Career Guide

Know your rights

When you're made redundant, you must know and understand your rights. 
 
 First, check the BERR (Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform - formerly the DTI) site which has details of all aspects of redundancy including redundancy pay, notice and your rights in general.

The statutory redundancy arrangements are governed by the Employment Rights Act 1996. Acts are not easy to read, but use this link if you want to see it.

If you live in Northern Ireland, see the DELNI web site.

The TUC also has useful information about redundancy.
 
  
 
Redundancy pay

The government scheme for redundancy pay is called 'Statutory Redundancy Pay'. You can find out more about this scheme here.

BERR has a ready reckoner to calculate your redundancy pay. You can find it here.

The organisation which deals with redundancy payments from the government is called 'The Redundancy Payments Service' (part of the Insolvency Service). There are a number of offices around the country.

You can call the service on 0845 145 0004. There is information about claiming redundancy pay from the government in the 'Guide for Employees' .

To apply for statutory redundancy pay from the government, you must complete Form RP1 .

You do not have to pay tax or National Insurance on your redundancy pay (if it is under £30,000). More details are available from the HM Customs and Revenue web site.
 
  
 
Time off to look for work

When you're made redundant, you are entitled to time off to look for work. But the amount of time you should be given only has to be 'Reasonable' according to the law.

Most employers are happy to give you time off to find a new job. Discuss the amount of time you will be given with your supervisor, manager or Personnel (or Human Resources) department.

See the section below about disputes with your employer if they refuse to give you time off, or you feel you have not been given sufficient time to look for a new job.
 
  
 
Advice

You can get help and advice from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau (look in your phone book under Counselling and advice for your nearest office, or find it here).

In Scotland, check the 'Citizens Advice Scotland' site.

CAB have an advice site which has lots of useful information about redundancy.
 
  
 
 Claiming benefits

You may be entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or other benefits. Call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 0 55 66 88 to make a claim.

If you don't claim immediately, you may lose redundancy pay or benefits.
 
 
  
Disputes with your employer

Most employers deal fairly with their employees, but if you have a dispute with your employer you can get help from ACAS. You can also call the ACAS Helpline on 08457 474 747 .
  
For legal advice, try the Law Centres Federation to get the contact details for your nearest Law Centre.

You can also check the Community Legal Service , or call their helpline on 08453 454 345.
 
Your Trade Union may also be able to offer lots of free help and advice. To find the contact details of your union see the TUC (Trades Union Congress) site .
 
Training
  
 If you've been in the same job for a number of years, or you think you would like to change careers, now is the time to think about training to learn some new skills, or up-date the ones you already have.

The LearnDirect web site has lots of information about courses, and you can get advice about learning new skills, or changing career. You can also talk to an adviser on 0800 100 900.
  
The TUC WorkSmart site also has information about training in the 'Careers' Section of the site.

See also the Jobcentre Plus information about training, as well as DirectGov.

Don't forget to ask your employer for help with training before you leave your job. For example, they might pay for some courses for you, and/or give you time off to take some .

 
 
 Voluntary work

It's useful to do some voluntary work if you're likely to be without full time employment for any length of time - remember that finding a new job might take a few weeks or even months.

Voluntary work can help you get new skills and it also keeps you in a work routine while you're unemployed. It also looks impressive to have some voluntary work on your CV - so it can help in finding a new job.

You can do as much voluntary work as you like without losing JSA or other benefits so long as you are still looking for work and your voluntary work is unpaid (ask your adviser at Jobcentre Plus, and remember to tell them about all voluntary work you do).
There are useful links to sites about voluntary work on the Jobcentre Plus site. And there's lots of links and information about voluntary work on the DirectGov site.

You can register for voluntary work with the TimeBank web site.


 
Other useful sites

1 . DirectGov - information about all aspects of redundancy (the site also has information about a huge range of subjects and services provided by the Government).

2. Redundancy support - free site with information about redundancy.

3. TUC - detailed information about redundancy from the Trades Union Congress.

4. Connexions - help and information about careers (and other subjects) if you're aged 16-19.
  
 
 
 
 

Current statistics show that around 440,000 people are made redundant each year in the UK. It can happen to anyone, often without very much warning. 

It's important that you take immediate action about your redundancy, otherwise you might lose redundancy pay or benefits.

Follow these steps:

Redundancy

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1. know your rights.
 
2. get some help and good advice.
 
3. apply for redundancy pay.
 
4. claim for JSA or other benefits from Jobcentre Plus.
 
5. get some new skills by taking training courses.
 
6. up-date your CV.
 
7. apply for jobs.
 
8. sign-up for voluntary work to get new skills and keep in a work routine.

Telephone numbers

ACAS - 08457 474 747
 
Community Legal Service - 08453 454 345 
  
Connexions (for under 20s) - 080 800 13 2 19
  
Consumer Credit Counselling Service - 0800 138 1111 
 
Jobcentre Plus - 0800 0 55 66 88  
  
Jobseeker Direct - 0845 6060234 
  
Learndirect - 0800 100 900
 
Redundancy Payments Service - 0845 145 0004

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