In Nov 2018, we heard the sad news that  Michelin was  closing its tyre factory in Dundee leaving 845 workers jobless. A story which also hit a nerve in my home town on the Isle of Wight where we’ve been victim to major mass redundancies over the years.  Redundancy is a brutal life event up there with bereavement and divorce in terms of stress and emotional pressure. 

With redundancy everything takes a hit, self-esteem, finances, family and mental health, nothing escapes the cloud that descends when you are ‘let go’ from your job.  It can be difficult to see a way forward but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  If like those workers in Dundee you are currently facing the loss of your job, there are steps you can take to lessen the impact.

Know your rights. There are strict guidelines around staff redundancies. Employers must follow the rules and if they don’t, you may be entitled to an appeal or even a legal case against your employer. You can get free advice on your rights via your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Job Centre Plus.  

If you’ve been employed with a company for 2 years or more, you should be entitled to statutory redundancy pay (calculated for each year in service). This provides a substantial buffer in some cases, but if not, how can you financially prepare with redundancy on the horizon?

Martin Lewis from www.moneysavingexpert.com suggests the following precautions

• Do a debt audit.  Loss of income means lenders can be less keen to give you credit. Seek out good deals on balance transfers, loans and mortgages before redundancy happens.
• Pay off debts. If you have spare savings, use them to clear outstanding credit cards or loans. Having debts hanging over you during redundancy is a nightmare. But, keep access to some emergency funds.
• Do a money makeover. Run through your finances now to see what bills you can cut completely and where you can cut back. Start living as if you've already lost your job.

If the worst has happened and you’ve already been made redundant money expert Martin Lewis has sound advice for you too.

• Check if you are entitled to benefits? Benefits and tax-credits spread further than you think; it's important to ensure you're getting all you're entitled to.
• Deal with your debts. Don't ignore red letters. Contact creditors and discuss the problem with them as soon as possible. They may be able to help.
• Check for hidden insurance. Do you have hidden insurance to help with mortgage or credit cards? This is one case where you may be a lucky victim of mis-selling.
• Share the burden. Losing your job can add stress to any relationship. Don't be afraid to tell family and friends your news. You will need support and they can’t help if they don’t know.

When speaking with people who have faced redundancy in the past, the majority will tell you that it was one of the worst experiences of their life, and one of the best things that ever happened to them. Quite the oxymoron, but it is true.  Losing your job can be a catalyst for large scale change, new job, new home, new life, and although not everyone feels ready, those changes CAN be incredibly positive. 

Remember, you are not alone, there is a lot of guidance for people going through redundancy. If you accept support, the process will be gentler and you can move through to a better brighter future.

Don’t forget to update your CV now, and if you would like a free careers consultation  to discuss your next step, we will be very happy to help, just call us  on 01983 215777

For more advice on redundancy visit   https://www.gov.uk/redundant-your-rights  

As a working parent, one of the biggest external factors that has impacted my career is illness. Not just me getting a cold, or the odd sore throat. Real, unstoppable, plague like illness, the kind that small people (especially those in the 5 yrs and under category) like to bring home and smear around the whole family.

Recently, my family fell foul of the winter vomiting virus, it  spread like wildfire through the kids school and parents are literally beside themselves with worry as we all fall like dominoes, one by one, in batches. They are anxious because something has to give, and that something, inevitably, is work. The children need to be cared for, sick buckets emptied, bedclothes washed, hands held through the night, and that's before you eventually, inevitably, succumb to the virus yourself.

I am lucky. No, I don't particularly relish the thought of another shout of 'MUMMY!!!' from upstairs! but, I am my own boss, I own my hours, I work in a way that fits round the needs of my family and the needs of my clients, and this is something I am terrifically grateful for.

It was not always this way, and in my previous work-life, even with very flexible hours and an understanding employer, I still found myself regularly worrying about how I was going to take yet another day off work to look after the kids when the usual rounds of winter illnesses took hold? Tonsillitis, Norovirus, Chicken Pox, Tonsillitis, Scarlet Fever, Flu, Tonsillitis and on it goes.

Not everyone has an understanding employer, not everyone is confident to ask for the time they need off work, as a result, the pressure and stress this can place on family units at times of illness can be immense. Our school parents forum is littered with comments from working mums and dads, trying to figure out how not to take time off and still provide care for their kids (and not everyone has superhero grandparents to take over like I do!)

I would like to urge employers to be more open and proactive with your parental workforce during times of family illness. Lots of employees are completely unaware of their parental rights, that they are entitled to TOFD (time off for dependants) from day one of their employment, and that if they have been employed for 12 months or more, then they are entitled to unpaid parental leave (with 21 days notice, not great in emergencies, but great for hospital appointments and recovery time that can be planned in advance).

Many working parents wrongly assume they must use their own annual leave allocation, or call in 'sick' themselves in order to secure the needed time, which can result in demotivated and often exhausted staff in the long run.  Parental Leave and TOFD is in place to support a workforce, to allow them to fulfil their duties and still function in the workplace without unnecessary stress. It is a valuable asset to staff and employers and should be more openly discussed and promoted.

What is the difference between Parental Leave and TOFD?

• Time off for dependants is time off during working hours to deal with unforeseen matters and emergencies. Employees are entitled to TOFD from day one of their employment. There is no set limit to how much time can be taken off. The right is to a reasonable amount of time off, although it is not stated how much is reasonable. In most cases one or two days will be sufficient to deal with the immediate situation, but it will depend on individual circumstances.
  
• Parental leave allows employees to take planned time off work to look after a child. Employees are entitled to take up to eighteen weeks of parental leave per child over an 18 year period. This leave is normally unpaid and is available for each child up to their 18th birthday. Employees are entitled to Parental Leave after 12 months continuous employment.

Time off for dependants is to deal with unexpected situations:

• to deal with a breakdown in the care of a dependant
• to put longer term care in place for children or elderly relatives
• if a dependant falls ill or is taken into hospital.

An employee may wish to take parental leave to:

• stay with a child who is sick or in hospital
• spend more time with a child
• make school/childcare arrangements and to help them settle in.

It is worth noting that there is no automatic right to be paid when taking time off to care for dependants. An employer can pay staff taking parental leave or TOFD if they choose to but there is no obligation on them to do so.  The issue here however is rarely financial, it is the peace of mind required to know that when your house is going down by the nose, or when your children / dependants need support, there is a system in place to ensure your job is safe while you take care of your family.

For more information on Time Off For Dependants for parents and employers you can visit 
 http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3235
For more information on Parental Leave for parents and employers you can visit  
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1637