Hi Everyone,
We're going to be going through a redundancy process with less than 20 people; a whole department will be closed as we are no longer going to be selling that product.
We have a number of alternative roles in the business, which the individuals will be made aware of in case they would like to trial any of them. My question is - what happens if more than one person expresses an interest in one particular role - is it first come first served, or do you have to hold interviews for the role? We can't offer the trial to more than one person as there wouldn't be enough work to keep them busy and therefore have a realistic trial.
I can't see the answer on ACAS so wondered if anyone knew how best to approach this?
Thanks!
Becky
Replies
Morning Becky
I hope you are well.
I would suggest that you run a normal selection process for these alternative roles, assuming that the candidates meet the criteria for the role, or development could ensure that they can within a reasonable timeframe.
In some cases in the past I have actually ringfenced positions to those at risk in the organisation so that we can redeploy into alternative roles. Also remember if you have anyone on maternity leave then they get first refusal if the roles could be considered SAE.
I hope this helps!
Sarah
Hi Becky,
we would hold interviews with them and then the most suitable candidate would be chosen for the trial period.
Kathrin
Hi Kathrin,
Sorry, one more (slightly related) question....
If one of these employees recently received funding for professional studies, on the basis that they repay the money if they leave the business - are the Company within their rights to deduct this from final pay, or as making the employee redundant can we not to that?
Thank you
Becky
Hi Becky,
that depends very much what policy you have in place and if the employee has signed an agreement prior to taking up the studies to repay any fees on leaving the business.
As the employee would leave as the result of a redundancy process, the business might want to consider waiving any fees on moral grounds.
Kathrin
Great, thanks Kathrin.
Hi Kathrin,
Thanks very much for the quick reply - that's really helpful.
Becky
Hi Becky
I would agree with Kathrin if the role was being made redundant in my experience we have not recovered funding for training in these circumstances as it is outside of the employee's control why they are leaving.
Usually the training agreement will explicitly refer to this,
KR Sarah
Thanks Sarah!