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The Daily Insight

What is risk of redundancy

Author

Robert Spencer

Published Mar 20, 2026

You might be told you’re at risk of redundancy if your employer has one or more jobs they can’t afford or no longer need. Your employer has a lot of freedom to choose who they make redundant, but there are still rules they have to follow.

How long are you at risk for redundancy?

Some firms can keep their employees ‘at risk’ of redundancy for up to 12 months while they try to find a position for them elsewhere in the company. Normally if your employer makes you ‘at risk’ it is a good sign because it means they are looking for a solution and do not want to make you redundant.

What are the negative effects of redundancy?

The effects of redundancy People who are faced with redundancy often have to reorganise their lives, and therefore may encounter immediate problems such as paying household bills. Losing a job can cause a range of feelings but the most common are feelings of shock, worthlessness, loss of purpose or confidence.

What do you say to someone at risk of redundancy?

A simple acknowledgment of your feelings is enough. You might say, “I just heard the news, I’m shocked and so sorry” or “How can I help right now?” You can always offer more support later. Try to respond privately and one-to-one—ideally, face-to-face or, if the employee has left the workplace, by phone.

What is a redundancy situation?

A redundancy situation may arise where a business continues to operate but there is no longer a need for the skills for which the employee was taken on. … Redundancy may also arise if an employer reorganises the business to improve its efficiency, so that fewer people are needed to do the same amount of work.

Is statutory redundancy pay increasing in 2021?

April 2021 employment law changes: Five things for HR to do In April 2021, these changes include the extension of IR35 reforms to the private sector, a tweak to the national minimum wage age bands, and increases to statutory redundancy pay and statutory maternity pay.

What do I do if my job is at risk of redundancy?

  1. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you need help at any stage.
  2. Check if your employer has discriminated.
  3. Check if you’ve been chosen for a fair reason.
  4. Make sure your employer holds a group consultation if they’re making at least 20 people redundant.

Can my employer make me redundant and give my job to someone else?

Employment lawyer’s answer: Unfortunately, employers are allowed to make an employee redundant and then hire someone to do the job for lower pay. … If they didn’t offer you this role or other alternative employment then you may have a claim for unfair dismissal.

How do companies decide who gets made redundant?

The following criteria can be used when selecting employees for redundancy: Skills and experience; Attendance and disciplinary records; Standard of work performance; and.

Can you be made redundant without consultation?

If you’re an employee affected by redundancies, by law your employer must consult you. This is even if you’re not at risk of redundancy yourself. … By law they must meet with you at least once. They might need to talk to you more than once to make sure they can respond to your suggestions or requests.

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How do I survive redundancy?

  1. Do not take it personally. During the redundancy process your employer will make an effort to show it is the role that is being made redundant, not you. …
  2. Try not to panic. …
  3. Know your rights. …
  4. Put together a plan. …
  5. Get support.

What are the social effects of redundancy?

As Dr Laurence states, “being made redundant from your job not only makes people less willing to trust others but that this increased distrust and cynicism lasts at least nine years after being forced out of work”.

How does redundancy affect you physically?

Anxiety caused by redundancy or the threat of it, can have physical as well as emotional effects. … Anxiety can be self-perpetuating, as the symptoms are distressing in themselves. Feelings can include: Feeling afraid or very worried.

What are the 5 fair reasons for redundancy?

Fair reasons for redundancy must be objective and able to be measured. For example, attendance history, punctuality, skills and experience, performance and disciplinary history are all considered as fair reasons for redundancy. Length of service and qualifications may also be considered.

What are reasons for redundancy?

  • The need for the worker has diminished or ceased. …
  • New systems in the workplace. …
  • The job no longer exists because other workers are doing the work you carried out. …
  • The workplace has closed or is closing down. …
  • The business moves. …
  • The business is transferred to another employer.

Is redundancy a termination?

Redundancy occurs when an employer either decides they no longer need an employee’s job to be done by anyone, or the employer becomes insolvent or bankrupt, and terminates their employment. The job itself, not the employee, becomes redundant.

Can you get a mortgage if you are at risk of redundancy?

Generally speaking, most experts would not advise applying for a mortgage if you know you are going to experience financial difficulty or uncertainty. When you apply for a mortgage, providers will ask for details about your employment and whether you are at risk of redundancy (which will go on record).

Do you work notice when made redundant?

If you’re made redundant, your job won’t end straight away – you’ll get a paid notice period. You might get notice pay instead of your notice period – this is called ‘pay in lieu of notice’. Your employer will tell you if they’ll give you pay in lieu of notice. … This is as well as any redundancy pay you’re entitled to.

How long should a redundancy consultation period be?

There’s no time limit for how long the period of consultation should be, but the minimum is: 20 to 99 redundancies – the consultation must start at least 30 days before any dismissals take effect. 100 or more redundancies – the consultation must start at least 45 days before any dismissals take effect.

What is a good redundancy package?

An average to good negotiated settlement is equivalent to four to six month’s equivalent salary, including notice.

Is redundancy pay tax & NI free?

Payments in lieu of notice: you might be expected to work your notice period before your redundancy takes effect, but often you will get a payment in lieu of notice and be able to leave straight away. From 6 April 2018 such payments are always fully taxable and liable to NIC.

Is redundancy tax free?

If you’ve been made redundant and are getting redundancy pay, you might be wondering if you have to pay tax on it. … But, some other parts of your redundancy package, such as holiday pay and pay in lieu of notice, will be taxed in the same way as regular income.

What is forced redundancy?

Forced redundancies are, as the name implies, where an employee is involuntarily terminated due to redundancy. There is no prohibition on the employee later accepting employment with the same or a related employer.

Can you be made redundant for poor performance?

This definition makes it clear that you cannot use redundancy as the reason for dismissing a poorly performing employee. Furthermore, if you recruited someone into the same or a similar role soon after, your real motive will be obvious and you could end up with an unfair dismissal claim.

What is compulsory redundancy?

Compulsory redundancy, also known as mandatory redundancy, is when a business terminates a contract with an employee due to business circumstances rather than behavioral or performance-related issues. The most common reasons for compulsory redundancy are when employers are: Reducing their number of staff.

Can I be rehired after redundancy?

Once employment has terminated by reason of redundancy, if the economic situation suddenly changes and the employer needs to employ someone, it may re-employ the redundant employee. … The employer is under no obligation to offer the redundant employee their job back; it is entitled to recruit someone else instead.

What is a sham redundancy?

Examples of a sham redundancy Your employer has either taken on someone new to carry out your role, or advertised it externally. The role remains the same but your employer simply amends the job title. You are made redundant from a part-time role because they want to make it full-time.

Can I go back to the same company after redundancy?

An employee who is re-employed after having been made redundant can retain their statutory redundancy payment, whether or not they are immediately re-employed or return to work for the same employer at a later date. … The employer should therefore ensure that it can demonstrate that the redundancy was genuine.

What should I ask at redundancy consultation?

  • Is this a genuine redundancy situation? …
  • How has the pool of “at risk” employees been identified? …
  • Is the process of selection fair? …
  • Have you been fairly selected for redundancy? …
  • Has your employer considered alternatives to redundancy?

Can I ask my employer for redundancy?

To volunteer for redundancy, you can ask your employer. It’s a good idea to put it in writing. You should follow your employer’s policy or procedure for voluntary redundancy, if they have one. Your employer does not have to agree to make you redundant as they will be considering the needs of the business as a whole.

What benefits can I claim if I have been made redundant?

If you’ve been made redundant or been told that you will soon be made redundant, there are 3 main types of financial support that could be available to you: Universal Credit. New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (New Style JSA) New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA)