What Does Redundancy Mean?
This is when a business needs to reduce its workforce, it closes jobs and the people working these jobs are made redundant. Being made redundant is not the same as getting fired. If you are made redundant, it’s important that you know your rights.
Employers must be fair when considering redundancies. Here are some unfair considerations when choosing redundancies:
- Your age or gender
- You’re pregnant
- You are a member of a trade union
- You have asked for holiday or maternity leave
Employers may make selections based on length of service (last in, first out) or the disciplinaries you may have. Many businesses ask for volunteers, and offer a redundancy payment, however it’s up to the employer whether they actually select the volunteers who came forward.
Will My Employer Give Me Notice?
Yes. An employer can’t make you redundant on the spot. The amount of notice you are given will depend on how long you have been employed with the company:
- At least one week’s notice if you have been employed between one month and two years
- One week’s notice for each year if employed between two and 12 years
- 12 weeks’ notice if employed for 12 years or more
You are entitled to a consultation with your employer if you are being made redundant to discuss the aituation further. You’ll normally be entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you’re an employee and have been working for your employer for 2 years or more.
You’ll get:
- half a week’s pay for each full year you were under 22
- one week’s pay for each full year you were 22 or older, but under 41
- one and half week’s pay for each full year you were 41 or older
- An employer is not obliged to pay you more than £16,140, or £16,800 if you’re in Northern Ireland.
If you still have holiday owed when you leave, you are entitled to be paid for that too.
If a business has gone bust, then redundancy pay may be provided by the government.
Tips To Help You Bounce Back From Redundancy
Being made redundant is a difficult situation and it can take time to process and understand what has happened. After redundancy it is important to take time for yourself and look after your mental and physical health. We have made a list of tips to help you bounce back from your redundancy and prepare you for the next steps of your career journey.
1. Know Your Rights
If you have been made redundant, it’s important that you know your rights. You can only be chosen for redundancy fairly and not based on your age, gender, pregnancy or disability.
It’s important to know how much redundancy pay you will get, how long your notice period is, and if you’re able to leave sooner to start a new position.
The official Gov.uk website also has detailed information on what you need to know about redundancy and can help you to calculate your statutory redundancy pay.
2. Protect The Energy
Losing your job can be extremely stressful, but it’s important that you don’t blame yourself. You will experience a range of emotions, including confusion, anger and worry.
It’s important that you take a few days to process what has happened to you and the emotions you have experienced. Take this time to assess your current situation and think about what you are going to do next.
3. Manage Your Money
After being made redundant, keeping on top of your finances is a main priority. By making a weekly budget you can split up your bills and organise the different payments you need to make throughout the month. Through apps like Monzo and Revolut you can split your money into pots and limit how much you can withdraw each week.
4. Take Your Mind Off Things
Adjusting to change and a new routine can be hard, but coping with this on-top of a lockdown can be even more difficult. There are a number of ways that you can relax at home and take your mind off the current situation:
- Listen to podcasts or your favourite music playlist.
- Meditate using Headspace, CALM or other breathing apps.
- Sit back, relax and watch your favourite movie or TV boxset.
- Take up a new hobby, such as crochet, colouring, drawing, or reading.
- Improve your skillset through completing an online course.
- Give your house a spring clean or a makeover.
- Try out some home workouts on yoga.
For more information on looking after your mental health during lockdown click here.
5. Update Your CV
As a result of the pandemic, many others have been made redundant and the job market has become a lot more competitive. Before applying for jobs, it’s a good idea to review your current CV and see if you can make any improvements. Update your CV with the most recent experience you have and explore how you can develop your skills through online courses. Some of the online learning websites you can check out include:
- Google Digital Garage
- Futurelearn
- Coursera
- Udemy
- LinkedIn Learning
- Open Learn
If completing online courses isn’t your thing, then why not expand your knowledge through watching YouTube videos, reading blogs and chatting with people who are experienced within your field.
6. Networking
The best way of learning about the different opportunities that are available to you after redundancy is through reaching out and talking to people. By networking on LinkedIn you can chat with people within your line of work and ask if they know of any opportunities that might suit you. Another way you can network is by joining groups on Facebook where you can share your knowledge and get your name seen by potential employers.
If using LinkedIn isn’t your style, another way you can expand your network is through volunteering with businesses or charities who need help. By offering your services you are gaining more experience for your CV and potentially opening yourself up to a job opportunity.
7. Let The Search Begin
After you have processed your feelings and thought about your plan of action, it’s time to get yourself out there. There are a number of different options that you can try out when hunting for your dream job:
- Contact local recruitment agencies who specialise in your line of work.
- Search popular job sites, including Indeed, Monster Jobs, See Me Hired and Totaljobs.
- Use the LinkedIn Jobs Search to find careers in your area.
- Research your favourite companies and check if they are hiring on their website.
- Reach out to your network and ask if they have heard of any job opportunities that might suit you.
Applying for jobs can sometimes be disheartening, but it’s important to stay positive and remember that these things take time!