I've just been told unofficially by my boss that either myself or another employee will be told officially that our job is at risk tomorrow when the 'hr girl' arrives.

What sort of questions do I need to be asking? They are talking about 'grading' us? What does that mean.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Officially they should assess each person and score them based on certain criteria. The criteria CAN include salary,experience,work levels but can actually be based on anything.
(My wife works for a solicitor who is making all pay grades above £16k and replacing with them with junior staff.)

I had this mate it was between me a kid who had just passed his HGV through company and a 63year old who does very little i was laid off tho because i was only there a year so no redundancy pay hardly wheras old man had 20years

Well the woman who I am up against has been there 5 months. I have been there 4 years but I am on better money than her so who knows? I'll find out in the morning. Fingers crossed.

Update. Both myself and the other girl were told officially this morning that our jobs were at risk. We were supposed to have a formal meeting with the HR woman this morning but she couldn't get in from Manchester. We have now been sent home and to come back on Monday morning at 8.30am for this meeting.

I have been told that I can take a witness but what other preparation should I do for this 'meeting'?

Have you had a look at the ACAS website? Link - http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461
Also have a look at Direct.Gov.UK - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm

Just had my 'formal meeting' today and was told it is me who is to be made redundant. They've told me I don't have to go back to work my notice. I have one more meeting on Friday to discuss any issues I have.

Found out also they are taking someone else on as the 'planning and production manager' who will be doing part of my job as I understand it.

Can they do this? If my job is redundant, surely they can't take someone else on to do it just by giving the job a different name and more responsibility can they?

Unfortunately they can - and several companies are doing just that.
Best of luck job hunting.

They shouldn’t get rid of someone and then set someone on to do their job but as you have suggested they will get round it by restructuring the duties and job titles, what reason have they given you for their choice, this should be you line of attack if you are thinking of appealing.

The reasons given were that the firm wasn't making sufficient money so they need to re-structure and also they said they needed to bring in people with higher skills (meaning mine wasn't high enough).

Did the other person have these higher skills, why you and not her that’s my point, where you graded as you said, was your grade worse than others in the same position.

The other person I was up against apparently had higher skills than me. I had been there 4.5 years, she had been there 5 months. I had greater experience, she had none prior to this job, she was always making mistakes, I wasn't, so quite honestly I think it's all a big fit up.

They've brought a guy in as the 'manager'. He used to work there but has come back today on the request on the management. He's will be doing my job as part of his duties. I'm so peed off, it's untrue right now.

Its up in the air isn’t it; you have experience, the other person as the qualifications.

The thing about grading people for redundancy is that the criteria can be manipulated to suit. :suspect:

Yeah, I noticed that. I've seen it happen before. It's supposed to be a fair system but it can be anything but.

If you think it's unfair have a look at link below that forum specialises in this sort of stuf

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/employment-problems/

Cheers matey, that site may be useful!

you can join a union and they will take the case on straight away
join cost £9 a month once used the services cancel
it covers any solicitors,court costs etc
im with unite
www.unitetheunion.com
tel 08458504242
what they are doing to you is a old trick and well known
but if you win your case you can claim upto £60.000 plus reinstatement of your old job

Thanks for the link barts96. I'm back in on Friday for a final meeting with them. Might just look into that before then. Feeling very peed off at the moment. Feels like they knew exactly what they were doing and planned it.

phone and tell them whats happened and whats been arranged
if you join they will get a repersentive for you and he will state at the meeting what they can and can not do.

Thanks barts96. I think I may just do that tomorrow. I'm not one for letting people walk over me and I really feel like this is exactly what is happening here.

One queston my wife asked hersel when she "knew" that redundancy was due is - Why would you want to work for someone who doesn't want you?

She has now resigned - and is having a little chuckle that they still have no replacement.

It's not really a question of wanting to work for someone who doesn't want you. It's more that i feel the situation has been handled unfairly.