Redundancies

[NewPostieUK]

Bear in mind though that if you take VR or EVR you will be disqualified from Job Seekers Allowance
for six months, as you have voluntarily left paid employment.

I've heard many people say that, but I've taken voluntary twice (1988 and 2007) and get dole (Job Seekers Allowance) straight away. They were aware that it was voluntary.

[baldrick]

When I resigned from my last job I was refused unemployment benefit for 6 weeks,
which was the maximum penalty at that time (1980), but it was later increased to
six months by the Thatcher Government.
You may have been lucky (twice)!

But I think it does depend on whether the Job Centre Employment Adviser who evaluates
your claim thinks you have a justifiable reason for leaving your employment.

[NewPostieUK]

I can't remember giving a reason for leaving. Maybe on a form I put simply 'redundancy', but at my initial meeting at Job Centre, I handed over my redundancy letter, which stated clearly 'voluntary'. Maybe he didn't bother reading it :)

[tpost]

I went down dole office last week and they said they would pay jobseekers allowance straight away in the event of VR.

[baldrick]

Seems you are right tpost.
See http://www.redundancyexpert.co.uk/how-y ... efits.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
which says "the resulting unemployment is still considered involuntary and those affected should be
able to receive Jobseekers Allowance without any problems".

So redundancy (unlike resignation), whether compulsory or voluntary, would not affect your enitlement to
Jobseekers Allowance for the first six months of unemployment, after which it becomes means tested.
But voluntary redundancy would probably not entitle you to any mortgage protection/ unemployment
insurance you might have taken out - or am I mistaken about that?

[NewPostieUK]

You would expect voluntary to mean no mortgage payments...however (going back donkeys years again) my insurance required the dole to sign a form every month, to say I was actively seeking work, and entitled to dole.They signed :)

[savo]

Very interesting reading !

I posted the question below on the Betfair forum ( before i knew about this site )
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Any of you know how they work out how much you get for V.R ?

Obviously its based on length of service, but how much for each year approx ?

Our gaffer has stated that if we accept them cutting more hours from the office it will allow 2 people to take V.R. We rejected a plan that involved more "indoor" prep for everyone, ie prep own walk and a third or half of another one. The new plan apparently means prep kept as it is now, but more "outdoor" work for everyone - deliver your own walk and part of another, havnt seen details yet though. Presumably if we reject this plan as well it will be eventually imposed upon us.

Morale is getting bad and i,m thinking maybe take V.R and take my chances.....

Have only been with them for 4 and a bit years ( was meant to be a fill-in job after leaving my last IT job ) but have about 11 years worth of pension as i transferred some in ( dunno if this makes any difference to V.R package offered ? )

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Another question is about contract buy-downs ? have heard that buying down from FT to 20 hrs may be possible.. how is the compensation package for this worked out ?

and is the 26 weeks for 2 to 8 years service based on pre-tax basic pay only, or any allowances like early morning supplement included ?

[baldrick]

I don't know about the buy down terms - someone else may be able to give you some info on that.
But the VR payment would be based on your weekly contractual hours and would include
pensionable supplements like shift (early morning attendance) allowance and driving allowance.
It would not include SA or OT.
I believe it is based on your average pensionable weekly pay over the last 6 months.

[savo]

Thanks !

[postghost]

hi where you say its a minimum 26wks pay for 2yr to 8yr is it per year or is it if you have say 6yr sevice the max you will get is 26wks.

Yes. It is 26 weeks payment, whether you have 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 years service.

What if you have only done 17 months service?

[baldrick]

You need to have done 2 years to qualify for EVR at present.
Perhaps they will change that if they want to cut another 16,000 jobs.

[krussel]

i think its about 12 -14 hundred a year, no that good, but its tax free up to about 30 odd grand

Bottom line I would get £25,200 for 21 years service pretty good considering, I would not consider yet as I would need to find another job and with the way things are going at mo Jobs are a bit thin on the ground right now.

Snap i am at 21 years The £25k would that be subject to income tax if you go into other employment ? I seem to remember something that if you went straight out to another job (if you can find one) you got really hit with tax.

[Truth]

You do not pay tax on the first 40,000

Question is, can you find a another job?

[krussel]

You do not pay tax on the first 40,000

Question is, can you find a another job?

That is the problem. There are jobs around here in the SE but they pay is terrible (15k or less) most folks with kids to support can match that on benefits and the like. I know a mate took the package last time as he had a job lined up as a school caretaker but i seem to remember him saying he had to pay tax on the lump sum as he had used all his tax allowance on the new job. So iam not really sure ? I will try to stick this one out at RM

[the beautiful bd south]

According to the compensation calculator sent to us by RM there is a minimum payment of 26 weeks
pay, after 2 years service to 8 years service. For 9 years its 27 weeks pay. For 10 years it's 30 weeks pay.
For every year from 11 on it's an additional 4 weeks pay, up to a maximum of 104 weeks at 28 years.
There used to be an additional payment of 2 weeks for every year after the age of 40, but I believe
that RM does not pay that anymore as they claim it would contravene Age Discrimination legislation.

Having seen a ready reckoner giving out by a manager for calculating vr the whole thing stinks of age discrimination.

for every year worked up to the age of 22 you get 0.5 weeks wage
for every year worked between 22-40 you get 1.0 weeks wage
for ever year over 40 you get 1.5 weeks wage
x 3.75
How can you get penalised for starting at royal mail at the age of 16???? and why 22?? we were on full pay at 18?
people of different ages who have shown the same level of loyalty to the company can get offered massivly different payouts?

I think the 3 weeks for you first 10 years then 4 weeks for every year after that is Termination by mutual agreement not Voluntary redundancy.