8 Things You Should Do After Being Made Redundant

According to statistics there were 104,000 redundancies made in the UK in the 3 months to September 2021, which was the highest number of redundancies made since the 3 months to May 2021, when there were also 104,000 redundancies.

In this article, our experienced Employment Solicitor, Haylee Chambers explains 8 things you should do after being made redundant.

What to do after you have been made redundant?

  1. Check your redundancy payments are correct

You will not get statutory redundancy pay if you have served less than 2 years with the employer, so this analysis is on the basis that you have served over 2 years.

  • <22 years old = Half a week’s pay for each year served
  • 22-40 years old = 1-week pay for each year served
  • 41 years old = 1 & ½ weeks’ pay for each year served

You cannot claim more than 20 years’ worth of redundancy pay. To get a full break-down, visit the government website to calculate redundancy.

  1. Check your right to enhanced payments

Always check whether your employer has a contractual redundancy policy and if so, insist they follow it. Such a policy may require your employer to follow a certain redundancy process and may entitle you to enhanced redundancy payments, even if these aren’t expressly referred to in your contract of employment.

  1. Check your right to a protective award

If you are one of 20 or more employees made redundant at one workplace and there was no (or no sufficient) information or consultation process you may have grounds to pursue a protective award claim. If you think this might apply, seek further advice from us as we specialise in these claims. Contact our employment team on 033 3344 9603 or simply email [email protected] with your request.

  1. Seek advice and lodge an appeal

Most employers will allow you to appeal against the decision to make you redundant, either following the point scoring process or once notice is served. A well-drafted appeal can help persuade an employer to reinstate or reengage you or help with negotiations for a better exit package.

Morrish Solicitors has many years’ experience only acting for employees.  We believe that our experience in this field is second to none.

We can assist you to draft the best possible appeal.

  1. Attend an appeal hearing

You have a right to attend an appeal hearing, normally before a different and more senior manager independent of the process, who should reconsider matters for you. This is a chance to persuade your employer to change its decision to dismiss you and put forward your strongest arguments.

  1. Look to negotiate a better exit package

It might be possible to negotiate a better redundancy package if you have good arguments of unfairness, or even discrimination, in the redundancy process. We can advise on the best ways to open negotiations and advise on what you should be looking for. Contact our employment team on 033 3344 9603 or simply email [email protected]

  1. Commence ACAS Early Conciliation

If the appeal and negotiation process fails, before you can bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal, you must first commence ACAS Early Conciliation and obtain an Early Conciliation certificate.  This provides a further opportunity to try and negotiate settlement with your employer, via ACAS, in the knowledge that Employment Tribunal proceedings are the next step.

  1. Bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal

If settlement is not possible, and you wish to challenge your dismissal, you would need to issue your claim in the Employment Tribunal.  If you have been made redundant unfairly, you may have claims for unfair dismissal dismissal.  If you believe the decision to make you redundant was discriminatory in some way e.g. on grounds of race, age, sex or other protected characteristic, you may have further claims. We can explore every possible angle to challenge your redundancy.

If you require assistance, contact our experienced employment today on 033 3344 9603.

Specialist Employment Solicitors

Morrish Solicitors is a long-established law firm based in West Yorkshire providing a range of legal services to private clients, Trade Unions, Associations, Professional Bodies and their members. We have an experienced team of employment solicitors specialising in redundancy and protective award claims. Our solicitors can provide clear, honest and confidential advice in respect of all employment matters.

Contact our employment department on 033 3344 9603 or simply email [email protected].

To stay up to date with the latest law-related news, case studies and updates to our services please sign up to our newsletter.