When redundancy can be a silver lining

Being made redundant can come as a huge shock and trauma for most, but it can also be a cloud with a silver lining.

Having advised employers on making redundancies and employees on being made redundant, I have seen first hand how proper advice can have a significant impact on the process.
For many employers it can be a very difficult decision to make in the first instance. Then, there are the legal requirements to grapple with to ensure the employer goes through the correct process, acting fairly and responsibly throughout. By following the correct procedure, not only can an employer limit their exposure to unfair dismissal claims but it can also help make the whole process less painful for the affected employees too.

In my experience employees will inevitably be shocked unless the writing was already on the wall and it was obvious the company was going to have to make redundancies. Employees who are selected will inevitably ask "why me?", a normal human reaction.

Employers who take advice and follow proper procedures can manage this process objectively and in a humane way making it more palatable for all those involved. Some employers will be in a position to offer outplacement counselling and career mentoring, the benefit of which the employee can use to consider their next career move as well as bolstering their confidence.

Many employees have made it clear to me that in fact redundancy was the best thing to happen to them. Apathy had led to them remaining in a role and a place where they were unhappy. Having the decision forced on them to move on by being selected for redundancy had a positive outcome.

One example is a client who was 63 years old when he was made redundant. He had considered becoming a self employed consultant before and unable to find a new job he set up a consultancy. Six months later he wrote to me telling me it was the best thing to happen to him and his business was thriving. He wished he had done it ten years earlier.

While good communication as ever is fundamental, by understanding the redundancy process and legal requirements an employer can limit their exposure to claims. Employees should not then be left feeling unfairly treated and may look back at the outcome and see a cloud with a silver lining.

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