redundancy appeal meetings - what happens?

[LearnAsIgo]

Hi all,

I'm new to this board and think it's fantastic!

I've been looking for info on the likely processes and content of appeal meetings and can't find anything (maybe I'm not looking hard enough).

I'm facing a meeting with at least 3 former colleagues - all senior to me - big eek - and I'm nervous. I don;t want to crumble in the face of such opposition but I'd like to know the 'dos and don'ts...'

Does anyone have any information/tips or advice they can give me? I'd be so grateful. I'm so nervous....

thanks

[clerkKent]

You don't give us much to go on, e.g. why the company is making redundancies, how many are going, how you were selected. I assume you are appealing on the grounds that your selection was wrong. If the company is closing your office altogether or relocating or pulling out of a line of business, it will be very hard to make a strong case. If they are (for example) cutting costs and making 1 in 20 redundant, then the selection process has to be fair, and should follow steps as outlined below.

"At the very least in order to plan and implement a redundancy situation properly, the following stages will be followed in most redundancies:

planning
invitation of volunteers
consultation, both collective and individual
notification of large-scale redundancies to the Department of Trade and Industry (more than 20 employees)
use of objective selection criteria
compliance with all three stages of statutory dismissal procedures
advance notice of individual consultation meeting
permitting a colleague to be present at consultation meetings
opportunity to appeal
allowing seeking of suitable alternative employment
statutory or other redundancy payment
relocation expenses
helping redundant employees obtain training or alternative work. "
See CIPD redundancy page for further information. This shows redundancy from the employer's point of view. If your employer is not following procedure correctly, you may have a claim for unfair dismissal.

[LearnAsIgo]

HI,

thanks for the info and the link.

I've been made redundant. Rather than downsizing, the company is merging with another and expanding. Because I haven't been there for a year I don't know the ins and outs of what's happening. I received a letter telling me I was redundant not long before I was due to return following maternity leave. I'd requested flexible working prior to that letter and had not received official communication on that issue. I'm now appealling the redundancy on a number of grounds which I don't want to go into in detail here...i was hoping for some other Mumsneter experiences of appeal meetings as I feel like i'll be walking into the unknown, albeit with the agenda firmly grasped in my hand...do the company have the right to steer the meeting - I feel it's my appeal and thus 'my' meeting...I've plenty of questions - I wish I could see into the future to ask some intelligent ones.

Any advice would be appreicated highly

regards x