Made Redundant Today. What Are My Options?

apprentice on 01/04/2020 - 16:52
Last edited 01/04/2020 - 17:00

Got a letter from my manager today saying due to significant reduction in workload for the foreseeable future my position has been made redundant. I know the federal government this week announced the $130b stimulus package so that employers can keep the employees at work. Employees will receive $750 a week from the govt. which will be passed on by the employers. Looks like my company is not taking that option. They have chosen to make me permanently redundant instead of standing me down for the quite period. I have been working in this company for more than 2 years now.

My question is can I enforce my company to take that govt. help? Is there anywhere I can get legal help from? They have set up a meeeting with me for 12pm tomorrow. I don't have much time in my hand. Please advise.

Education & Work

Comments

  • life is suffering on 01/04/2020 - 16:58

    sorry to hear about your situation. what field do you work in ? can you apply for somewhere else or do another type of job ?

  • robberbutton on 01/04/2020 - 17:00

    My question is can I enforce my company to take that govt. help?

    I don't believe so, no. As long as it's a genuine redundancy (and it's hard to argue it isn't in the current climate), I expect they're within their rights.

    Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat, finishing up tomorrow - a rubbish time to be out of work, for sure.

  • Unorthodox on 01/04/2020 - 17:01

    Sorry to hear that

    Echoing the above, would need a few more details but I'd also see it as an opportunity to find a better employer down the track knowing that this is their response (if they're able to keep you on with assistance).

    It'll definitely be hard, but I hope we can recover without too much permanent damage

  • apprentice on 01/04/2020 - 17:03

    It's medical technology company. They are supposed to be busy now. I work in the accounts department.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/04/2020 - 17:51

      the accounts department.

      So you could work from home? Strange. It doesn't sound like your redundancy was due to COVID. Could it be related to your performance? Has anything been mentioned to you prior to this?

      • Baysew on 01/04/2020 - 18:11
        +2

        The position has become redundant.

        • [Deactivated] on 01/04/2020 - 18:50

          Is it a genuine redundancy , though?

      • apprentice on 01/04/2020 - 20:27

        It's definitely not due to performance. I have always met deadlines. I am one of the better workers in the team. I was working from home for last two weeks. I have to leave because I am the newest member of the team. They won't have to pay me much to get rid of me. The business wasn't doing well even before COVID19.

        • [Deactivated] on 01/04/2020 - 20:30

          :(

        • sky blu on 02/04/2020 - 19:35

          I have to leave because I am the newest member of the team

          Username checks out…

          I had to interject that but am genuinely sorry to hear about your situation. I work in accounts for a private higher ed, and this news of yours makes me feel uneasy.

          • apprentice on 02/04/2020 - 20:18
            +1

            @sky blu: No worries buddy. A little bit of humor is good.

  • grog on 01/04/2020 - 17:09
    +1

    Some info on payment

    https://www.moneymag.com.au/coronavirus-jobkeeper-payments

  • PAOK11 on 01/04/2020 - 17:11

    Hope things improve from here, actually going through a similar situation myself. From what I understood from the article I was reading last night, you can't enforce anything on your employer. Take a look for yourself; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-31/coronavirus-jobkeeper…

  • Reppunkamui on 01/04/2020 - 17:12
    +1

    The stimulus only applies if the company's revenue drops by 30% (is less than $1bn revenue) or 50% (if greater than $1bn revenue). This doesn't cover a large number of companies yet.Maybe your company is not expecting revenue to drop by that much. N.b. for many companies if revenue drops that much they are operating at heavy losses.

  • Meho2026 on 01/04/2020 - 17:18
    +21

    The meeting is part of the required consultation process.
    In theory it is to allow you some degree of participation in the process in reality, they have already made up their minds and its a formality
    However it is the only chance you have to change their mind.

    Be ready to explain how your skill set can be applied to other roles in the business. That you are highly adaptable and are prepared to do whatever it takes. You need to detail what these valuable skills are and where they could be utilised outside your current role.

    Tell them you appreciate that there is not full time work but if you were employed one or two days a week under the job keeper scheme it would be mutually beneficial, explain that by remaining employed you would be in a position to help them rebuild and grow the business at the other end when the economy starts to recover.
    Again be specific about how you could do that relating it to your skills, experience and past performance and achievements.

    You want to convince them that by keeping you on, it will not cost them anything and you are the one who can save their business.

    The government is only going to pay the job keeper allowance from may 1st, it will be backdated but in the meantime your employer has to keep paying you. Business might be so affected that there isnt even enough money in the pot to do that until may 1st.

    You could offer to use all existing leave entitlements between now and May 1st or take a period of leave without pay.

    Good luck.

    • mskeggs on 01/04/2020 - 21:53
      +2

      This is probably one of the most useful answers I have read on OzBargain. Not going to be applicable to everyone in all situations, but very good advice.

      • Hardlyworkin on 01/04/2020 - 22:24

        I agree, it's worth a shot depending on the company's circumstances. It could actually save them money. A redundancy will cost them at least 6 weeks plus your notice period of at least 3 weeks. All depends if they think your role will be needed down the track or if they can have others share your workload.

    • Hellfire on 02/04/2020 - 08:17

      Based on the information supplied by the OP about his employer it's unlikely they will be eligible for JobKeeper due to probably not dropping 30% revenue.

  • xuqi on 01/04/2020 - 17:23

    As always with this government the devil is in the details.

    You can't 'force' your employer in to using the Jobkeeper mechanism, so best begin the Jobseeker payment process:

    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ce…

  • Stalker on 01/04/2020 - 17:38

    Sadly I think you will need to get ready to register for the Job Seeker program. All the best.

  • Melb69 on 01/04/2020 - 17:44

    Maybe they don't fall within the guidelines to be applicable for it. Our company just sent out an email to all employees that they have applied. I'm not sure that is really good news. I will be working for the government. SIC. I have already been through a recession when I graduated. It seems this time it is going to be alot worse.

    Try and do what Meho2026 suggested. Sell yourself and offer them options which they may not have thought about. However, I think they may have already made up their minds about staff levels for the moment and the near future. Its survival for some companies now.

    At the end of the day I personally think that some employers may dump staff where they can. It's very difficult for companies at the moment.

    Be positive as you may find another work in the same field at another company.

  • holdenmg on 01/04/2020 - 17:45
    +1

    If you can only read one link make it:
    https://coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/

    Good luck with everything. :+)

    • skullster704 on 02/04/2020 - 21:14

      This is a bloody good read. Helps clarify a lot of rumours, assumptions and half-truths

  • MS Paint on 01/04/2020 - 17:45

    Sorry to hear about your situation.

    Sorry I can't help.

    All the best.

  • diceman99 on 01/04/2020 - 17:46

    You work in the Accounts department, so your managers should know the new rules.
    Like someone said, offer to take your, holiday and long service leave.
    You could also say you would accept a pay cut to what the jobkeeper allowance will be. This may incentivise the employer to keep you.
    I'm not sure of any employer/employee legalities.

    You may be entitled to some redundancy pay??

  • tsunamisurfer on 01/04/2020 - 17:47

    Sorry to hear about that, the government is offering lots of help for those in this situation.

    Hope you can find another job soon.

    If they are making you redundant then there will be payments to come with that if you were a permanent full time employee.

  • Donaldhump on 01/04/2020 - 19:13
    +1

    Of course you can’t force them to use the govt stimulus, they can make your role redundant anytime they want,it sucks
    They just can’t replace it for 12 months.

    Take the money, chill till July 1 and look again, if you have the coin that is

  • whooah1979 on 01/04/2020 - 19:24
    -1

    OP, ask them to keep you on in return for 72% pay cut.
    https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/live-player…

    • xuqi on 01/04/2020 - 20:23
      +2

      How the hell is a footy exec supposed to pay for hookers & blow after a 72% pay cut?

      • Geoff-bargain on 02/04/2020 - 14:33

        Apparently some might have to work as labourers!oh how I weep for them /s

  • bobbified on 01/04/2020 - 20:48

    Is your pay much more than $750/week? If it's not much more and they still want to retrench you, then there's probably other reasons…

    • apprentice on 01/04/2020 - 21:00

      It's not much more than that but I bet thy won't lose more than 30% of revenue.

      • bobbified on 01/04/2020 - 21:02
        -6

        It's not much more than that.

        So your employer is pretty much getting you as a free employee and they still don't want you? :p

        • pangwen on 02/04/2020 - 08:12

          Why do you say that the OP will be a free employee? If their employer doesn’t lose more than 30% of revenue (as per the OP’s reply to your comment) they won’t be eligible for job keeper - which means the employee is still up for all of OP’s wage.

  • HeWhoKnows on 02/04/2020 - 11:14
    -4

    Go stand in the Centrelink Queue or find another job

    Plenty of opportunities in the food and grocery delivery business at present amongst other things.

    • apprentice on 02/04/2020 - 14:50

      They pay less than what the govt is paying now.

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