Should I take redundancy? Ask the Expert

Everyone in my office is being made redundant in April. I have been given the option to move to a new office but I would lose any redundancy entitlement and there is no relocation package on offer. Could I simply take the redundancy and then reapply at a later date at the new office?

Philip Landau's response:

There is nothing in law to stop you reapplying at a later date. Your employer may simply refuse to re-employ you after having just given you a redundancy payment or they may insist that you return the redundancy payment before taking you back.

Of course you would also lose any continuity of employment by reapplying in this way and therefore it would take a year before you built up your main employment law rights again.

Reader Comments

It depends how confident you are about finding suitable alternative employment, how generous the redundancy package is, and what financial commitments you have. Even with a generous package, your lump sum can soon disappear if there's no cash coming in. Get applying for jobs NOW NOW.

If in doubt, agree to relocate on a trial basis, whilst at the same time applying for jobs locally. This way you can buy yourself time. Redundancy can often be a blessing, as it can get you out of a rut and your current salary may have fallen below market rates. Hope that helps.

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