Case of the Week

Must you always consult in a redundancy dismissal?

The Ship Inn, Conyer

Consult, consult, consult - that is my advice whenever an employer is engaging in a redundancy process. Consultation, and I mean meaningful consultation, provides an employee with an opportunity to engage in the redundancy process and put forward alternatives to redundancy, such as altering working hours, changing business practices, offering to take a pay cut and anything else which could alleviate the need for a redundancy.

Remember, redundancy can have a huge impact to someone, particularly if they are supporting a family or have other significant financial commitments, so employers should always look upon it as a final option, rather than an easy way out.

The courts and legislature have recognised that consultation is must in any redundancy situation.