redundancy in one office, not in others.

neil_hosey

Hi there,
Just a short question. The company i work for has just announced 35 redundancies in their dublin office (overall: 65 employees) . They opened just under 2 years so no one entitled to statutory redundancy.

But the thing that is bothering me is we do the same job as the people in their belgian office, but they are not receiving any redundancies.

I am wondering does unfair dismissal apply hear as they are just clearing out half their irish office without touching either of the other Belgium, Lux, and French offices?!

Im basically wondering is it worth seeking further advice on this, or is it hopeless..

thanks in advance,

blueythebear

neil_hosey wrote: »

Hi there,
Just a short question. The company i work for has just announced 35 redundancies in their dublin office (overall: 65 employees) . They opened just under 2 years so no one entitled to statutory redundancy.

But the thing that is bothering me is we do the same job as the people in their belgian office, but they are not receiving any redundancies.

I am wondering does unfair dismissal apply hear as they are just clearing out half their irish office without touching either of the other Belgium, Lux, and French offices?!

Im basically wondering is it worth seeking further advice on this, or is it hopeless..

thanks in advance,

Your employer would be the Irish company or branch so for example, Boards Ireland Ltd would be your employer. In Belgium, it would be Boards Belgium Ltd, so two different employers.

In those circumstances, you would not have any grounds to claim unfair dismissal. Not to mention the fact your post states that all staff are being let go in Ireland, this is hardly an unfair selection for redundancy situation. However, the only person who could properly answer your query is a solicitor with all the facts.

It sucks but it's up to your union or employee representative body to try and negotiate some form of agreement for you all. Also, bad press in the media and complaints to the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Innovation might help your cause but not that likely.

neil_hosey

No not all staff are being let go in ireland only half.

Either way, I see what you are saying. I think talking to a solicitor explaining the full circumstances might at the very least be worth a shot.

CIARAN_BOYLE

neil_hosey wrote: »

No not all staff are being let go in ireland only half.

Either way, I see what you are saying. I think talking to a solicitor explaining the full circumstances might at the very least be worth a shot.

If there is a reason for them to do the redundancies in Ireland than there is no chance of unfair dismissal. For example its cheaper for them to do it in Ireland, its cheaper for them to operate in Belgium.

If the company has only operated in Ireland two years then it makes sense for redunancies to happen here even if its only a LIFO basis.

Kosseegan

If the company decides to do the work in Belgium, that is a matter for itself. It does not have to explain why id made the decision. The only grounds for complaint are unfair selection for redundancy. The company cannot be told to keep its work in Dublin so it is not unfair. As between the employees in Dublin there might be grounds for complaint if the criteria are not in accordance with the rules.

neil_hosey

It is a hell of a lot cheaper for them to work out of here though, so financially it would work out cheaper to make people redundant in belgium as they hired the same amount of people in dublin as the did in belgium in the last 2 years.

Its just quite frustrating as if the criteria was LIFO, i would have thought it would have applied to each site, considering we all work on the same product, and do the same job.


either way very frustrating... even IT companies are hit..


thanks for the advice btw.