Redundancy package - after maternity and reorg
Hey everyone. I’m going to write this (in parallel I’m already looking for legal advice so I’m just waiting to hear from them) to see if anyone went through something similar.
My role has been confirmed at risk of redundancy. I was on maternity leave, then paid time off and lastly parents leave.
I have been asked during the last month of my leave (Maternity leave already finished) to join consultation calls. To be honest, the process was a mess. HR was just ticking boxes and my current manager was not helpful at all. There was a preference for other candidates (they were already working together). The package they offer is statutory + small ex gratia and payment for the notice instead of working. So that’s an equivalent of ~3 months salary.
In summary, my role is not disappearing though I’m being made redundant, it’s “evolving” as part of a restructure in the company, they’re reducing headcount. This role will be performed by another colleague. Additionally, I wasn’t offered any other positions, they told me to apply through the careers site (as any candidate would do). They didn’t offer me any alternative roles, they made me do tests and interviews for some other roles I knew I wasn’t a strong fit and the one which was my current role (evolved with additional tasks), and an interview for my current enhanced role. I still did very well in the interviews, but I knew their decision was made before then.
I guess my questions here (which I will also discuss with the solicitor) are:
- could there be a case of unfair dismissal? The process was not transparent or structured, there was clear bias from the manager and the role will still exist. That’s apart from no clarity in the selection criteria.
- Could there be a case of maternity discrimination? I know this might be a bit more tricky as I was already back from maternity leave, but I had to go on emergency leave during the previous restructure as my baby was born premature, this was inconvenient for the company at that time and I know that other colleagues were working with this manager who is making my role redundant, I didn’t have the opportunity to show my work or skills and I feel I was being put at a disadvantage throughout the whole process.
- Any experience handling a claim like this one before going to WRC or even after?
I just want to understand if anyone went through something similar, if you were able to negotiate or if you have any recommendations apart from contacting a solicitor who specializes in work matters. Thanks!