →

70 questions

Ask Redundancy Expert a Question

Mezcal 31/05/2021 at 9:17 am

Hi, I’ve worked as a TA for over 20 years in my current job and I’ve just turned 70.
As the school is restructuring staff, about 30% have been offered voluntary redundancy or re- application for a different post .
I think it’s obvious I should apply for voluntary redundancy, but they are asking for a good reason.
Earlier this year, I was negatively and unfairly criticised (after never having a problem in 20years) should I mention this or can you please help me with a suitable reason. Thanks

TAndo 02/05/2021 at 8:51 pm

Hello, I am employed by a large company. The role I am employed to do no longer exists and hasn’t done since June 2020. However I’ve temporarily been given a different role. I want to leave the company. Am I entitled to redundancy? The company are having a headcount reduction but voluntary redundancy hasn’t been offered to anyone. I know my boss wants me to stay and make the temporary role I’m doing permanent but I want to leave. Any advice would be welcomed.

E 26/02/2021 at 4:42 pm

Can someone please help with my query raised I have added again as no comments added by professional.
have been furloughed since the 6th April and I have not been asked to work at all, the whole time I have been off.I am on 80 % pay.worked for the company for over 30 years and I don't want to go back to either working from home or going back to the office. I would rather be made redundant, do I have any rights to make this happen, as I have been working there too long to just walk away with nothing. I do not feel that I could cope anymore with the pressure, if I was asked to return to work, and I been finding life challenging since covid hit and to add to this,on the day I was furloughed a family member who lived with me and my housemate died . Can you please let me know if redundancy is possible or not. Kind regards Elaine
E - 13-Feb-21 @ 12:04 AM

E 13/02/2021 at 12:04 am

I have been furloughed since the 6th April and I have not been asked to work at all, the whole time I have been off. I am on 80 % pay. worked for the company for over 30 years and I don't want to go back to either working from home or going back to the office. I would rather be made redundant, do I have any rights to make this happen, as I have been working there too long to just walk away with nothing.
I do not feel that I could cope anymore with the pressure, if I was asked to return to work, and I been finding life challenging since covid hit and to add to this, on the day I was furloughed a family member who lived with me and my housemate died .

Can you please let me know if redundancy is possible or not.

Kind regards
Elaine

LB 01/02/2021 at 7:13 pm

I am in the exact same situation .... what was the outcome? Many thanks

JG 08/12/2020 at 10:49 am

My employer has offered voluntary redundancy. I've asked for it and it has been denied as "my skills and talent are important for the business".

However, my role is being made redundant, and they want me to move into a different role that I don't want.

Do I have any option to force them to let me go in these circumstances? (by no accepting the move, for example)

Angelsshare 22/10/2020 at 10:59 am

I am currently on furlough (working two half-days per week) from my full-time position. My employer has had a meeting with me and informed me that after furlough ends I will be staying on the two half-days as my normal hours for at least the next few months. I have indicated that these are not enough hours for me to pay my bills and was told that Voluntary Redundancy was available. I have worked for the company for the last 6 years full-time. What is the process for me to request Voluntary Redundancy and what is the minimum payment I would receive?

Davie 07/03/2020 at 12:55 am

I work for an FE college in Glasgow. People interested in voluntary severance were asked to apply which I did. I’m 67 years old and a Senior Lecturer and presently on a phased retirement scheme but didn’t say when I would retire. I have been refused voluntary severance with no explanation as to why. I currently work only 3 days a week. Can my employer legally refuse my application after asking for volunteers?

VR query 07/05/2019 at 1:48 pm

I am a Local Government employee. My employer has declared it's intent to make a work colleague compulsory redundant - she is devastated. She is disliked intently by the manager who a few months ago actually told the team that "one way or another, she had to go" - so the compulsory redundancy notice is of no surprise. Incidentally, her role is not being made redundant - it's being shared out amongst her(subordinate) staff. I carry out broadly the same role as my colleague (heading up a second team) and on the same grade. I have requested a 'bumped (voluntary) redundancy' whereby I would take the redundancy and my colleague would take my post. I was asked by my employer to provide evidence that in terms of knowledge, skills and experience, my colleague and I are a direct match. Our employer has accepted we are a KSE match (there are no other colleagues who are a match) but has subsequently declined the request for a bumped redundancy on the basis that I "...have a certain something that goes beyond KSE that they can't do without". Clearly, allowing the requested bumped redundancy would not provide the desired effect (i.e. to get rid of the employee that is disliked so intently by the manager). Incidentally, there's no capability issue it's just a clash of personality. My query is can the employer decline a VR request from Employee 2 simply in order to get rid of employee 2 via a compulsory redundancy?

toffee 24/04/2019 at 8:10 am

about 8 months ago all in my department were put "at risk" and we went through selection processes with some people being made redundant. I survived that exercise but now it looks like the same thing is going to happen again. Is there a time limit that says you cannot be put at risk again inside say, 12 months? Is there any law I should be aware of that controls how many times the company can review the need for a particular role?

Jane 13/04/2019 at 1:35 pm

My work place is currently going through staff restructure and voluntary redundancies were an option. My request for VR was rejected as my pension costs could not be met. I am now being forced into an interview for a job I no longer want against people who do want a job knowing that one of us will still be made redundant. If I score the lowest the head will have no choice but to make me redundant with full pension. If I dont score the lowest someone else will be made redundant. My question is, am I legally bound to attend the interview and where would I stand if I didn't? Would he then have to make me redundant anyway or is it a sackable offence?

Steve 13/04/2019 at 12:53 pm

I have worked for Bt for 31 years and they were offering voluntary redundancies which I applied for but was rejected as they said I had a unique set of skills. They are now saying that I have to reapply for my job but with no company car and I will have to work in an office 45 miles away (I am currently a home worker). Are they obliged to give me a redundancy package?

FUS289 25/03/2019 at 11:51 pm

Hi, Very informative website, I have been offered Voluntary Redundancy aged 59 with18 years in the same job also offered as part of my redundancy reduced hours from 5 days to 3 days per week keeping same pension rights and my job but only 3 days per week which leaves me short of £200 per week on my salary.
I have also the option taking early flexible retirement keep my 3 day job take some of my pension but forgo the redundancy payment for the loss if the 2 days. Any advice you could give would be appreciated. Thanks

Carole 03/02/2019 at 11:37 pm

Hello,

My workplace asked for people to volunteer for redundancy but said it would select people based on job roles, not salary. My department was told that we were excluded from being allowed to apply for VR. However one member of the team applied anyway and was accepted. The deadline for applying for VR has now passed but I feel that we have been lied to since someone in our team did get it. My boss has told me that I would be rejected if I applied but do I have any rights in this situation? I have a lot of years service so taking VR would work out ok for me financially.

Thanks
Carole

Benny 13/11/2018 at 7:34 pm

Hi My company were looking for volunteers for voluntary redundancy as a cost saving exercise. I applied for redundancy but was refused due to being "too important to the business " as I am a loyal and high performing employee. Other managers who applied were accepted! Do I have a case to appeal as my reason for refusal was they didn't want to loose me? So do I now resign or appeal?

SeekingAdvice 12/11/2018 at 11:37 am

Hi there,

Recently, the company I work for announced that they will be restructuring the marketing team and that all of us should re apply for jobs in the new structure. There didn't ask for voluntary redundancy, they only said there are 3 less jobs in the new team. In the new structure, there is no similar title to the one I have (only higher or lower) and also my specialisation in my current role has been removed in the new structure. ultimately, if i apply for a role I will be doing a different job (will not be specialised to what I am doing currently) and will lose my title and my direct report. Also, there is a manager who was in the similar position as myself and he asked for redundancy and got it. I have also asked for redundancy but they have refused because they say that my job description has many similarities to the new job descriptions and that taking away my direct report and managerial responsibility is not a significant change which I believe is. In addition, my job description is very specific to what I do today but the new job description is very vague and not focused in one area/specific focus. Can you please advise what to do? I do not want to be demoted by applying to a job that is a level under and also not to work on projects that are not my specialisation. I am thinking to get a solicitor and I am also writing them a letter to explain again the reasons I put myself forward for redundancy. Thank you so much.

Lurch 18/07/2018 at 6:49 pm

2 months ago my company asked for voluntary redundancies.i offered but was refused.im 64.about to go part time 3 days could they make me redundant and only pay pro rata redundancyNO

RedundancyExpert Editor 15/06/2018 at 12:14 pm

In the first instance, you may wish to question your manager's motivations either informally or through a grievance procedure if you feel you are being undermined, You cannot ask for voluntary redundancy if your job still exists and no suggestion of voluntary redundancy has previously been made.

Bingo 12/06/2018 at 9:17 am

I am a senior manager in a UK business, successfully leading a team of 60 for the past 4 years. My manager is trying to fundamentally change my role, removing responsibilities, and assigning me duties that i don't want to do (i.e. i wouldn't have applied for a job doing these duties). He is saying that team morale is low although when asked to substantiate his comments he can't/won't. Other managers have also been assigned into my team, at the same grade as me, taking the management team from 1 (me) to 5. i am confident that there is no need for 5 of us at the same grade. I have 19 years service; can i request voluntary redundancy, or is this more akin to constructive dismissal?

PETE Editor 04/06/2018 at 3:32 pm

@KS - you'd have to be able to prove it!

KS 01/06/2018 at 3:00 pm

Following an appeal for volunteers I have expressed interest but been refused voluntary severance. I believe this is because of my gender (female) being in a minority with the skill set I have. I am also senior and long service so would be expensive to lay off under the enhanced scheme the company offers. Is this discrimination?

RedundancyExpert Editor 13/02/2018 at 2:52 pm

It's a tricky question to answer, as it is impossible to predict the result, or whether either of you will be offered redundancy. Your employer should use a fair and objective way of selecting you, which you can see via which

J78 09/02/2018 at 6:57 pm

The IT company I work for are intending to make roughly 15-20% of the workforce redundant and have asked for us to apply for VR if we wish. I have been at the company for 15 years and wish to use this opportunity to leave as I have been unhappy for a while. My concern is there is only one other colleague who manages the same systems as me who also is intending to apply for VR, so I assume they will not give it to us both. I don't know how much to negotiate as a result, and almost can't bear the idea of this other colleague receiving a pay out as I'm stuck there! I have been there longer but our skill set and performance are pretty similar. Help!

RedundancyExpert Editor 25/01/2018 at 1:58 pm

Only if you are offered a job, you say the new job is not suitable and your employer disagrees, can your employer possibly refuse to pay your redundancy payment, As it is, you have not been offered the new job, you were only encouraged to apply for it. The CAB link here will also give you more information on the process. We cannot advise you what to say in the interview. However, it sounds as though your company is going through the correct procedure to date, so you are unlikely to face an unfair dismissal issue.

Sam 24/01/2018 at 8:59 pm

Hi, the company I work for are currently going through a restructure. My job role will no longer exist from 31/03/2018 but I had the opportunity to apply for an alternative role which would have been a step up. I decided not to apply for the role as although it would mean a pay rise, it was a completely different role that would require a lot more travel. Staff had the option to apply for voluntary redundancy but were told this would be considered on a case by case basis. I applied for voluntary redundancy and was told I would need to attend an interview to discuss this, now I'm worried about what to say in the interview in case they use it to refuse my request. I've worked for the company for just over 9 years, my colleagues have applied for the new job roles so I know the company have enough applicants to cover the new roles. I'm worried that they will refuse my request and tell me that I intentionally made myself unemployed as I didn't apply for the alternative role. Can this happen and is there anything I should avoid saying in this interview?

nexusxicon 23/01/2018 at 5:47 am

Nine of us do the same role & we were advised a week before consultation began that we would be at risk & the company would listen to voluntary if anybody was interested. I advised my line manager on several occasions that I wished to pursue this, however would have to wait until consultation officially began. The day before consultation began, I was advised that another colleague (the oldest & longest serving) had accepted VR so I along with the others were no longer at risk. Is this fair? Should we all have been allowed the same opportunity seeing this was arranged outside consultation period & I made it clear I was interested?

RedundancyExpert Editor 09/10/2017 at 12:09 pm

Your employer will select the people to be made redundant from everyone who volunteered. It’s up to your employer if they select you for redundancy. Just because you volunteered to be made redundant doesn’t mean you will be, please see CAB which

Blossom 08/10/2017 at 2:47 pm

I am off work sick have been offered voluntary redundancy and want it will I get it

GrahamR Editor 18/05/2017 at 10:30 am

@Dave - Even all those who have applied for VR might not be accepted. It's a tricky one as you could ask, but you may be refused and then your employer will know you have considered wanting to leave the company. If you're ok with your employer wanting to know that - then go for it.

Dave 17/05/2017 at 9:45 am

Hi my company has offered VR however i was excluded from this as i received an above standard rating for the previous performance year. Those who were offered the VR have received there quotes. Is it possible to put myself inscope for VR even though i was considered as out of scope?

RedundancyExpert Editor 03/04/2017 at 12:51 pm

I'm afraid there is nothing you can do with regards to this - it's purely a case of bad timing.

Htanna 02/04/2017 at 3:57 pm

The company I work for was offering VR in October 2016 and although I asked for a VR quote I was not in a position to accept it.

Now the closing date for submission has passed, I've typically just received a job offer.

Even though all of my colleagues who took the most recent VR haven't left yet, is there nothing I can do?

chrissie48 14/03/2017 at 2:25 pm

I am 67 years, work for local government and took flexible retirement 18 months ago. I still work 3 days per week and claim my pension. Due to funding problems, staff have now been asked for volunteers for voluntary redundancy. Can I legally apply?

Dawn 19/02/2017 at 9:41 pm

My company is under going a resturcture and we had a meeting on the 16th January and we were told that VR would be taken on the 3rd of Febuary i feel that this was such a short time period i could not make such a life changing decision in such a short time frame so on the 6th Feburary told them i was staying 15 days on i feel that i made the wrong choice are there any grounds in which i can now take VR.

Neets 08/02/2017 at 5:13 pm

Hi, last year I applied for VR and was told my request was denied. Today, compulsory redundancies were announced, Yet again I was overlooked/not chosen, however, some people who had VR denied last year were approached and got given VR this time around as well as those who got told they were getting compulsary redundancy. Is there anything I can do to object to the way I have been overlooked again.

RedundancyExpert Editor 31/01/2017 at 2:36 pm

If you feel you have been unfairly treated then you would have to prove that age discrimination was taking place. If cost-cutting is the reason for redundancy, then your employer may be able to justify their reasons within that specific remit. You would really have to go back through the consultancy period to see if there is anywhere the council has been less than transparent. However, I suspect there will be clauses in your consultation paperwork that adequately justify the reasons why you were refused. If you are still in doubt - ACAS or your union will help you here.

Viv 31/01/2017 at 9:41 am

Hi I have worked for the council for over 20 years and in April last year they announced they were making changes within the structure of the council and making redundancies! I am in my sixties and did not want to work in the New structure and therefore put myself forward for voluntary redundancy along with many others! In Sept 24 people out of 30 got their voluntary redundancy but I did not! I have been off sick since with work related stress as I do not feel I can do the new role and I feel like I have been discriminated against in the fact that I did not get my redundancy because of my age as they knew I would be retiring soon and would most probably leave with all the changes! Is there a certain criteria they should have adhered too or can they pick and choose as they like! Is it worth putting a grievance in against them?

Angi12350 16/01/2017 at 7:34 pm

I have been offered voluntary redundancy including 12 weeks pay in lieu of notice. I work for the local authority. How soon can I apply for employment doing a different role within the local authority or other local authorities. Do I have to wait until after the 12 weeks are up.

Jamie 09/01/2017 at 4:10 pm

Hi,

I have worked for my current company for 3/4 years as a project manager, the company have rebranded and the line of work I do is no longer advertised. I'm currently sat with no project to manage, the companies I did work for have gone elsewhere and I'm losing the will to live... what's the odds of me getting redundancy? They may have driving positions but it's not a job I have done before and I have 15 points on my license so it's not a wise move..

MThomas Editor 04/01/2017 at 10:52 am

@Dormouse - yes, if that is the company's new policy they can make these changes. M.

Dormouse 03/01/2017 at 10:37 am

My work has said that they will no longer offer voluntary redundancy anymore and it will be a last in first out policy can they do this??

RedundancyExpert Editor 21/10/2016 at 10:12 am

If your job is safe, then it is unlikely your company will wish to pay out on a redundancy package where there is no need. Unless your company is asking for voluntary redundancy, then you should not put yourself forward.

Shirley 20/10/2016 at 8:25 am

I want voluntary redundancy. But just found out my job is safe but you can still put your name forward I have been with the company for 16 years.
I just want to find my self a part time job. I work 12 hrs a day 4 days in a row where do I stand

holmsey 06/10/2016 at 2:35 pm

I have been in my current position for 16 years and 2 months until the end of July working as a legal secretary in the criminal department. I am 65 years old
My then boss changed firms and I was not able to accompany him although he suggested it, due to travel difficulties.
My firm has now employed an agent to carry out the work that my former boss was doing and she is now doing all the work (including letter writing, message taking etc) that I previously did.
I have been told that if I moved offices (again which I am not prepared to do because of distances and times involved then I could carry on working for the agent in much the same way as I did before.
I believe my job has disappeared. I have been working this week in another department (which is fully staffed) which I know nothing about and which I am not enjoying, in fact it is making me feel ill.
I have suggested to my practice manager that I take voluntary redundancy but the suggestion was not treated well, mainly because (I believe) of the cost.
Can you tell me where I stand? I earn £350.77 top line weekly.

Bill 29/03/2016 at 2:06 pm

My job is a heavy manual one which I am 59 and have been in over 5 years. I'm finding it more difficult to manage and need to have 2 knee replacements. This would mean months off work not being sure whether the company would allow me to go back. Would I be eligible for voluntary redundancy.

Bookworm 15/03/2016 at 4:53 pm

I work in education and applied for voluntary redundancy when they asked for applicants in November. I was told in January that this had been refused as they wanted to keep my job role. I resigned on 1st March as I have found a new job, and they have now told me that my role is being deleted and the work is being shared by other existing staff, as they don't want to employ new staff. Is this legal?

Bobbyboy 14/03/2016 at 10:43 pm

I am 68 years of age , I have applied for voluntary redundancy are there any grounds for rejection due to age ..

Deb 02/03/2016 at 12:35 am

Due to the Council announcing it had to make front line cuts of 30 million but have not put new structure Out yet. I decided to apply for V.R. Human Resources stated it takes several weeks to get back to me with an answer either way. I noticed that had not followed the Leavers Policy correctly.

I had applied for VR as I am migrating to New Zealand so time scales are tight. After 16 days I had had no acknowledgement that it was being considered so had to hand notice in and line manager sent notice letter to H.R stating I was running them concurrently with each other. Three days later HR contacted me by email stating they had closed my VR request and excepted my notice.
I know my job is a unique position and I have been informed by my Group !manager that my job will go when the new structure is released into the public domain.

Do that have the right to remove my VR request?
Does my notice take prescience over my VR request?
Do they have the right to refuse my VR request and then make my position at risk?

Please advice what to do

Micky 15/02/2016 at 7:42 pm

I have given notice of early retirement for the end of May, At the beginning of February the company have announced the company is closing next year and are looking for 5 people for voluntary redundancy to go in March/April this year.
would I be entitled to redundancy pay from the company?

Mix 27/01/2016 at 6:50 pm

I have worked for a council for 27 years. I am 62 years old. Voluntary severance has been offered. I applied alongside others. The voluntary severance has been temporarily removed, but will go back on offer shortly. I have been told by my line manager that most of those who have applied will get it, but not sure I will. I asked why and he said that I am good at my job and so would not want me to leave, there for I will probably be turned down. He may be able to arrange for me to have severance but would be delayed to support the service. What are my legal rights.

RedundancyExpert Editor 03/12/2015 at 10:58 am

When choosing employees for redundancy, your employer must use a method which is fair and which does not discriminate against you. Please see CAB link here which shows the selection process your company must go through.

Jack 02/12/2015 at 3:29 pm

I am 66 years old. I work for a national government company for the last 27 years. There's a very likely chance of offering voluntary redundancies next year. Can they discriminate against me because of my age?

RedundancyExpert Editor 02/12/2015 at 2:28 pm

It depends whether your company is offering voluntary redundancy. As specified in the article, not all employers will offer voluntary redundancy, even if there are redundancies on the cards. It is not a good idea to put yourself forward for voluntary redundancy until this has been officially been requested for by your employer.

Al 02/12/2015 at 5:38 am

Should I ask for volantry redundancy,I have worked in security for 5 years on a 48 hour week 1day off and they have offered me a lesser role with company because of cut backs dnt no weather will be on same hours or less as less is no good because have bills to pay

Hilly Editor 09/09/2015 at 2:57 pm

@Lou - unless you have been offered voluntary redundancy then you can't really apply. The outlet you are working for may be doing well, therefore redundancies might not be offered. You could talk to your HR department directly, there's no harm in asking. If you are not successful at getting a redundancy package currently, there may be opportunities in the future.

lou 08/09/2015 at 4:33 pm

i work for a big retail company. Recently they have offered redundancies to some of the older stores for people who have worked 10 years or more. I transferred to a newer store several years ago, this store has not offered redundancy though I have worked for the company for 20 years ..much longer than the 10 years required. What are my rights

TLC 27/07/2015 at 9:55 pm

Hi, I have recently gone through a collective redundancy where no VA was offered and my job role changed due to the fact that I lost line management responsibility, therefore reducing the status of my role. Based on the fact I was in a redundancy situation and the scale of my role changed, I decided to look for another job, and was successful. However, in the last couple of days I have found that at least two of my colleagues were able to get a redundancy payment as they, like me found the scale of their role changed: they lost line management responsibility. I feel aggrieved that I was not given that option and that I've not been treated fairly and so wonder if I should raise my concerns to my employer.

RedundancyExpert Editor 06/07/2015 at 12:09 pm

@Tamas - I'm afraid in this case you would have to speak with an immigration adviser as due to the added complexity of your situation we cannot advise. You can find one whichI hope this helps.

Tamas 03/07/2015 at 3:05 pm

Hello,
I am an EEA national, working in the UK since 2010 October. Now Iearned they might make some of us redundant by the end of August and that would give me 4 years and 11 months in the UK. so just 1 month less 5 years.. After 5 years continous work I would gain the right of permanent residence and wouldn't want to risk that because of this last month. After I am out of the job I understand I will classify as a jobseeker or still as a worker based on certain conditions and that is still ok and will complete most likely my 5 years, but I understood there is a difference in status if I am voluntary or involuntarily out of work. so my question is, since after all this is a redundancy process, if I put forward my name to voluntary redundancy will that affect how its seen from the outside, ie simply put it, is voluntary redundancy still "involuntary unemployed" or not ?
thanks,Tamas

Rache Editor 10/06/2015 at 2:49 pm

@Andy - There is a difference as voluntary severance is when an employer asks for staff to voluntarily depart from or leave the employment, while their job still may exist after they leave.

Andy 09/06/2015 at 6:01 am

Are the terms voluntary severance and voluntary redundancy the same and are they"interchangeable" in the same notification?

RedundancyExpert Editor 29/04/2015 at 11:02 am

@karl - if your company cannot keep you on then it may suggest redundancy to you. However, you would have to wait for your company to come forward and offer voluntary redundancies to the employees of your company. If you have been there for five years, should your company suggest redundancy then you would be offered some money as you would qualify for statutory redundancy pay if you’ve worked for your employer for at least two years. You can calculate what you may be offered whichI hope this helps.

karl 26/04/2015 at 5:06 pm

the company i work for has no work or not enough for me to pay my way now my contract states a 0 hours thing can i get redundacy ive been there five years and am 44

Beth Editor 03/03/2015 at 1:49 pm

@eddie - Pilon is paid by your employer as an alternative to being given your full notice. So you would be entitled to the basic pay you would have received during the specific notice period. You really need to speak to your employer to see whether you would be entitled to this should you go straight away.

eddie 28/02/2015 at 3:39 pm

If I take voluntary redundancy (early retirement) does this wave my right to pilon I think I would be entitled to the full amount under the rules (*12 weeks) if they were to make me redundant . Employer has given 3 options under a package offered to go straight away, 3 months or 6 months.
So if I voluntary went straight away would I lose pilon ,as I am thinking if I opted for 3 months they could make me redundant and make me work my notice . So seems a waste of time working knowing I am going anyway.

RedundancyExpert Editor 12/02/2015 at 12:58 pm

@Chrissie48 - You have a few options, either you can keep your pension benefits and continue contributing to the workplace scheme post-redundancy. Or use part of your taxable redundancy payment, to make further pension contributions, if you want to keep it going until maturity in 18-months. In addition, if you have been offered a tax-free cash sum on retirement from the workplace pension scheme, this wont effect your redundancy and you may be able to gain them both tax free. I hope this helps.

chrissie48 11/02/2015 at 5:04 pm

I am 67 in July and had no plans to retire for another 18 months. I am the only person doing my job with a part-time assistant. My employer has asked for support staff to volunteer to take redundancy. Have not yet claimed my work-based pension, can I take voluntary retirement and claim my work-based pension at the same time? I work for Local Government and have done for 23 years.

Jess Editor 30/10/2014 at 10:26 am

@padley. It's hard to say because it depends what sort of pension you have and whether it is a defined benefit pension or a defined contribution one. There are a number of pension-related effects when you are made redundant and one is that you will no longer be an active member of your pension scheme and instead may become a preserved member. This will bring about changes to your pension benefits. I think this is something you really need to take up with your HR department or direct with your pension provider as there are a few different options and alternatives you'll need to consider.

padley 29/10/2014 at 2:11 pm

If I take voluntary redundancy will my company still pay the full contributions to my pension until my end date?

Cas 30/07/2013 at 1:08 pm

can you please advise me- If I am of retirement age- can go in 2013 but am not considering retirement as yet -( was planning on retiring at 65) would i be eligible for a redundancy package ? I was told no when i put in for voluntary redundancy and that i should take retirement but some are saying this is incorrect ?

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