I've Been Made Redundant. Looking for Advice/Advise and Words of Wisdom from OB Community

Lmenocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 08:53

Good morning all!

I work for a small engineering firm (<15 staff) and I've just been made redundant. The company is having financial problems and is struggling to stay afloat, hence the redundancy. This means that there are no other roles for me within the company, so it's time to say farewell. I have been in the role for just under 2 years (23 months) and have been given 2 weeks notice. I've already started contacting recruiters and working towards my next role.

Losing the role isn't too much of a surprise, but I'm a little irked at only being given 2 weeks. I was expecting 4 weeks as I'm paid monthly and this seemed to be the standard notice period for every previous role. My manager has referred me to my contract, which references the NES and agrees with the 2 weeks minimum notice requirement. The fairwork website details the same information (minimum 2 weeks), and it's classified as a small company so no redundancy payout.

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/tools-and-resources/fact-sheets/…

I wanted to reach out to the OB community more for words of wisdom and advice around this redundancy period, and if others have had success pushing back on the notice period (i.e. extending from 2 weeks minimum to say the full pay cycle of 4 weeks).

I'm the sole bread winner for a family of 5, and starting a new role within 2 weeks is unlikely. My wife is still off work as our youngest child is only 8 months. She'll hopefully be able to pick up some casual work while I look for a new full-time position, but this will be significantly less than my current salary. I'd also like to get the communities advise/advice on short-term casual roles in the evenings to help bring in some income while I go through the recruitment process.

Thanks in advance!

Education & Work

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/08/2023 - 08:56
    +7

    was expecting 4 weeks

    /

    https://www.fairwork.gov.au/tools-and-resources/fact-sheets/…

    2 weeks notice is minimum for 1-3 years… just curious why you think 4 weeks applies? Other than maybe begging the employer not like you can take them to court..

    Anyway check insurance and super and credit card agreements you might have some form of income protection? Maybe also worth talking to bank and credit card company about any income/temporary debt relief.

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:07
      +5

      This is the first time I've been made redundant, so my only experience has been resigning from roles. I was always told I was required to give 4 weeks notice to allow the company to search for a replacement and for me to wrap-up my work and complete a handover, so I was expecting the same here. Seems it was just wishful thinking.

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 07/08/2023 - 10:34
        +1

        One of my colleagues who worked at the company for 20+ years, had their role made redundant. They were given 2 weeks notice.
        One advantage is that, you are available to start within 2 weeks (I have to give 4 weeks notice, as I have been here 7+ years). Get your resume, and Lined In Profile up to date. Start doing(saving) searches on Seek, Indeed, Jora etc.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 07/08/2023 - 14:20
          +1

          Were they given 2 weeks notice + pay, or just two weeks notice and no pay? Because they should have been given a huge payout for that tenure, including two lots of long service leave.

      • Jaxy on 08/08/2023 - 11:21
        +9

        When it comes to employment rights vs companies, it's always "rules for thee but not for mee"

      • Zapwap on 09/08/2023 - 10:05

        I was always told I was required to give 4 weeks notice

        Yes, that's a good and hard life lesson for you there and for many others like me too. I have been through the same and now I always read the contract and make the amendments/negotiations prior to accepting the contract.

    • HeWhoKnows on 08/08/2023 - 20:13
      +2

      Stop grappling over the past which you cant change on focus on moving on.
      Even if you got another 2 weeks pay, that same investment in time might have got you into a new job.
      There are plenty of businesses screaming out to get new employees on board.
      You employer has no doubt done you a huge favour!

      Look forwards, not backwards!

  • Gunther on 07/08/2023 - 08:58

    What does your employment agreement say?

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:09

      It has just copied the table out of the Fairkwork website (so 2 weeks).

      I guess this is a life lesson!

      • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 10:50
        +1

        Yes. When valuing your time and effort, you need to account the cost of transitions and other life events as well.

  • oscargamer on 07/08/2023 - 09:03
    +1

    Do you have any sick leave or holidays owing?

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:08
      +1

      Yeah, unfortunately only around 1.5 weeks. It'll help, but leave is precious when you have 3 young children!

      • redforever on 07/08/2023 - 09:47

        Well, it's not like you can transfer the annual leave to your next role. They will payout your annual leave balance so that buys you another 1.5 weeks after the 2 week notice.

        • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:56
          +1

          Yeah, it's something. I still can't see myself starting a new role within 3.5 weeks though. Previous role have all taken 2-3 months from initial application.

          • AFOS on 07/08/2023 - 10:19
            +7

            @menocheapsk8: Take all available sick leave and use it for job hunting. Everybody is going hard on their sick leave during notice period, so it will not come as a surprise to the employer.

            I have been made redundant twice. Not pleasant, for sure, but it is inevitable. Vast majority of people (even executives) experience it more than once in their lifetimes.

            Try to find a place at a larger company next time. They are required to pay redundancy package by law.

            Good luck!

            • cookie2 on 07/08/2023 - 17:39
              +1

              @AFOS: 100% this regarding using your sick leave to job hunt. Also sometimes redundancy has additional paid job search days but that may only be for >a certain age. Don't use your AL, only your SL. Temp Job wise, have a look at sidekicker for casual or short contract work. Easy to get set up. And possibly reach out to a few recruitment agencies within your field. Just don't let them waste your time. The sooner you get applications out now, the sooner they'll come back.

          • BewareOfThe Dog on 07/08/2023 - 10:36
            +1

            @menocheapsk8: Depending on the age of your car (I assume you have one?), maybe explore doing rideshare, flex, food delivery in the interim before finding a new job?

            • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:45

              @BewareOfThe Dog: Yeah I'm looking into this. I know that the pay is terrible, but I'm open to any casual work to help bring in some cash.

              • oscargamer on 07/08/2023 - 11:11

                @menocheapsk8: I guess I was suggesting that if you are not being paid out for your leave, then take it.

          • ColtNoir on 08/08/2023 - 11:52
            +1

            @menocheapsk8: Make sure to put ‘open for work’ on LinkedIn. People will start contacting you.

            You might get a role you aren’t keen on or has a toxic environment pretty quickly. You could start there and keep looking for a better fit.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 07/08/2023 - 14:20

      Sick leave doesn't mean anything..

      • oscargamer on 07/08/2023 - 16:43
        +7

        It means the OP can be sick during the 2 week notice period and still be paid

        • tajid on 08/08/2023 - 15:15

          Some companies don't allow this though and would require a medical certificate - not that it was hard to get one..

          • gromit on 09/08/2023 - 07:33
            +1

            @tajid: Really it is extremely easy to claim as stress leave which he obviously will be stressed. Unless the employer is a real dick they will be somewhat understanding.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 07/08/2023 - 09:05

    Get into a career transition company asap if needed.

    • deme on 07/08/2023 - 09:14
      -3

      Get into a hazmat suit asap if needed.

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:52
      +2

      Forgive my ignorance, but what is a career transition company? Recruiters?

      • Mechz on 07/08/2023 - 10:58

        They help you jazz up your resume/Linkedin and help prep you for interviews.

  • Bargainitis on 07/08/2023 - 09:12
    +2

    Not much you can do as the contract stipulates the terms.

    Your last check should be very tax efficient which will help a little.

    Get back on Centrelink Newstart in the meantime. Talk to as many people as you can and look for new role. If your former employer isn’t a dick, you could also ask them to help with their network?

    Good luck with it all.

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:54

      How will my last pay be tax efficient? I thought income tax was calculated as a percentage of earnings? Won't this remain the same?

      • Gdsamp on 07/08/2023 - 10:31

        Redundancy payments
        https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/Jobs-and-employment-types…

        A genuine redundancy payment is a payment made to you as an employee if your job is abolished and you no longer have a job. This means your employer has made a decision that your job no longer exists, and your employment is to be terminated.
        Redundancy payments are a type of employment termination payment (ETP).

        Your genuine redundancy payment is:
        tax-free up to a limit depending on your years of service
        concessionally taxed as an employment termination payment (ETP) above your tax-free limit
        taxed at your usual marginal tax rate for any amount above certain caps

        However unfortunately due to small employer this might not be the case for you :(

      • soan papdi on 07/08/2023 - 10:35
        +1

        Redundancy pay is taxed differently, not like regular income. Also ensure your superannuation is paid correctly too.

        • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:47

          I don't think it is a redundancy payment, just my final two weeks of employment. Unless I'm mistaken, this should be taxed at the same rate as my previous pays. Is this correct?

          • soan papdi on 07/08/2023 - 11:05

            @menocheapsk8: Best to check the payslip or paperwork they give you at the end. It should state what the breakdown is and if you're getting just the notice period paid out or if your position is being made redundant.

      • Bargainitis on 07/08/2023 - 10:46
        +2

        you can always talk to your employer and see what else they can do. As you know, don't ask, don't get.

        In my mind, easiest things to ask are:

        1) can we make it 4 weeks (it will help with my job hunt)
        2) can we make it part time role? (less pay but for longer and you can also look for a new role in the background)
        3) move to consulting basis

        These are all dependant on how well you get on with your employer - if its a genuine redundancy and not due to performance issues.

        Keep us posted. Remember, what defines a man isn't how he celebrates his success but rather how he recovers from adversities. All the best.

  • Gunnar on 07/08/2023 - 09:12

    Sorry to hear about the situation and hope you get a new job soon!

    Given it's in your contract and, in principle ant least, this part of the contract follows the provisions of fair work I don't think you'd have much luck on getting a longer period.

    Maybe use it as an area to negotiate on in your contract with a new employer and ask for four weeks?

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:46

      Thanks. Yeah life lesson learnt. I'll be more mindful of this, and the drawbacks in working for small companies, in future roles

      • coffeeinmyveins on 07/08/2023 - 22:26
        +2

        People who work at Amazon, Google, Facebook and atlassian have all been made redundant too.

        No one is safe.

        The lesson here for everyone is screw your company. They aren't your friends, friends wouldn't give you two weeks notice and you're out of a job.

        • menocheapsk8 on 08/08/2023 - 09:14

          Very true. Friends also don't need to pay you a salary for you time!

  • try2bhelpful on 07/08/2023 - 09:15
    +3

    I assume you’ve read the Government websites on what assistance is available.

    https://whatsnext.dewr.gov.au/where-do-i-stand/support-retre…

    I would get your skates on with getting the support you need whilst starting to look for alternative work.

    Best of luck with getting a new job.

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:50
      +2

      Thanks for the link, I'll read through this now. I hadn't thought about the possibility of Government support. Hopefully it's not something I need, but always good to have a safety net.

      • Muzeeb on 07/08/2023 - 09:53
        +14

        That's why you paid taxes in the past. To support the welfare system. If you are entitled to their payments in a few weeks then take them with no shame. All the best with finding a new role.

        • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:00
          +2

          Thanks. Yeah, that's very true. I like the fact that the ATO supplies a breakdown of my annual income tax to see where it has all gone. I was supported by the Australian welfare system while I was in undergrad, and it's nice to see my taxes going back to support other students too.

          • try2bhelpful on 07/08/2023 - 11:11

            @menocheapsk8: We all need assistance from time to time. Make sure you understand your entitlements and use them. Much better than ending up in a mess later on.

      • cookie2 on 07/08/2023 - 17:43
        +1

        Don't spend too long on this. I found it very time consuming, which just took my focus away from applying, researching, LinkedIn updating and interview prep. But I guess it depends what you think you can get as financial support. Then once you do get approved for support, it takes more time with chats, submitting proof of applications etc.

        • virhlpool on 08/08/2023 - 23:54

          You get the support only if your income for the financial year is below certain amount.. right? Is there a wait time too?

  • meowsers on 07/08/2023 - 09:28
    +1

    Make sure they pay you a proper redundancy payment if allowed, it will be tax free.

    • freefall101 on 07/08/2023 - 10:07
      +11

      Less than 15 employees, means they don't have to pay redundancy. Which is the most bullshit rule ever, but it exists.

      • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:48
        +1

        Lol, yeah I only found this out after being made redundant. I can see it from the point of the small business, it's just unlucky for me. Life lesson learnt

  • cheekymonkey on 07/08/2023 - 09:29
    +2

    Consider contacting Centrelink on your first day as unemployed. Depending on circumstances, you may be entitled to jobseeker payment and your wife for a parenting payment partnered (any liquid assets can affect that.). Even if you don't want to claim jobseeker, your partner could look at the parenting payment. with a child that young, there would be no job search requirements etc for her.

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:52
      +1

      Thanks for the advice. I know Centrelink can be a dirty word sometimes, but it's great that our society is able to create a safety net for times like this.

  • vince088 on 07/08/2023 - 09:30
    +3

    hi OP, i'm in the same shoes as you, made redundant 2 weeks ago. Small business under 15 employees does not need to pay redundancy. I was also shocked about this

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 09:47
      +3

      Sorry to hear it mate. Hope you manage the transition ok and best of luck finding a new role!

      • vince088 on 07/08/2023 - 09:49

        I've decided to make a huge career change, from manufacturing supervisor/manager to IT

  • ESEMCE on 07/08/2023 - 09:37
    +1

    Firstly getting made redundant sucks.
    But it's (normally) not personal and not performance related and (good) employers know this.

    On the plus side, with ultra-low unemployment it's arguably a great time to be in the job market.
    Try not to burn your bridges, get good references!

    Your 2 weeks notice should be tax free as redundancy payout, so closer to 3 weeks pay into your account, plus your Annual Leave gives you 4 weeks of pay to live off without any changes.

    Get both of you looking for work, think hard about taking the first offer as much as it's tempting to jump to the first "lifeline" you get. Even if your wife only wants to work a few days per week into the future, it can still help take some pressure off.
    Your new job is to spruce up that resume, reach out to your network and find a new job, but you can also enjoy the time you "have off" with your young family as you wont have leave for likely at least the next 6 months.

  • JimmyF on 07/08/2023 - 09:59

    My manager has referred me to my contract, which references the NES and agrees with the 2 weeks minimum notice requirement

    I was expecting 4 weeks as I'm paid monthly

    Pay cycle has nothing to do with it. If you had been paid weekly, would you only then expect 1 week notice/pay?

    It will be as per your contract, which is 2 weeks.

    I'm the sole bread winner for a family of 5, and starting a new role within 2 weeks is unlikely.

    So no buffer savings? Time to cut back on spending ASAP!

    Honestly there isn't much you can do here, as you have confirmed, your contract says 2 weeks, fairwork says 2 weeks. It is 2 weeks.

    Its time to accept this, move on and start job hunting!

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:07
      +1

      Thanks. Yeah I'm not disputing my contract. I was just curious if others have had any luck getting flexibility on these sorts of things. I've never been made redundant before, but I understand it's not uncommon in the community.

      As I mentioned above, I had just assumed 4 weeks notice based on how much notice I was required/requested to supply when resigning from a role. Currently applying for roles, and giving recruiters some time for their Monday morning coffees to kick in before calling them.

      • JimmyF on 07/08/2023 - 10:14
        +1

        I was just curious if others have had any luck getting flexibility on these sorts of things

        Not really, companies generally don't like paying any more than they have to. As you said, the company has cashflow issues, so won't be in the mood to hand out money when they don't have to.

        I've never been made redundant before, but I understand it's not uncommon in the community.

        Yep been there done that many years ago. Same deal, company had money issues and was offloading staff like no tomorrow. Don't take it personally, but also don't get stuck on it. As I said, it is what it is. Don't waste your time, focus on moving forward!

        I had just assumed 4 weeks notice based on how much notice I was required/requested to supply when resigning from a role.

        It will be what is in your contract, which I assume would be 2 weeks for your current employment length. They might have asked for 4 weeks, but it might have only been 2 weeks.

        Currently applying for roles, and giving recruiters some time for their Monday morning coffees to kick in before calling them.

        Best of luck!!!

        I have some savings that I can use as a safety buffer, but spending savings hurts my feelings!

        Yes it does, but that is what they are there for.

        • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:50

          Totally agree with your points. I'm taking this as a valuable life lesson and focusing on the positives!

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:09
      +1

      I have some savings that I can use as a safety buffer, but spending savings hurts my feelings!

  • p1 ama on 07/08/2023 - 10:00
    +4

    It's never a great feeling to be made redundant, but the best thing you can do is to take it as an opportunity to move up in your career and learn from it what you can.

    I work for a small engineering firm (<15 staff) and I've just been made redundant. The company is having financial problems and is struggling to stay afloat, hence the redundancy. This means that there are no other roles for me within the company, so it's time to say farewell. I have been in the role for just under 2 years (23 months) and have been given 2 weeks notice.

    This is disappointing, but also an important life lesson IMO - you never want to be on a sinking ship, and if your company is having financial problems and struggling to stay afloat, then you need to jump ship ASAP. Ideally, you need to jump ship well beforehand - there are usually indicators of a company having financial problems in the future, e.g. mismanagement, a declining customer base for your output, increased competition, offshoring of work…etc. which you need to recognise, be vigilant of and respond to.

    Employers have no qualms letting people go when it's in their interest to do so, and employees should be the same.

    I wanted to reach out to the OB community more for words of wisdom and advice around this redundancy period, and if others have had success pushing back on the notice period (i.e. extending from 2 weeks minimum to say the full pay cycle of 4 weeks).

    It's whatever is stated on your contract - it seems like you've already done your due diligence on this, but good to be aware of these things when signing the contract.

    I'm the sole bread winner for a family of 5, and starting a new role within 2 weeks is unlikely.

    Yes, unlikely, but start looking now. There's strong market demand for good engineers, so you'll be fine. You'll obviously know this, but the big engineering consultancies are always a good place to hang out for a while. They won't offer the pay or the interesting work that a small boutique firm will, but they recruit in large batches, will look good on your CV, and are generally more robust to market downturns.

    Yes, go through recruiters, but also start applying for jobs yourself. You have time now, go on all of the regular websites (e.g. LinkedIn, SEEK…etc.) and just pump out 5+ applications per day.

    My wife is still off work as our youngest child is only 8 months. She'll hopefully be able to pick up some casual work while I look for a new full-time position, but this will be significantly less than my current salary.

    If your wife is going back to full-time work, this is a great opportunity for her to start looking as well. It'll take the pressure off you, e.g. if she gets a position she's happy with then you can be a full-time dad for a little while.

    I'd also like to get the communities advise/advice on short-term casual roles in the evenings to help bring in some income while I go through the recruitment process.

    Have you looked at contracting or freelance engineering jobs?

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:28

      Thanks for the detailed reply.

      There were signs the company was struggling, but I felt guilty jumping ship too early and didn't want to burn any bridges. I appreciate the value of a good reference, so I had factored this in. I knew they would struggle to fill my position, and my manager only has me reporting to him, so me leaving would likely lead to the company questioning his role. I should have had the conversation with him earlier. I didn't want the company to know I was looking for new roles as they would most likely just make me redundant first. These are all life lessons

      I'm confident in finding a new role, but most previous roles have taken months to finalise rather than weeks. I have some savings to support me, but I've worked had to create them and would prefer not having to draw down on them.

      I'm currently tossing up the pros/cons of going back to a consultancy. I've worked for one of the larger ones in the past, and while there is some security, the pay is pretty poor and you just churn out the work. My current company is a startup. I've learnt that I'm not in the right phase of life (single income, young family) for anymore startups.

      My wife will eventually return to fulltime work, but we're waiting on care for the baby, so we were holding off for another 6-9 months. I'd be happy to let her catch up in her career and for me to be a fulltime dad, but she doesn't have the same earning potential (teacher vs engineer).

      I have around 8 years experience, so don't think I could really do anything freelance at this stage. I've never done contracting work before, but I'm keeping an open mind and will see what is available.

      • p1 ama on 07/08/2023 - 12:02

        There were signs the company was struggling, but I felt guilty jumping ship too early and didn't want to burn any bridges. I appreciate the value of a good reference, so I had factored this in.

        Only advice I can give is that your direct reporting manager will generally always be supportive of you jumping to new opportunities. In all of my previous experience, they know as well as you do the situation of your company, and they will always understand. These things are never personal, if you did good work whilst you were there, that’s all that matters.

        I'm currently tossing up the pros/cons of going back to a consultancy. I've worked for one of the larger ones in the past, and while there is some security, the pay is pretty poor and you just churn out the work. My current company is a startup. I've learnt that I'm not in the right phase of life (single income, young family) for anymore startups.

        There are plenty of engineering roles in government, for example, if you want something different, but still with good job security. That being said, it won’t be technical work, it’ll be more likely in a project management or contractor management kind of role where you’re overseeing a work package or a joint venture of some kind. Not for everyone, but with the massive construction boom in VIC, I know of plenty of electrical and civil engineers who are now working for the “mega projects” and are super happy.

        My wife will eventually return to fulltime work, but we're waiting on care for the baby, so we were holding off for another 6-9 months. I'd be happy to let her catch up in her career and for me to be a fulltime dad, but she doesn't have the same earning potential (teacher vs engineer).

        Teachers can and do earn a lot if you’re good and are willing to navigate the system, or go to an elite private school. Those jobs are competitive, but will easily pay > $100K for a teacher with a few years of experience, and > $200K for leadership roles (e.g. a “head of”).

        Now isn’t a bad time to jump into the recruiting pool if your wife wants to return to teaching. Lots of recruitment going on right now for the new school year. Given there’s about 5 - 6 months until the 2024 school year, it’s probably really great timing to jump in.

        I have around 8 years experience, so don't think I could really do anything freelance at this stage. I've never done contracting work before, but I'm keeping an open mind and will see what is available.

        There are websites for freelance / contracting consulting engineers. I don’t remember all of them, but have a look at Expert360.

  • mskeggs on 07/08/2023 - 10:27
    +20

    It’s a tricky situation, as I remember being in a similar boat with little savings and lots of bills. People will also make some recommendations that I am sure are well meant, but not sensible (e.g. take a holiday to find yourself, go out on your own as a small business person, hire a life coach) that all presume you are much more financially comfortable or don’t understand the cash flow implications

    My top suggestion is make a plan today for what you will do each day for the next 30 days. Some things I would include:
    - map out any dangerous things for your longer term finances. E.g. if you miss car payments and lose your car, but you need one to get work, or being forced to sell your house rather than selling it before things get grim.
    - review all discretionary spending, and be brutal (cut Netflix etc, buy simple ingredients food rather than prepared meals/takeaway, no spending on the kids, take them to the library or the park, can you sell a second car, is there a planned holiday you can postpone, what is direct debiting each month that you can live without or perhaps temporarily suspend? Gym fees? Sport? Health Insurance?)
    - get your spouse on side, agree on what runway you need - do you need to expect 6 months of reduced spending? 12 months? With luck, this will be the time your family can look back on when everyone pulled together that you can talk about when things get hard in the future, as an example of getting through tough times. So don’t sugar coat things for other family members.
    - do you have family you can lean on? Maybe give them a call with the news and say you might need some help in a month or two to sound out whether it is possible.
    - look for work. Look for contract roles, as they can often be started very quickly and frequently pay weekly - and you can always keep up the search for permanent work while you are contracting. Get on LinkedIn, personally message any acquaintances and former colleagues asking if they have any short term or permanent roles available. Specifying the short term is important as it signals you are open to things other than the ‘perfect’ job. Apply for lots of roles, get a well polished resume and write a short individual message/cover letter on each one saying why you would be a good candidate.
    - do you have any side hustle skills? If you are open to mowing lawns or cleaning gutters you can probably be bringing in some money next week, and the going rate, around here at least, is $70ph.
    - do you have stuff you have been meaning to sell on ebay etc? Spend an hour or so a day on listings and money will start coming in next week.
    - can your spouse get work quicker? If they are e.g. a school teacher, they can be working in the casual pool tomorrow etc.

    Good luck!

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:38

      Thanks for your words of wisdom. I've been processing the news but I do need to start planning out my future finances. We're pretty controlled with our spending already, but there are always things that I can cut back on. I'll just need to work through these with my wife.

      My family doesn't really have the means to support me, but thankfully I have some savings put aside. Luckily, as you've noted, my wife is a school teacher and is able to register for casual teaching to help get us through. Unfortunately school holidays will start in about a month, so that will leave a 2 week gap where she won't receive any casual work. I need to search for casual work to see what my options are. I'm open to doing anything really, even Amazon flex etc, but I'm unsure of the requirements. These are all I'm the sole bread winner for a family of 5, and starting a new role within 2 weeks is unlikely. My wife is still off work as our youngest child is only 8 months. These are all pathways I need to investigate.

      I've never done any contracting work and didn't realise they had the potential to start quickly. I'll have to look into this. Thanks for the advice.

      • try2bhelpful on 07/08/2023 - 12:03
        +1

        If your wife can do more hours it might make sense for you to do more of the home and childcare duties.

      • ms_caz on 07/08/2023 - 21:00
        +4

        Casual relief teaching = approx $400 a day. In the current circumstances your wife could easily get 5 days/ week. We are in week five of a 10 week term. I know it is not ideal and will be hard with a new baby but the next month could well be worth your wife going hard at crt while you stay home.

        • menocheapsk8 on 08/08/2023 - 09:10

          Yeah this our current bridging strategy. I guess there are some positives (at least for casual teachers) to the current over-working and low moral of teachers.

  • Drakesy on 07/08/2023 - 10:35
    +4

    Losing the role isn't too much of a surprise, but I'm a little irked at only being given 2 weeks

    If i could see a business was going down hill and a redundancy imminent i would've been looking for a job while i still had a bargaining chip.
    Unfortunately that's now disappeared.

    I'm the sole bread winner for a family of 5, and starting a new role within 2 weeks is unlikely. My wife is still off work as our youngest child is only 8 months.

    I know it's bad timing but searching for sympathy won't really get you very far in life.

    Honestly apply for jobseeker asap and spam every job in your sector. Like i'm talking a minimum of 5-10 applications a day for the next month.

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:43
      +2

      I should have put myself first and started applying for new roles sooner. Management was always opaque about our finances, so it was hard to be certain. Life lesson learnt. In regards to the bargaining chip, would it be safe to assume that mentioning my redundancy to recruiters will reduce my ability to negotiate a salary?

  • barge-in hunter on 07/08/2023 - 10:43

    Jumping in just to say - sorry to hear about your situation. With young kids, this would hurt a lot.

    Agreed with some of the above; there's plenty of casual work around at the moment so doing casual shift work or being available for last minute 'subbing' can keep some decent enough money coming in. Flexibility will be your friend here.

    Otherwise, now is the perfect time to keep your mind busy with cost saving 'life admin':
    - you haven't already do your Tax return
    - shop around for a better interest rate
    - reassess insurances/utility providers/etc

    All the best

    • menocheapsk8 on 07/08/2023 - 10:54

      Thanks for your advice.

      I did a stint of casual work about 15 years ago, but had issues finding something casual AND short-term. Most places I applied for wanted a minimum commitment of a least a few months, which I couldn't really give right now. I'm hoping that there is more flexibility available with the rise of the gig economy. I'll need to do my research now.

      I hadn't actually considered your last three points, but I'll be looking into these now. I'm creating a list of expenses I can push back (dentist, etc) until I'm back on my feet.

      • barge-in hunter on 07/08/2023 - 11:05

        That's fair - permanent casual roles are very much like that. I guess I used the wrong terminology - what I'm referring to is "temping". There are a number of temping agencies around that will basically find anything from daily to monthly roles for you. A lot of small companies use these to temporarily backfill when staff go on leave etc.

        Yeah, there's always plenty to do. It's reminded me to jump on my tax return as I wouldn't mind that refund money in my account.

      • brad1-8tsi on 07/08/2023 - 18:19
        +1

        Most places I applied for wanted a minimum commitment of a least a few months,

        It's already been demonstrated to you that employers don't have loyalty or ethics. Just tell them you can give them as many months as they want and leave when it suits you.

        I'm a casual employee providing engineering services and I choose my own 2 days a week I want to work and give them 2-3 weeks notice that I'm going on holidays (I take about 12 weeks a year).

        There's truckloads of work out there. I get 3-6 messages a week on linkedin with invitations to interview

        • menocheapsk8 on 08/08/2023 - 09:08

          The redundancy wasn't personal, they're laying off most of the team. It was a company I hoped would succeed, but scaling the TRL ladder is tough. It's unfortunate for me, but they're also just operating within the NES. Life lesson learnt.

          This sounds like a nice employment arrangement. What field of engineering do you work in?

          • brad1-8tsi on 08/08/2023 - 17:22
            +1

            @menocheapsk8:

            The redundancy wasn't personal,

            It rarely is but employers these days don't care if you have a new family, have just taken out a huge mortgage or whatever. Your personal circumstances don't matter. Loyalty to them is expected but not reciprocated.

            I trained in Mech Eng after I finished my mechanics apprenticeship (late bloomer academically) and worked in maintenance/production planning, maintenance instructions, design & procurement of aircraft ground support equipment and tooling, reliability engineering and other bits and pieces first with aircraft then large water storage and pump stations. I get bored easily and liked to move around.

            I "retired" last year and do a couple of days a week designing and making the internal frames for giant puppets for a performing arts company that tours all over the world. It's a lot of fun and gives me a bit of beer money.
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2lYxG1Z9fA

  • OMGJL on 07/08/2023 - 11:32

    my few point if I were you:

    1. beg the company you work for to see if they willing to give you a week or 2 more pay(they are not obligated to, so you need to beg for it), tell them about your struggling time etc. Although don't waste your time on it too much, they did what they have to do, you need to move on.

    2. apply for centerlink ASAP for both you(jobseeker) and your wife(Care Giver?) and maybe even the kid(Youth Allowance), the pay is quite low but better than no income. Not optimum and not long term, but little money > no money. Plus jobseeker have its own job advertising website, which can be a good place finding your next role.

    3. UberEat etc can be quite flexible and depends on your effort the income could be good enough, though you need to think about work/job seeking balance. This can be a s**t hole to some, exhaust after work -> don't feel like apply professional jobs due to tiredness -> woke up needing to do deliveries again cuz no job -> more exhausted. I was once in a similar boat before but thankfully wife + centrelink supported me during my 2 years out of work(still did 1 day a week casual though), allowing me to finish my master degree and end up landing an ok job as my first job in this field.

    good luck.

  • JIMB0 on 07/08/2023 - 13:43

    Use all your sick leave. Then enjoy a few months off. That's what I did.

  • GourmetFoodie on 07/08/2023 - 20:37
    +1

    Try not to work those 2 weeks of notice/only do the minimum of what you need to - spend the time applying for new jobs.

  • Sinnerator on 08/08/2023 - 08:47
    +2

    ORGANISE A HOSTILE TAKEOVER
    own the company
    then redundify your boss

    • menocheapsk8 on 08/08/2023 - 09:08

      Lol. I'd be investing my money elsewhere if I had this sort of money

  • Bearhay on 08/08/2023 - 09:13
    -2

    To maximize your chances of finding suitable employment, why not put into practice the Law of Attraction?
    (Like energy attracts like energy).
    A good way to do that is to find as many things in your life to feel grateful for, continue to think positively, imagine good outcomes, and in this way, you raise your energy and increase your chances of landing maybe an even better job than the current one.
    An attitude of gratitude costs nothing and is well worth cultivating! Try it and see!
    Good luck.

    • umoddbro on 09/08/2023 - 03:23

      Yeh sure OP let me tell you about these energy crystals I sell……….

  • tonka on 08/08/2023 - 22:27

    Did you get 2 weeks notice plus 6 weeks redundancy.
    It is correct any notice in excess of the 2 weeks needs to be in the contract.
    When companies have a one month notice period that's because they want their employees to give a longer notice as well when resigning. Not so much about the pay period.

    • Neoika on 10/08/2023 - 19:03

      No such 6 weeks in small business.

  • IM-Cheap on 08/08/2023 - 23:37

    Reach out to your network and see if anyone knows of an open spot at their work. Easiest to get a role when someone can fill you in on what a company is looking for and can vouch for your work - plus big employers often offer referal bonuses.

  • baskinghobo on 09/08/2023 - 00:46

    Get yourself a separation certificate asap. You can't apply for Centrelink until you have one and employers are usually given 14 days if you send them a letter of demand which is a stupid system because it means you could potentially miss out on two weeks of pay on top of the liquid assets waiting period even if you sent a letter of demand on day 1 of unemployment but that's just how it works now.

  • mrvaluepack on 09/08/2023 - 05:23

    Make sure you do absolutely zero work from now until you leave the company and focus solely on finding a new job even during company's time. And at every interview say you can start immediately, you shouldn't feel that you have any more responsibility or duty of care with your current company at all.

  • movieman on 09/08/2023 - 05:28

    Hi OP.

    Getting made redundant sucks, but it's like ripping off a bandade - once you've received your notice, off you go with your life.

    As an engineer, you should be proficient at problem solving.

    My recommendation:
    1. Update your LinkedIn Profile, and set it to 'Looking for Work '.

    1. Contact a minimum of 5-10 potential job roles PER DAY, and speak with them / the recruiter about what they really want, and see if you'll be a good fit.

    2. Accept the first role that suits, but no need to consider it a 'forever job' - once you're on your feet, I'd suggest getting a 3-6 month emergency fund set-up, and then reassess your life at that point in time to find the perfect role.

    Goodluck!

  • vshek on 09/08/2023 - 07:47
    +1

    a- If the company (especially a small one) is not doing well you would know and should have started planning.
    b- Divert your energy which will make you successful, i.e finding new role instead of disecting a loosing deal.

  • userid007 on 09/08/2023 - 08:29

    I know that feeling been though process couple of times.

    Not sure if any one told you already. you can do part time uber and make a grand or two easily per week. Infact some of the people i know do it after hours ( after white collar main job ) just for extra cash to spend on .

    Even amazon flex can pay you $140-150 for couple of hours and very flexible while you hunt for the job

  • movingbait on 09/08/2023 - 10:19

    I have PM'd you

  • Gros21 on 17/08/2023 - 12:16

    get your wife working 2 people looking for work doubles your chances of you's finding work.

    Wife finds job allows you to take your time finding a role suitable.

    If u are electrical engineer getting a job is darn easy in current enviroment. Other aspects not so sure.

    Whats wifes skillset?

    If her career goals was nothing more than be a mum then you may have issues.

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