Voluntary redundancy - Getting more if you're over 41?!

[sim667]

So at work, for about the 5th year in a row, there's going to be another consultancy period. My union hae already kicked up a stink about a number of things in the consultation, general sneakiness, and some serious backscratching in the higher echelons of the SLT.

However one thing I've noticed today is that two colleagues have asked for the calculations for their voluntary redundancy packages, and in the email they received it contains the formula to work out the redundancy packages....

Its essentially that you get a weeks pay for every year you've been here, but if you're over 41 then you get a week and a half pay for every year you've worked here, regardless of how long you've been here.

How is that legit? I just want to verify this before I go and shit stir with my union.

 

[spanglechick]

So at work, for about the 5th year in a row, there's going to be another consultancy period. My union hae already kicked up a stink about a number of things in the consultation, general sneakiness, and some serious backscratching in the higher echelons of the SLT.

However one thing I've noticed today is that two colleagues have asked for the calculations for their voluntary redundancy packages, and in the email they received it contains the formula to work out the redundancy packages....

Its essentially that you get a weeks pay for every year you've been here, but if you're over 41 then you get a week and a half pay for every year you've worked here, regardless of how long you've been here.

How is that legit? I just want to verify this before I go and shit stir with my union.

compensation for disruption to pensions or something?

 

[marty21]

I did look this up last year when I thought I was going to be made redundant - and being slightly *cough* over 41 I was entitled to the enhanced rate - I wasn't made redundant in the end - and the redundancy payment wouldn't have been that great anyway

 

[Fez909]

If you are made redundant, you are entitled to:

• 1.5 weeks’ pay (currently capped at £380 per week) for each year of service in which you were aged 41 or over
• 1 week’s pay for each year you were under 41
• Half a week’s pay for each year you were under 22
• Covers up to a maximum 20 years service

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/work-and-learning/redundancy/redundancy-entitlements/

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

It's a week and a half for every completed years service over the age of 41 - and only half a week for under 22.

https://www.gov.uk/redundant-your-rights/redundancy-pay

 

[farmerbarleymow]

compensation for disruption to pensions or something?

Possibly. Where I work the compensation payments are paid by the pension scheme, so are directly linked to the settlement you get dependant on length of service (and hence age), and the consequent reduced/loss of pension as a result of redundancy. Still looks shit for younger staff though.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/work-and-learning/redundancy/redundancy-entitlements/

Quite right - us old duffers deserve to get more cash.

 

[Fez909]

Quite right - us old duffers deserve to get more cash.

piss off, granddad

 

[farmerbarleymow]

piss off, granddad

Fucking whippersnapper.

 

[sim667]

Well thats bollocks.

Discriminatory laws

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Well thats bollocks.

Discriminatory laws

I know how you feel. It pisses me off that people over 50 get even better deals, and I feel, as a 40 something, shortchanged. But the older you are the more impact redundancy causes generally, so the terms are better. I'm obviously not complaining about this out of pure self interest.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

This sounds like basic statutory redundancy payment. Some employers offer enhanced payments for voluntary redundancy but unless forms part of your employment contract, they don't have to.

As far as I'm aware, the different level for over 40s has been in law for quite some time. I think it's fair to say that, on average, people over 40 are going to have more of a struggle to get another job.

A few other little thoughts (the "you" being generic here) -

I think that taking voluntary redundancy doesn't count as 'voluntarily unemployed' as far as the dole is concerned, the same as resigning does, you (or your colleagues) may want to check this.

Volunteering for redundancy may affect entitlements under any private (e.g. mortgage protection) insurance though.

If you've been working for a year or two, you should have enough national insurance contributions to get contributions based JSA (dole) for 6 months, irrespective of partner's income and any savings you have (and the redundancy pay will count as savings) You will however still have to jump through the "available for and actively seeking work" hoops.

Depending on circumstances / household income and savings, you may be eligible to apply for housing benefit (for rent), council tax reduction (for council tax) straight off. There are some circumstances where you can get help with mortgage interest, but I'm fuzzy about this.

After that 6 months, it's income related JSA - and partner's earnings / savings will come in to the calculation, as they will from day one for housing benefit etc.

There are also some employers whose cuntitude is such that they will note who is volunteering for redundancy and try and get rid of them by other means - either dodgy disciplinaries or shoving them into a job that's either impossible or bloody awful.

This is CAB's online starting point to the whole redundancy thing, including selection for redundancy, redundancy pay and benefits.

Hope you get whatever outcome is best for you.

 

[marty21]

Quite right - us old duffers deserve to get more cash.

we need it as we buy more cardigans, slippers, and cocoa

 

[sim667]

This sounds like basic statutory redundancy payment. Some employers offer enhanced payments for voluntary redundancy but unless forms part of your employment contract, they don't have to.

As far as I'm aware, the different level for over 40s has been in law for quite some time. I think it's fair to say that, on average, people over 40 are going to have more of a struggle to get another job.

A few other little thoughts (the "you" being generic here) -

I think that taking voluntary redundancy doesn't count as 'voluntarily unemployed' as far as the dole is concerned, the same as resigning does, you (or your colleagues) may want to check this.

Volunteering for redundancy may affect entitlements under any private (e.g. mortgage protection) insurance though.

If you've been working for a year or two, you should have enough national insurance contributions to get contributions based JSA (dole) for 6 months, irrespective of partner's income and any savings you have (and the redundancy pay will count as savings) You will however still have to jump through the "available for and actively seeking work" hoops.

Depending on circumstances / household income and savings, you may be eligible to apply for housing benefit (for rent), council tax reduction (for council tax) straight off. There are some circumstances where you can get help with mortgage interest, but I'm fuzzy about this.

After that 6 months, it's income related JSA - and partner's earnings / savings will come in to the calculation, as they will from day one for housing benefit etc.

There are also some employers whose cuntitude is such that they will note who is volunteering for redundancy and try and get rid of them by other means - either dodgy disciplinaries or shoving them into a job that's either impossible or bloody awful.

This is CAB's online starting point to the whole redundancy thing, including selection for redundancy, redundancy pay and benefits.

Hope you get whatever outcome is best for you.

The ones that are enquiring about it are either thinking about retiring or partially retired.... So they're considering it as they'll both get good pay offs, they've kind of had enough anyway and it will open up positions for the younger members of staff.

My places has tried cuntitude practice before, and it spectacularly back fired, with the principal being forced to hand in his noticed, and a "reshuffle" (demotion) of a lot of the SLT..... So i don't think they'll try it again.. Theres two very active unions here too, we've already forced them to change from an "informal" consultation to a formal one, as they were trying to sneak it in through the back door. There was talk of working to contract to point out how much they need staff too (I do around 3 hours unpaid overtime per week, other staff do lots lots more).

 

[cesare]

S162 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 is where you find the formula for calculation of Statutory Redundancy Pay
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/section/162

It's not in contravention of equality legislation - it's specifically provided for in the Equality Act 2010 as are enhanced redundancy payments as long as they enhance the formula in the ERA.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/9/part/2/crossheading/redundancy

 

[sim667]

Still bollocks.

e2a: I wont be taking voluntary redundancy, they'll have to put me through consultation, and Ill want paying back for the qualifications they asked me to do (paying out of my own pocket) and wont be able to finish without my teaching hours.

 

[cesare]

Still bollocks.

It is harder for older people to get jobs though ... but that formula's been in place for bloody years. Since the time when hitting 40 meant that you struggled to get a job. It's not quite as hard (relatively) nowadays, depending on the sector.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

I am thinking about applying for voluntary redundancy as I'm now in the third year of S118's and I'm really tired of the whole musical chairs shenanigans including increasing workload as those left pick up the work of those gone.

advice? perspective? I am 46, have worked here for 6 years 2 mth
have to apply by end of July
No one yet knows who's jobs are earmarked to go and we'll only have two weeks between finding that out and the VS scheme ending
I've had enough here but worry about not getting another job etc etc

 

[equationgirl]

No harm in asking for the calculation, you're not obliged to take it.

 

[StoneRoad]

It is only completed years service that count for the calculations.
I got caught by that once - during the "consultation" it was suggested that the enhanced redundancy calculation would include pro-rata for the final (part year) - which in my case was 10, almost 11 months - but eventually, the actual money I got was the statutory minimum they could achieve, and they ignored the regular overtime when working it out ...

 

[catinthehat]

When I got my calculation they included all my teaching service not just in the specific job I held at the time. I had calculated myself from the basis of being in that job for 14 years but when I got the calculation officially they included my whole teaching period - 25 years.

 

[sim667]

I'd forgotten about this thread......

I took voluntary redundancy due another round of redundancies a year later..... go double my statutory, and told them I wanted to leave at the end of the working day (rather than the 3 months notice). They then tried to insist I had to work the second part time contract I had with them (90 mins a week) till the end of the academic year (that 3 months).

Told them to get fucked and took my money.