Preference excercise

[dam52]

We have all been told by our line Managers regarding the people's app
Preference Excerise to VR and a calculator based on age length of service and do you have a DISABILITY!!!!!
Why on earth do they want to know about disability when this exercise is for everyone? I smell a rat being cornered!!!
Does anyone have any info about this ?

[Murdoch]

If I had to guess, they're going to use high sick absence as a qualifier for Voluntary redundancy (or compulsory if it comes to that), but disability is a protected characteristic. So if your sick absences were related to disability, that would be discrimination and would leave them open to legal action.

[dam52]

This exercise is based on VR so why include do you have a disability.
In their questions . Surely that's not irrelevant, or is it ?

[k979aaa]

Go IHR 48 WEEKS pay Verses 39 VR simple and you get any leave on top so a years pay vs 9 months

[ssdd]

There's nothing on the People App Preference Exercise regarding disability. More rumours again.

[Murdoch]

This exercise is based on VR so why include do you have a disability.
In their questions . Surely that's not irrelevant, or is it ?

Well exactly, it's not relevant if people are requesting redundancy.

But it is a protected characteristic, and if a company got rid of a high percentage of their disabled workers, in any redundancy action. They could leave themselves open to legal action.

Bear in mind, on the preference exercise, you can state that your preference is "no". I also wouldn't assume that all redundancies going forward will be voluntary tbh, given the state of things.

[Murdoch]

There's nothing on the People App Preference Exercise regarding disability. More rumours again.

There is. Saw it myself. Not a rumour.

[ssdd]

There's nothing on the People App Preference Exercise regarding disability. More rumours again.

There is. Saw it myself. Not a rumour.

Sorry, you're correct. There is. I just double checked again there.

[k979aaa]

If I had to guess, they're going to use high sick absence as a qualifier for Voluntary redundancy (or compulsory if it comes to that), but disability is a protected characteristic. So if your sick absences were related to disability, that would be discrimination and would leave them open to legal action.

Last in first out would cost them nothing would it not? you don't get VR or redundancy less that two years service so all those who clicked the button have just asked for terms or thinking of leaving!

[Murdoch]

If I had to guess, they're going to use high sick absence as a qualifier for Voluntary redundancy (or compulsory if it comes to that), but disability is a protected characteristic. So if your sick absences were related to disability, that would be discrimination and would leave them open to legal action.

Last in first out would cost them nothing would it not? you don't get VR or redundancy less that two years service so all those who clicked the button have just asked for terms or thinking of leaving!

Honestly, it depends what the company is hoping to achieve. It seems to me like they want to get rid of as much of the older staff, whom they consider resistant to change, as they can.

The new starts will just go along with all of the changes and accept the reduction in T&Cs. But your guess is as good as mine when it comes to how they will "pick" those they want to get rid of.

Sidestepping the union on this means they can chose at will, and the former practices are out the window.

[dam52]

If Rm want to know if you have a disability in the questions on preferential exercise then they should explain why they have done this.
The big question is what is their motive for asking that question!!
Hmmmm!!!!

[k979aaa]

If I had to guess, they're going to use high sick absence as a qualifier for Voluntary redundancy (or compulsory if it comes to that), but disability is a protected characteristic. So if your sick absences were related to disability, that would be discrimination and would leave them open to legal action.

Last in first out would cost them nothing would it not? you don't get VR or redundancy less that two years service so all those who clicked the button have just asked for terms or thinking of leaving!

Honestly, it depends what the company is hoping to achieve. It seems to me like they want to get rid of as much of the older staff, whom they consider resistant to change, as they can.

The new starts will just go along with all of the changes and accept the reduction in T&Cs. But your guess is as good as mine when it comes to how they will "pick" those they want to get rid of.

Sidestepping the union on this means they can chose at will, and the former practices are out the window.

It would cost them more but If you don't submit preference then you should not be considered as offering and those that do are given preference instead!

[Murdoch]

It would cost them more but If you don't submit preference then you should not be considered as offering and those that do are given preference instead!

I think given how many people want out, that they'll have more takers for voluntary redundancy than they could possibly handle. Lets hope they are in the right places though.

[k979aaa]

Interesting paragraph "The financial position of the business means that our EXISTING voluntary redundancy (VR) pay policy relating to CWU represented operational grades known as MtSF is no longer affordable. WE cannot offer MtSF VR and this will not change." So they are saying it is EXISTING so it is still part of the agreements signed in the past and the reason is they cannot afford it for some people like OPG Grade postmen but can afford it for Managers and above STILL!

[dam52]

We are swaying away from the original question.
I repeat why are RM asking the question when coming to the preference exercise that they feel the need to ask DO YOU HAVE A DISABILITY.
Let's try to get to the bottom of this as this could lead RM discriminating under the equality act !!
Unless they make it clear why they have asked the question then I am intrigued why they have ask this personal question which is related to VR What they may see as dead wood for for example iii
What are RM up to when offering a preference exercise .
They are up to something that's for sure!!!!