Redundancy notice revoked

We were put at risk of redundancy in February 09 and were served with our notice on 19th March.

We have now been informed that a job match has been found and our redundancy offer has been revoked.

We are wanting to take our redundancy. Are the company within their rights to revoke our redundancy?

Thanks.

Hi Sophie&Rich

Your employer has a duty to continue to seek alternative employment for you right up to the day that your employment ends. Sometimes, employers can have a change in circumstances (e.g. a new contract is gained) and they may be in a position to withdraw the redundancy notice and offer you your old job back.

Once the company has issued notice of termination (which they have in your case) they are unable to just unilaterally withdraw that notice, they have to gain your consent to do so.

In some cases, this is good news and employees will breathe a sigh of relief that they are no longer redundant, but in other cases employees may have secured new positions in other companies.

Whether you will still receive your redundancy pay if you decline the offer to renew your contact of employment will depend upon the circumstances and the reasons surrounding your refusal and how reasonable it is.

If you have a new job to go to, I would say that is a reasonable grounds to refuse the offer whilst retaining your redundancy pay.

If you need any further help with this, please don't hesitate to return to the forum.