Legal and Financial Support Services for Employees Facing Redundancy

Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)

• Free Helpline: Call 0300 123 1100 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm) for:
  • Confidential advice on redundancy rights, unfair dismissal, and discrimination.
  • Guidance on navigating consultations, appeals, and tribunal claims.
  • Language interpreters (available on request) and text relay services for accessibility.

• Early Conciliation:
  • Mandatory step before filing an employment tribunal claim. Acas mediates between employees and employers to resolve disputes without litigation.
  • Covers issues like unfair selection, inadequate consultation, or unpaid redundancy pay.

• Online Resources: Templates for redundancy appeal letters, guides to statutory entitlements, and redundancy pay calculators.

Citizens Advice

• Local Bureau Support: In-person or virtual appointments for:
  • Debt management (prioritizing council tax, mortgages, and utility bills).
  • Assistance with Universal Credit claims and redundancy-related benefit applications.
  • Reviewing redundancy agreements for fairness and compliance.

• Redundancy Checklist: A step-by-step guide to verify:
  • Validity of redundancy rationale.
  • Accuracy of statutory redundancy pay calculations.
  • Compliance with notice periods and consultation timelines.

Trade Union Representation

• Collective Consultation Advocacy:
  • • Unions negotiate alternatives to redundancy (e.g., reduced hours, voluntary exit schemes).
    • Scrutinize selection criteria and scoring matrices for bias.

• Legal Support:
  • Free representation in employment tribunals for unfair dismissal or discrimination claims.
  • Assistance filing Subject Access Requests (SARs) to obtain anonymized pool scoring data.

• Training: Workshops on redundancy rights, negotiation tactics, and financial planning.

Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service

• Eligibility: Available during redundancy notice periods and up to 13 weeks post-dismissal.

• Services Include:

• • CV Workshops: Tailored to industry-specific job markets.
  • Skills Matching: Identification of transferable skills for alternative sectors.
  • Financial Grants: Up to £1,000 for:
    • Travel costs to interviews.
    • Childcare during job searches.
    • Tools or uniforms for new roles.

• Regional Schemes:
  • Scotland: Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) offers retraining grants.
  • Wales: ReAct+ provides funded vocational courses and employer subsidies.

Mental Health Resources

• Employer-Funded Counseling:
  • Many companies provide access to confidential therapy sessions via Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

• NHS Services:
  • Referrals to stress management programs through GP consultations.

• Crisis Support:
  • Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24/7) for emotional support.
  • Shout: Text “SHOUT” to 85258 for free, anonymous text-based assistance.

Redundancy Payments Service (RPS)

• Insolvency Claims:
  • Submit Form RP1 to claim unpaid wages, redundancy pay, and notice pay if the employer becomes insolvent.
  • Average processing time: 3–6 weeks.

• Guaranteed Payments:
  • Statutory redundancy pay (capped at £700/week).
  • Up to 8 weeks’ unpaid wages (capped at £643/week).

By leveraging these services, employees can mitigate financial instability, challenge unfair practices, and transition smoothly into new roles. Proactive engagement with unions, legal advisors, and government programs ensures maximum protection under UK employment law.