Unfair Redundancy

hi there,

I have worked for a senior partner in a law firm for over two years and have today been told that I am being made redundant.

Redundancy meetings took place about 6 months ago, we all received the letters and had our meeting and I was told that I would be okay. At that meeting however, i was told that i would be made redundant in the future if any further redundacies were carried out. The reason for this is that I had ten days sick last year (my young son had an operation and my mum was in hospital). I took the sick days as holiday or unpaid leave as we do not get any sick pay. I have never received any warnings about my time off. Apart from the time off I was told that they were very pleased with me. I then worked as normal and today had my appraisal. To my shock, I was told that I was being made redundant! My actual position is not redundant but that they are closing another office. A fee earner who is a conveyancer and not a secretary is taking over my job. She has been there years and I think that they want to keep her as they would have to give her a fair amount of redundancy pay. I have been given my notice and will receive 2 weeks redundancy.

Is my redundancy unfair?

thanks anyone who can help x

Dear Lisa

I am sorry to hear of your predicament.

However, I dont think your Company is being fair as making the selections 6 months ago does not represent the situation as it is now.

You may have been notified that if things dont improve then the office will have to close but no redundancy can be confirmed until the statutory redundancy process has been followed and you have been given the opportunity to consult and by the sounds of it review your score assessments and challenge them. You also have the right of appeal against your selection.

I also dont feel it is fair for you to be called to have an appraisal and informed its not but a redundancy consultation. From the sound of it it seems the redundancy has been confirmed in one meeting?

Also, if you took the time off as unpaid dependency leave then using that is unfair as it was not sick leave. Was this 10 days or 10 days say over 3 occasions?

it is hard to advise as the situation is not that clear, but what does seem clear is that your position has been identified as at risk of redundancy as the work can be incorporated into a more senior person's role. Again, only you can judge whether this is a fair selection.

I would suggest you review the BERR website to see if they have followed the statutory redundancy process and if you feel your selection is unfair then appeal.

Hope this helps

Best wishes

Carol

Hi Lisa,

In the interest of privacy, I've changed your username from your email address to simpy lisab.