Short time and redundancy

[messycess]

Hi guys i'm wondering if i could get some advice on a situation at work.

a while ago a certain department was told they are to go on short time (37.5 hrs reduced to 29.5 hrs) this was accepted and new contracts were agreed.

today ( around 10 weeks later) the same department has been told their hours will be reduced by a further 5.5 hrs.

a little google search shows me that after 4 continuous weeks on short time, an employee can ask for redundancy. Is this correct?

in said meeting the question was asked "why dont you make us redundant"? To wich the reply was "we cant afford it".

this is a seperate department to where i work but i get the feeling the management are trying to get the people to leave rather than paying them redundancy.

some of this department have been employed 15-20 years!

if any one has any advice/information i would be very greatfull.

thanks in advance.

[teaboy2]

Re: Short time and redundancy

Not unless you have also received less than half a weeks pay (compared to what you got paid before) for the 4 weeks! As your hours have not been cut by 50% then neither has your weekly/monthly wage. So no you can not apply for redundancy.


When you say new contracts were signed, can you give more details please? As their is no need to sign new contracts!

[messycess]

Re: Short time and redundancy

Ok thanks teaboy

i was told they were given new contracts, ill speak with them tomorrow.

[teaboy2]

Re: Short time and redundancy

Ok thanks teaboy

i was told they were given new contracts, ill speak with them tomorrow.

If they have been given new contracts then they are not on short time, they have effectively had their contractual hours varied and the new contractual hours are what they are working now! Unfortunately if that is the case, then theirs nothing that can be done once those contracts were signed. Though we need to know the exact wording of anything that was signed!