What to do if you are made redundant

What to do if you are made redundant

Employees are made redundant when a company has to reduce the workforce because a job or jobs are no longer needed. It has nothing to do with the employees’ ability to do their jobs. However, dealing with redundancy can be difficult. Here are some tips on how to cope.

First of all, don’t panic. It’s common for people to either rush into a flurry of activity or be frozen by the shock of being suddenly made redundant. The best course of action is to keep calm and draw up a list of all of the things you need to arrange in the months ahead. It’s important to find out what your rights are. Obtain a copy of the in-house redundancy policy if there is one and check out your contract for exit terms.

Try to maintain good relations wherever possible with your employer, even if you are angry about the manner of your exit. You will still need a reasonable reference when the time comes to move on, and it may be that your boss can make useful introductions or offer you consultancy work.

Help from a professional outplacement company can make a huge difference to your job search success and reduce the amount of time taken to find your next role. You can purchase this yourself, but there are advantages to having it arranged via your company.

Don’t rush into applying for any or every job that comes up. Take stock of what you have to offer, what you want to do, and carry out in-depth research to find out what employers are actually looking for. Talk to people in your target industry for career advice and information. This information will be invaluable in helping you identify potential employers.

Assess whether there are any gaps in experience or qualifications that could be a barrier to getting another job and address them. Enrol on some of those courses you have always been too busy to go on: not only will this enhance your skills, it also shows your commitment to continuous professional development.

Redundancy enables you to move your career forward in line with your own personal agenda. Although it can be traumatic, many people find that redundancy is actually the incentive they need to take their career in the direction they actually want to go. So think about what you really want, and go for it.

Read the text below and answer Questions 22–27.

Palvin’s Restaurant

Instructions to new kitchen staff

Dress standards at our restaurants are extremely important whichever area you work in. The following information will help ensure that you have a professional appearance every day as you carry out your foodservice duties.

Palvin’s Restaurant chain provides new kitchen staff with their uniforms and you are advised to come to work with a note of your chest, waist and hip measurements to assist in this process. On your first day, you’ll be issued with two pairs of trousers, two aprons, two jackets and two hats. Once you’re happy that you have the correct size, please take the garments home and add a name tag to each one. Put these inside the garments so that they cannot be seen.

Kitchen work can be messy, and it is up to you to make sure that your uniform is kept clean, but you will receive a laundry allowance to help you do this. Towels are available at work, but it’s a good idea to bring your own too in case you need it. You can keep this and any other personal items safe in the lockers that are available for use while you’re on duty. It’s advisable to bring your own small padlock for these.

Uniforms should not be worn outside work. You should wear your normal clothes to and from work but make sure they’re respectable. For example, hoodies and other similar tops are not acceptable in the kitchens; if it’s cold, wear a jacket. When you arrive at work, you can use the changing facilities located next to the lockers to put on your uniform. You can wear your own shoes in the kitchens as long as they’re sturdy and enclosed. We strongly recommend rubber soles so that they do not slip on the floor.

If you incur any injuries that require crutches while you’re working for the company, you cannot then take on any tasks that involve standing up. However, if such a situation should occur, we will make every effort to place you in an appropriate area where you can sit down to work so you will not need to take time off. Employees who have smaller injuries, such as hand cuts, need to check with their manager whether they can come to work: you may have to take time off to avoid infection.