Your local job centre specialises in helping people who are facing redundancy or have been made redundant. They can help you find a new job and may even pay for training. Their Rapid Response Service is available to you if you suspect you’re going to be made redundant, during your notice period, and for up to 13 weeks after you’ve been made redundant.

ACAS have lots of useful information on their website for anyone facing redundancy. Their advice includes the following:

  • Redundancy is usually a type of dismissal when a role is no longer needed. It only applies to those with the legal status of employee . You are not likely to be an employee if you're an agency worker, a casual worker, or on a zero-hours contract.
  • Your employer should only consider making redundancies if part or all of the organisation is closing, or has already closed, changing the types or number of roles needed to do certain work, or changing location.
  • If the main reason for your dismissal is something else, for example, your performance or conduct, it's not redundancy. In this case, before dismissing you, your employer must follow a disciplinary procedure.
  • Your employer might try and look at other options before deciding on redundancies. For example, changing working hours, offering voluntary redundancy or moving employees into suitable alternative vacancies.
  • Before your employer selects anyone for redundancy, they might need to follow a consultation and selection process.
  • Your employer should tell all employees as soon as possible that they are considering making redundancies. They should explain which roles are at risk of redundancy, why the redundancies are being considered, how many redundancies they're considering, and what happens next, including how everyone will be consulted.
  • If you are at risk of redundancy, the employer should also confirm the outline of their consultation plans, whether you have other options, such as voluntary redundancy or suitable alternative employment. This should be in writing, for example in a letter or email.
  • If your employer is proposing to make 20 or more redundancies, they must hold collective consultation.
  • If your employer is proposing to make fewer than 20 redundancies, they should consult with you individually.
  • If you're selected for redundancy, your employer must give you notice. They can only give notice once they've finished the consultation and selection process.
  • You have the right to statutory redundancy pay if you are selected for redundancy, have continuously worked for your employer for 2 years or more, have the legal status of employee.
  • Your employer should tell you the date you'll get your redundancy pay – payment should be made when your employment ends or on your final pay date.

Your employer may pay for you to speak to a professional adviser about your CV, as part of your redundancy package, or put you in touch with an organisation who can offer support.

Ask your employer for a written reference, as you can send this with your job applications.

When you receive your final pay, check you have got all the money you’re entitled to including redundancy pay, last wages, holiday pay etc. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if there’s a problem with your final pay.

If you are facing redundancy or have been made redundant, you might be entitled to some help finding a new job and be able to claim benefits. Use the Citizens Advice benefits checker to see what benefits you may be entitled to. You may be able to get help with your rent and for information about help with your mortgage costs use their Debt and money information.

You should get advice about any debts you have - read about how to get Help with debt.

Useful Links

Organisations that can offer support when you’re facing redundancy include: