Redundancy
Legal support when facing redundancy
Redundancy solicitors
Have you recently been made redundant or think your role is under threat and you are not being treated fairly?
Our team of employment solicitors are on hand to give you straightforward legal advice and make sure your redundancy is handled fairly.
We can also give advice on settlement agreements, discrimination and bullying, if you think your redundancy is related.
Helping you through being made redundant
Redundancies are unfortunate but all too common within the workplace. Yet it is important to remember that redundancy has arisen because your job is being reduced or will cease to exist – rather than through any fault of your own.
Your employer has a duty to ensure you are treated fairly throughout the redundancy process and receive what you are entitled to.
Why does redundancy happen?
There are a number of reasons why an employer might decide to make redundancies.
For example, because they are relocating or closing the business or new technology has rendered your role obsolete. Potentially, the job you were originally employed for no longer exists. Or it could be that the company is looking to reduce costs by letting go of staff.
If you are facing a redundancy situation, or think your role is under threat, and are not being treated fairly it is worth seeking legal advice.
This will help ensure you receive the right amount of redundancy pay based on your length of service or even see whether your job can be saved.
Our employment lawyers can advise you on all aspects of redundancy. Contact our team for a free initial chat.
What are my rights during redundancy?
You still have certain legal rights when facing redundancy and your employer should take certain steps before making any redundancies. This includes letting you know in advance about any potential redundancy and giving you sufficient notice.
By seeking legal advice when you are facing redundancy we can ensure that your employer has fairly selected you for redundancy and given meaningful consideration to any alternatives to redundancy, as well as making sure you receive what you are entitled to.
Am I entitled to get redundancy pay?
If you have worked for your employer for 2 years or more, then you are entitled to statutory redundancy pay.
Your statutory redundancy payments are capped up to 20 years of service. As a result of the statutory caps, the maximum you can receive from redundancy pay is £21,000 (in 2024/25).
This is the maximum even if your earnings were higher or the length of service was longer.
How can we help if I’m being made redundant?
We can advise and guide you on the following:
- TUPE
- Redundancy Consultation
- Redundancy Entitlement
- Voluntary Redundancy
- Compulsory Redundancy
- Claims for Unfair Dismissal
- Settlement Agreements
- Redundancy Policies
I am being made redundant. What should I do?
If you have been informed that you are being made redundant, then it’s important to make sure your employer is following rules and procedures that are in place to protect employees.
These include consulting you about any potential redundancy, considering alternative employment to redundancy and any suitable alternative vacancies. They also need to ensure that you receive the correct amount of notice and redundancy pay.
If your employer fails to follow the rules, or if it appears that your role is not genuinely redundant, then you may be able to appeal your redundancy and make a claim.
Why choose our redundancy lawyers for legal advice?
With experience in serving both businesses and individuals for nearly 200 years, we are well placed to offer advice and guidance covering all aspects of employment law.
Our employment law team are knowledgeable in helping both employers and employees and can provide a full spectrum of advice around this area. Regardless of whether you have just been notified your job is at risk or you are currently going through the redundancy process, we can help you.
Read our FAQs below, or get in touch.
Redundancy FAQs
How much redundancy pay should I get?
If you have been employed for at least two years you will receive redundancy pay. The amount you receive is dependant on your age:
- you’ll receive half a weeks’ pay for each full year of employment in which you were under the age of 22
- one weeks’ pay for each full year of employment between the ages of 22 and 40
- and 1.5 weeks’ pay for each full year of employment in which you were not below age 41.
It is also worth noting that weekly payments are capped at £700 and the maximum amount of statutory pay is limited to £21,000 (in 2024/25).
However, depending on your contract of employment and any company redundancy policies, you may receive more than this.
Am I entitled to take time off to look for work if I have been made redundant?
Yes, you are entitled to paid leave to look for another position and attend job interviews.
If you have worked for your employer for at least two years, they are required to pay you 40% of a week’s pay to cover your time off.
However, they are not obligated to pay you for any extra time taken off.
I have been offered a settlement agreement, what do I do next?
If you’ve been offered a settlement agreement, you’re required to get advice from a legal professional. That’s because only once you have received independent legal advice will the agreement become binding.
Our employment law experts can check over the settlement agreement to help you decide whether it is the best deal for you or negotiate a better deal.
Or we can see if you have any grounds for a claim against your employer including discrimination or unfair dismissal.
How much notice of redundancy should I get?
It’s a legal requirement for your employer to give you a sufficient notice period before making you redundant.
The length of notice period differs depending on how long you have been in your job, but is currently:
- at least a week if you have been in your role between one month and two years
- one week for each year if you’ve been employed between two and 12 years
- 12 weeks’ notice if you have been employed for more than 12 years.
Is it possible to appeal redundancy ,and if so how do I make an appeal?
Yes, if you believe your employer did not use a fair process to select you for redundancy then you may be able to appeal.
Your employer might have an appeals process, otherwise, you can write a redundancy appeal letter.
Your employer can then either accept your appeal or reject it.
If you are not satisfied with your employer’s decision you can take your claim to an employment tribunal. We can guide and represent you through this process.
Our expert team of lawyers will ensure that you don’t lose out on what you’re owed.
