Voluntary Redundancy

Hi,

I am currently due to be made redundant at the end of August. I applied to take Voluntary Redundancy, which was excepted.

I choose not to retract my VR by the set date, by was advised by the HR department that i would have the oppurtunity to look at the vacancies, after those who were at risk of compulsory redundancy had been redeployed.

I have received the vacancy list with a letter stating that should i choose to apply and except a position it would be ' recruitment and not redeployement and that the normal recruitment procedure would take place'. The staff who have already been redeployed simply attended informal interviews and were redeployed, they also receive a work trial, in which they can choose to go after one month and take redundancy.

Can anyone advise me as to what rights (if any) i have?

I would very much appreciate some help.

Thanks in advance

Hi

Even if your redundancy is voluntary, it is still a dismissal in law. Therefore, in order to avoid dismissing you unfairly your employer still needs to follow a reasonable procedure.

Your employer would be OK to follow the normal recruitment procedure - as no doubt it will be focused on ensuring that you were a suitable candidate for the role in question. However, they should still offer you a trial period of at least 4 weeks if you are successful (in accordance with s.138(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996).

I hope that helps.

Pete