Been told I may be dismissed but no notice and no updates

[Melmoth71]

Hi there, thanks in advance for any help.

I am a graphic designer and I have been threatened with dismissal at work but have not been given notice.

I have worked for a large multinational company for six years. My work has always been deemed satisfactory and I haven't faced any issues with the company in spite of having a difficult and manipulative manager. Since lockdown I have been working from home.

The company is making changes and restructuring its operations. It seems that the company's structure is being simplified with some top executives about to be let go from the information I have. I have known for some time that the company may want to move some operations abroad to save costs. Graphic design would be a candidate as it obviously can be done from anywhere. I don't work for external clients, I handle design jobs that are given to me from other departments in the company, for company publications, social media content etc.

My manager told me a few weeks ago that as a result of this restructuring there would be changes to our department and I would be given notice. A colleague in the department (another designer) was told the same and was given notice straight away. However I have not been given notice or any updates from my manager, the HR department, or anyone else. My manager has stopped communicating with me altogether and I am now getting only the odd job now and then. I use my time mostly upskilling and finding and applying to other job opportunities. I have been fed up with the company and my manager for a long time and this situation has made me even keener to leave.

I am concerned about this bizarre and uncertain situation and I am not sure what to do. Is this about my redundancy pay? Is the company avoiding giving me notice hoping that I will get fed up and leave of my own accord without pay? Or are they setting me up in some way so that they can dismiss me without compensation?

My understanding is that, if they want to claim my work is unsatisfactory, they would have to explain why and set up a process to rectify the situation- They can't just dismiss me under any old pretext. But I'm still very worried.

I have drafted an email to my manager and HR asking them to clarify my situation, but I'm not sure what the consequences may be if I send it. My manager is very manipulative and I'm not sure what he might do.

For now I just sign in on our internal system every morning as usual and do everything by the book so as to not give them any reason to criticise my work. This impasse is very stressful.

Any input or advice much appreciated- Thanks!

[ULA]

Restructuring of a organisation can give rise to redundancy situation which is what this potentially sounds like is happening. If the outcome of the restructuring is less than 20 redundancies then the company should undertake individual consultations.

As you have said then an email to your manager and include HR to try and find out where they are in the consultation process would be a good place to try and find out what is going on, at least in the first instance.