Reply With QuoteCan't help but sorry to hear your news...
Well after 36 years of working for the same employer I along with my 4 work colleague's received redundancy notices this morning.
3 months notice from this Friday, 1st time unemployed in 46 years as a joiner,
and it feels like I've had my guts ripped out.
The firm is a very small Ltd Company and we all feel getting any renumeration will
be like trying to get blood from a stone.
Anyone with any information as to what direction we need to head in will be greatly
appreciated.
I've done a little research this afternoon and believe the max amount of years that can
contribute to redundancy is 20, which will be used to calculate any renumeration, we all had
a short spell being self employed for 5 years, 15 years ago.
Can anybody tell me if this 5 years can still count towards the 20 needed for the maximum SRP ?
We can all prove unbroken service way back, in my case 36 years some of the other chaps 40 odd.
As previously mentioned, any advice will be greatly appreciated, and thanks for taking the time to read this.
Regards
Brian.
Can't help but sorry to hear your news...
Sorry to hear this, it may not seem like much comfort at the moment but at least you have a trade you can utilise, good tradesmen are always in demand.
I'm not certain but I'm reasonably sure that your "self employed" time with the company will mean you don't qualify for the maximum statutory period of 20 years, however I'm also reasonably sure that in the event the company cannot pay you the required statutory redundancy that you can claim this from the government.
Good luck, hope you find something else soon.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Brian.
This may help for an idea on statutory redundancy pay :
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-your-redundancy-pay/
Sorry to hear about your news. I would definitely get some proper advice on each of your individual situations. I found these people to be helpful when I was made redundant last year. No idea if they will be of help to you, but worth a try and hopefully someone else will be along soon to offer something more directly relevant.
http://www.acas.org.uk/
On a more personal, immediate note good advice I was given was stay calm and use the time you have to set yourself up as best you can for whatever is round the corner. Get advice from professionals, start to put together a short term financial plan, sort out CV, hit up old contacts, start looking for new work, stay healthy, keep you loved ones close.
It is a crappy time but you will come out of it. Stay strong. Good luck.
Ed
- - - Updated - - -
Double post.
Last edited by eduk; 12th February 2013 at 20:44. Reason: Double post
There can't be many people out there that have the type of experiance that you have, 46 years is a very long time in the same trade.
Building work up here in the North-East is starting up again in a big way hopefully it'll be the same all over the UK.
Good luck with everything
If they are going bust or can't afford to pay your severance/redundancy, there is a government scheme, the government pay and become a creditor of the company.
Sorry to hear your news. If you were truly self employed during those five years then it will not count towards your redundancy pay calculation. If you have 15 years continuous service as an employee then, if you get statutory redundancy pay, you will get 15 weeks pay (capped at a maximum of 450 per week) but you will also get a multiplier of 1.5 against a weeks pay for any years you have worked when you are 41 or older. There is a useful calculator here:https://www.gov.uk/calculate-your-redundancy-pay
Please note that no reliance should be placed on this advice. If you are concerned about getting paid then you should talk to a solicitor or go to the citizens advice bureau. ACAS will also be able to give you some guidance.
Last edited by Woody9811; 12th February 2013 at 21:08.
You have a great practical skill and I wish you well. You need to talk to an employment specialist. It's well worth the few hundred pounds it might cost for peace of mind and, with a fair wind, ensuring you get what's due.
Gray
Sorry to read this Brian.
Companies cannot renege on redundancy payments = as already posted, there is a government scheme in place to prevent this.
Best wishes for the future.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
I lasted 3 years working for a firm as a joiner, then in the recession 08 I got laid off. I went self employed for a few years after that and I'm acquiring another trade.
I can't offer and legal advice, but with that much experience there's a boat load of people that you could pass that knowledge on too.
Career wise I think you've still got a lot to offer, I hope it all pans out well.
I believe if you are over a certain age. Not sure but circa 50 I believe you are entitled to a larger package. Ie. instead of one week for every year it is 1.5
Thanks for your replies gentlemen.
I have looked at a number of the mentioned websites before my original post so have a very rough idea of what my entitlement should be.
The main reason I mentioned the self-employed period, (and perhaps I never made it clear) I and my work mates never stopped working
for the same company, the boss decided that it suited his needs better if we went self-employed !!!
He paid us a bit more, and saved himself a fortune not paying N.I. Holiday Pay & Sick Pay. In 2000 he had to put us back on PAYE or face a £50k fine.
I took advice at the time and I'm pretty sure I was told that given the circumstances the 5 years would still count towards continuous employment as long as I could prove this. This I can do.
I shall try and contact some of the suggested departments tomorrow and see how things pan out.
At nearly 62 years of age and a disabled wife to support this type of thing really stops you dead in your tracks.
Thanks again for all the advice and kind words.
Regards, Brian.
Brian
If that is the case then you certainly have a strong argument for your continuous service to include those 5 years. I would suggest you start off on that basis and stay firm if the contrary is suggested.
Sorry to hear the news, good luck for the future.
Sorry to here this, bloody pulls the rug out from under you doesn't it, I went through it last year and its not nice. Lots of help on the Internet on how to calculate what you should get.
Good luck mate.
Sorry to hear your news. I let my union handle my redundancy. They did a pretty good job for me. Most of my senior colleagues sympathised with mine and have since joined me in the dilemma. We spent years, jumping through hoops to get through various thresholds to reach the top of the pay scale, only to be scrapped in a reorganisation which basically got rid of most of those on top of the scale, to be replaced by youngsters, doing the same jobs (albeit quite poorly due to inexperience) on a pittance. Enjoy the free time but avoid the boredom. Remember that it is not you being made redundant but your post.
Mike
Been made redundant myself a couple of times now, never a nice experience and i know exactly what you're going through. You'll get through it. I spent a month out of work last time and it drove me crazy, but jobs ARE out there.
Brian
keep your chin up mate, my official last day was 18th January, I sent off 3 CVs and received 2 replies and attended 2 interviews, I start my new job on March 4th after being offered both jobs.
All the best and good luck
Mart
Brian,
I hope everything works out well for you. I have a mate with a similar experience, (although with quite a bit less experience for yourself). He decided to 'test the water' and see if going self-employed would work. In a short space of time, he has more work than he can shake a stick at! Having a trade behind you and with your experience will always stand you in good stead!
All the very best in whatever you do!
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