Can i request redundancy when not doing the work I was employed to do.

Hi, i have been working as a plumber for a building firm for the last 10/11years.
In the last 12 months due to the economic slow down i have noticed a steady decline in the plumbing work my company can offer me. This has left me doing more and more non plumbing related tasks. This was fine at first but is now starting to get me down.

In the last two weeks my company have made 3 employees redundant with more being likely to follow. It is however unlikely that i will be offered redundancy being the only plumber and pretty handy when tackling most other trades.

Although many fear redundancy i am confident, even in the current climate that i could run my own sucessful plumbing business. This would have many advantages mainly being doing the job i love.

So my questions would be:-

1- Can i request redundancy based on my company not being able to supply me with the work i was originally employed to do.

2- With ten years service am i right in saying that if redundancy was offered i would be entitled to 10 weeks notice and 10 weeks redundancy pay.

3- Is there a cap/maximum amount of redundancy paid regardless of time served.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Stev0.

Hi Stevo

Thank you for your questions. To answer your question fully, could you reply to me with the following details.

1. Can you confirm what your you are employed as e.g general maintenance or specifically a plumber. Does your Contract of Employment outline the duties that you are employed to carry out.

2. Do you have a job description?

3. Have you received any written notification of the following from your Employer
- change to your job details
- letter which outlines additional tasks that you will now cover.

I look forward to your reply with this information and any other information that you think may help me answer your question.

I am a plumber by trade serving my 4 year apprentiship with the same company.

Soon after finishing my apprentiship i moved on and worked another year approx for another plumbing company. I was contacted by my original firm in this time asking me to return which i did and have worked the last 11 years doing the work i enjoy 'plumbing'.

I have never been given a contract that i am aware off

My job description is as a plumber

I have had no written notificaton of job description changes and my pay has not been reduced.

Hope this helps,

Thanks,

Stev0

Hi Stevo

Thanks for the extra information.

You should have a Contract of Employment. An employer is required by law to give written statements of particulars of employment including details such as pay, hours, job titles, job description/duties etc. to employees who have been Because you are required by law to give written statements to all employees who have been in employment for at least one month. If you haven't got this, you should request a copy from your employer in writing.

With respect to your concerns about your continuous employment with the company you are working for and redundancy.

There are many aspects to your question which I will endeavour to answer as concisely as possible.

If you are unhappy that you are not doing the work that you are employed to do, I would advise that you follow raise a grievance in accordance with disciplinary and grievance procedures. If you are not familiar with a grievance procedure, or your employer hasn't made you aware of the procedure, please see how to raise a greivance. You might try talking with your employer informally before using the formal grievance procedure, to see if that helps.

In the grievance letter ensure that you outline your concerns that you are not being provided with the plumbing work that you are employed to do. In the meeting, you will be given the opportunity to discuss your grievance which would include your concerns about a possible redundancy.

Your employer is by law, required to reply to your grievance and give you the right to appeal.

Sometimes an employer may ask employees if they want to be made redundant Voluntary redundancy is equivalent to a dismissal and all the same rules apply to a normal redundancy. If you are keen to be made redundant, you could tell your employer that you would be keen to volunteer.

To confirm your redundancy pay, you would be entitled to 1.0 week’s pay for each full year of service where age during year is 22 or above but less than 41. Plus your notice which would be one week for each complete year (up to a maximum of 12). The weekly salary maximum weekly salary is £330 when calculating redundancy pay.

I hope this has helped with your question. Good luck.