Redundancy means a job disappears regardless of who has been doing it. Redundancies may happen because an employer needs to reduce the workforce in response to a change in working methods or as part of a drive to increase efficiency. The number of employees in one department may be decreasing while numbers in another department are growing according to the organisation's needs.
Learning about the disappearance of your job is traumatic but redundancy, is acceptable in the eyes of the law if your employer fulfils his or her legal obligations. So what is the best way to move forward?
- You have the right to be granted a reasonable amount of time off for job hunting - so do use it
- Be aware that legally employers are expected to look across the organisation for alternative work for employees who have gone through the redundancy process
- Ask your employer if there is a possibility of receiving training as part of the redundancy package
- Take advantage of any in-house redundancy programme particularly if it offers advice on cv writing, interview skills and filling out application forms. These are all areas which are regularly subject to changes in law and accepted practice
- Sign on for Jobseeker's Allowance immediately as this will ensure you receive any benefits you are entitled to as well as payment of your National Insurance
- Make sure you are told what will happen to your pension in terms of the value of a deferred pension and the value of a transfer payment to another pension scheme
- Take control of the situation by looking forward to the possibility of a new job. Contact the recruitment agencies which specialise in information and library appointments. The amount of help they can offer will partly depend on your geographical location but they will give you a realistic assessment of how they can help you. All will be able to offer advice on improving CVs.
- Seriously consider temporary contracts. Employers sometimes use these as a method of recruitment so it may be a route through to permanent work. Also, be aware that under the 2002 Fixed-term Employees Regulations people on both permanent and fixed-term contracts have the right to comparable terms and conditions, including being able to join the organisation's pension scheme
- Scan the appropriate press for job ads, including any specialist library publications and websites - CILIPUPDATE with gazette and the online version LISJobnet. Check the Times, Guardian and FT, find out the appropriate days of the week for library & information ads and scan methodically or sign up for alerting services from them.
Further help
ACAS website, Redundancy handling
Citizens Advice Bureau and TUC, Coping with the economic downturn: a practical guide for working people and their families, November 2008
Directgov, Redundancy web pages
Park, D., (2007) 'The comedy tie of redundancy: Your guide to spotting the danger signs', Impact, Vol 10, No 3.
CILIP members have access to the Employment Law Helpline