
Redundancy Process: how to handle it

How does redundancy work?
If your role is being made redundant, you’re not alone. There’s been a tidal wave of redundancies in recent months, largely due to unstable market conditions. The latest figures show that there were 108,000 redundancies between May to July 2023 - a 50% increase from the previous year.
Job redundancy is a challenging period - but there are steps that you can take to turn a negative situation into a more positive one.
Here, Fiona discusses how redundancy works and how to navigate it.
What is redundancy?
Job redundancy is when an employer ends an employee’s working contract because they don’t need anyone to do the job any more. That could be because of changing business requirements, a new approach to work, a location change, or because the company’s going through financial difficulties.
Being made redundant isn’t the same as being fired. When someone is fired, it’s usually because they have violated the conditions of their contract. When someone is made redundant, it isn’t a reflection of their performance, but of their company’s.
What rights do you have if your role is made redundant?
In the UK, there are steps that employers need to follow by law. These include:
- ‘Consulting’ with employees (letting them know plans and asking for feedback)
- Explaining why the role is being made redundant
- Giving redundancy pay
How much redundancy pay are you entitled to?
The amount of redundancy pay you’re entitled to depends on your age, how long you worked at the company, and your current weekly salary. You can calculate your statutory entitlement here.
It also depends on the terms of your contract. Some companies guarantee a higher rate of redundancy pay, so it’s important to take a look at your individual agreement with your organisation.
Some important things to remember about redundancy
The role is being made redundant, not you
It’s all too easy to beat yourself up when your role is facing redundancy - you can quickly start accusing yourself of all sorts of negative things that simply aren’t true. In the majority of cases, businesses make roles redundant because of market challenges, strategic shifts and structural changes. In short, they make decisions that have very little to do with your performance.
So, make a clear distinction in your mind between you and your role. You are not being made redundant - your role is. The situation isn’t a reflection of your worth.
Don't check out
When you know your role is going to be made redundant, it’s unrealistic to expect the same level of motivation and productivity from yourself. That said, you don’t want to show up with a negative attitude, or make zero effort during your redundancy notice period. Why? Because you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. You may end up working with the same colleagues, managers or company. Or, you might rely on a good reference later down the line.
Being frustrated about the situation is natural and understandable - but you want to do yourself justice by staying true to you. Remain committed to doing a good job, so that you can leave with your head held high. Remember, this is only a fleeting chapter in your life’s story; so don’t hold your future self back from opportunities by behaving in a way that isn’t representative of you.
List your duties and update your CV
It’s time to start thinking about what you’ll do next. So, note down all the duties you performed in your former role. What were your key responsibilities? What tasks did you perform on a daily, weekly and monthly basis?
Then, reflect on your achievements. What targets did you meet? What changes did you implement? What element of your role did you perform really well? What were you most proud of?
This list should help you update your CV - which you should start doing as soon as possible. To perfect your CV, use our CV writing guide plus our free CV template.
Reflect on the sort of role you’d like
Often, navigating redundancy makes people reflect on whether they find their role fulfilling, or whether it’s time to do something different with their career. No one approach is better than the other - it’s just about finding the right path for you.
Although it’s hard, try to view this time as an opportunity to explore your options. You can reflect on whether it’s time for a career change, or consider what element of your role you particularly enjoy. This can bring clarity about your next steps and help you focus your job search.
Get job hunting support
A recruitment specialist like Eden Scott can make you aware of relevant opportunities in your sector. But more than that, they can get to know you and learn more about the sort of role you might be suited to. Then, they can put you forward for interviews, helping you to prepare and making sure you feel confident. They’ll even help you understand the terms of your contract and negotiate your package offer.
The best place to start is to upload your CV so that recruiters can understand your skills and experience.
Don’t keep it to yourself
Too often, people feel embarrassed to share that their role has been made redundant. That means they keep it quiet - but that’s a mistake. If you’re searching for a job, tell people. Network on LinkedIn and update your profile so employers can find you. Get in touch with old contacts or employers and let them know you’re searching. The more people that are aware of your current employment status, the more likely you are to learn about a suitable role.
Final thoughts
If your role has been made redundant, don’t beat yourself up. Although initially it’s natural to be unsure about how redundancy works and how to navigate it, this experience might just lead you to bigger and brighter opportunities. So, keep your head up, and when you’re ready, start searching for a new role.
Next steps
Looking for your next role? Get in touch to discuss your next steps, upload your CV or check out our live vacancies.