How to avoid job loss - Part 3

The concept of a job for life disappeared years ago. In fact, very few have real job security. Multi nationals will move work around the world to achieve the lowest production costs possible and companies will readily outsource parts of their businesses in pursuit of greater efficiency. Shifting markets, the pace of technology and fashion mean that even companies that are really profitable can quickly shrink in size or even go bust.

This all leads to the issue of redundancy. A redundancy situation arises when an employer needs fewer people or closes altogether. Clearly, if your employer goes bust or closes down your factory or office there is probably nothing you can do to avoid losing your job.

The position is different if your employer is not closing down but wants to reduce the size of its workforce. This can be a redundancy situation even if the employer is still making good profits.

So how can you be one of those who keeps his or her job? The key is to understand how employers will think in such a situation. Most employers will want to be fair to their workforce but will also want to retain who they think are their best employees. Many years ago employers would often select employees on the basis of last in first out, but this is no longer the case. Employers now seek to identify their best employees by reference to objective criteria - subjective personal opinions will not do as far as employment tribunals are concerned.

Objective criteria are things like timekeeping and attendance record, job skills, flexibility and disciplinary record, with length of service being relevant but not in a major way.

For most employees it is often very difficult to predict if their employer will decide to make jobs redundant. However, all employees would be well advised to ensure that not only do they get the basics right, ie getting to work on time and not throwing “sickies”, but should accept all the training that is offered and ask for relevant training that would be useful. If asked to turn your hand to other jobs that you could do, give it a go – provided there is no loss of income or status. The more jobs you can do in the workplace the better. If you are perceived as being multi-skilled and flexible with the “right attitude” you are more likely to be retained than those more set in their ways.

An employer who is making jobs redundant is required to offer those employees affected other suitable jobs if the employer has vacancies. If your job is redundant and there is the prospect of another job, express strong interest in it even - if it is not ideal. It is easier to find a job with another employer when you are still employed.

Statutory redundancy pay is by any measure quite low. If your employer offers enhanced severance terms and asks for volunteers for redundancy, make sure that you do your sums before accepting a package. What may seem like a decent lump sum will be a lot smaller if it takes you too long to find another job.

Finally, if you are unlucky enough to be in a job that becomes redundant and your employment is terminated, the people who do best look forward and not back, and go to interviews with honest self-confidence. There is nothing to be embarrassed about if your job becomes redundant.

Published 27/09/2006.