WORKPLACE ANSWER
What should I do if I am being made redundant?
If you've been told your role is at risk of redundancy, understand what that means, what should happen before a final decision and the practical steps you can take now.
Quick Answer
Being told you are at risk of redundancy does not necessarily mean a final decision has been made. Redundancy usually concerns an employer’s reduced or changed need for particular work or roles, rather than automatically being about an individual’s performance. Where redundancy is being proposed, you should normally have an opportunity to understand the proposal and take part in consultation before a final decision is reached.
Your immediate priorities are to understand why redundancy is being proposed, whether and how you have been selected (where selection is relevant), what consultation will take place, whether alternatives to redundancy are being considered and what the possible implications could be for your role and employment.
What Does Being “At Risk of Redundancy” Mean?
Being told that your role is “at risk of redundancy” usually means that redundancy is being proposed or considered. It does not, by itself, necessarily mean that a final decision has already been made or that your employment has ended.
Redundancy can arise where your employer’s need for particular work or roles has changed or reduced. This can happen for different business reasons, such as restructuring, cost-saving or changes in how work is organised. You may then enter a consultation process before your employer reaches its final decision.
What Should Happen Before a Redundancy Decision Is Made?
Things To Think About
Where redundancy is being proposed, consultation is an important part of the process before a final decision is reached. Consultation should give you an opportunity to:
• understand why redundancy is being proposed;
• ask questions about the proposal and clarify information;
• understand any selection process and criteria where relevant;
• raise concerns about information or selection;
• suggest alternatives to redundancy; and
• discuss possible alternative roles or redeployment.
Consultation should be meaningful. It should be more than simply being told that a decision has already been made. For more on what consultation can involve and how to prepare, see What Happens During a Redundancy Consultation?
What Should I Do Now?
If you have just been told that your role is at risk of redundancy, useful immediate steps can include:
• reading any at-risk, consultation or redundancy letters and emails carefully;
• understanding why redundancy is being proposed and what business reasons have been given;
• checking whether only your role or a wider group of roles is affected;
• asking how any selection process and criteria work, where selection is involved;
• writing down questions you want answered and points you want to raise;
• thinking about alternatives to redundancy you may want your employer to consider;
• asking about vacancies, alternative roles or redeployment opportunities;
• keeping copies of relevant letters, emails and meeting notes; and
• checking your employment contract and any workplace redundancy policy.
Try to avoid making a rushed decision, such as resigning simply because redundancy has been proposed, without first understanding your position and options.
Could I Be Offered Another Role?
Alternative employment or redeployment can be an important part of a redundancy situation. You can ask what vacancies or alternative roles are available and whether there are other roles that could avoid redundancy.
Whether a particular role is a suitable alternative can depend on the circumstances, including the role itself and your situation. The key is to be aware that alternative roles are something you can ask about and consider during the process.
- • understand why redundancy is being proposed;
• ask questions about the proposal and clarify information;
• understand any selection process and criteria where relevant;
• raise concerns about information or selection;
• suggest alternatives to redundancy; and
• discuss possible alternative roles or redeployment.
Consultation should be meaningful. It should be more than simply being told that a decision has already been made. For more on what consultation can involve and how to prepare, see What Happens During a Redundancy Consultation?
A redundancy process may involve:
• you being told that redundancy is being proposed or that your role is at risk;
• consultation about the proposal;
• discussion of the business reasons and any selection process where relevant;
• consideration of questions, alternatives and possible redeployment;
• further consultation or information where necessary;
• your employer reaching a final decision; and
• if redundancy is confirmed, explaining notice, termination arrangements, redundancy pay where applicable and other outstanding payments or arrangements.
Outcomes can vary. The redundancy proposal might proceed, the proposal could change, or an alternative role or another solution may be identified. You should be told what the final decision is and what happens next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does being “at risk of redundancy” mean I've already lost my job?
Being told that your role is at risk of redundancy normally means redundancy is being proposed or considered. It does not necessarily mean a final decision has been made or that your employment has already ended. Consultation may take place before your employer reaches its final decision.
Why has my role been selected for redundancy?
Redundancy generally concerns your employer's need for particular work or roles rather than automatically being about an individual's performance. Where several employees carry out similar work, a selection process may sometimes be involved. You can ask why your role is affected and, where relevant, how any selection pool and criteria have been determined.
Will I receive redundancy pay?
Whether you receive redundancy pay depends on your circumstances and the redundancy arrangements that apply. For more on when redundancy pay may be available and how it can be worked out, see Am I Entitled to Redundancy Pay?
Related WorkAnswers
Understand what consultation involves, how to prepare and the questions you may want to ask.
Understand when redundancy pay may apply, what can affect entitlement and how payments are worked out.
Important: WorkAnswers provides general workplace information and guidance. It is not a substitute for legal advice about your specific situation.
Use our AI Tools to help organise what you've been told, prepare questions and think through the next steps in your redundancy process.
When you are at risk of redundancy, it can help to ask yourself:
• Do I understand why my role is at risk?
• Has a final decision actually been made?
• Am I part of a wider group or selection pool?
• If selection is involved, do I understand how it works?
• What questions do I want answered during consultation?
• Are there alternatives to redundancy I want my employer to consider?
• Are there vacancies or other roles I could consider?
• What does my contract or workplace redundancy policy say?
• What could redundancy mean for my notice, unused holiday and redundancy pay?
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