Should I Take Redundancy Settlement - One Months Pay

[joey122mac]

Wow a lot of info on this forum

Worked for 4 years at Accenture and had good reviews and was leading a team in Glasgow

Was told I am at risk of redundancy which I know means that they want me out

They offered me one month pay and my notice period to sign a settlement agreement.

Question:
My questions really is : Is that a fair offer and what leverage do I have over them? I tried to negotiate a month per service but they wont budge on anything

Background :
1) Running a team of six and a more senior guy from the company gets placed in the porject a month ago and then pushes me out.
2) No redundacy pool or selection criteria

Alternatives :
If I dont accept the settlement they will do consultations which I am told by HR is one week apart and then just pay me statutory redundancy

HR keep pushing me to make a quick decision warning me they will withdraw the settlement and do a consultation approach - Are they bluffing?

I wont work again because I am in late 40s and the market is dead.
Its less then 20 people apparently so they dont need to do collective consultation in 90 days

[ULA]

You cannot make a quick decision without seeking independent legal advise if the company is asking you to sign a Settlement Agreement (SA). This is a document which sets out the terms under which the company and you agree to the termination of your employment. The important part of this document will set out the contractual payments they will make to you and the compensatory payment. This latter payment is what they are paying you for giving up any rights you have to make a subsequent claim against your employer. From what you have set out they they are not offering any compensatory payment, just what they are contractually obliged to pay.

Part of the process of signing a SA is that you will be required to take independent legal advice from an employment law specialist. Part of their job is to ensure that the compensation being offered is at the correct level given the circumstances and the rights that you are giving up to not bring any further claims. If they do not feel you are being offered enough compensation, then they would have to negotiate with your employer to increase the sum being offered.

Most employment advisers have a standard payment for providing this advice which is between £500 and £750 which is generally the rate that the employer offers to pay. This is usually enough to cover the costs if the SA is straight forward and there is not much back and forth negotiating terms on your behalf.

In your case if your employer is asking for you to sign a Settlement Agreement, I would suggest engaging an employment law advisor and explain the situation, they should also ask for a copy of your contract of employment. They can then best advise as to what you should reasonable expect to receive and negotiate accordingly.

[atticus]

Accenture is a large outfit, as you know. You would be unwise to think they are bluffing.

Why do you think that at your age you will not work again? That seems very defeatist to me (somewhat older than you).