Approaching Employer re Voluntary Redundancy

Samgotti

My employer is currently in the process of moving some of their business overseas. The function being moved abroad is a different department to which I currently work in. The company is offering voluntary redundancy to employees in the department affected by the move. My department is not in the scope for these redundancies but after a number of years with the company I am not happy in my current job function as it requires a lot of overtime and I have 2 young children at home so I feel I am not getting any time with them due to the long hours. My job does pay well and I could not just afford to give up my job but I feel the redundancy option would allow me to clear outstanding debts and find a job with more work/life balance.

So my question is whether I should ask my hr department about the possibility of voluntary redundancy even though my department is not currently affected. Has anyone had any experience of this and if so how did they approach it. The company has advised employees in the affected department that they will make a best effort to find them alternative roles within the company but it is not guaranteed and they have already made a number of people redundant in past few months.

Nody

Since your position is not being made redundant the chance you'd get any form of redundancy is pretty much zero as it would basically be the company paying you to leave for no reason.

mitresize5

you leaving might open the door for someone who in being made redundant to keep their job, especially if they dont want to leave and you do.

Is there anyway you could find out informally, there is no harm in asking if you don't mind the company knowing that you would consider leaving

Samgotti

mitresize5 wrote: »

you leaving might open the door for someone who in being made redundant to keep their job, especially if they dont want to leave and you do.

Is there anyway you could find out informally, there is no harm in asking if you don't mind the company knowing that you would consider leaving

The only way to find out would be to contact HR so while I can informally ask HR it would be on record that I asked them. That was my thinking as well that someone who wants to stay could take my job as the work is generally the same in both departments. I am just unsure how to approach hr with it as they could view it that I will inevitable leave of my own accord so why would they give me redundancy.

Mrs OBumble

Samgotti wrote: »

I am just unsure how to approach hr with it as they could view it that I will inevitable leave of my own accord so why would they give me redundancy.

The reason they might play ball is if it would cost less to make you redundant than someone else.

Can you make informal approach to any long-serving affected people, to see if they might be interested?

DSN

I'd mention to HR - informally. In the company I work for this happens all the time. In general managers or HR prefer to let go people who want to go & if they can redeploy a person who wants to stay even better. They will then know you want to go but are most likely not going to go without a package if redundancies are on the horizon. I know the initial discussion is tricky / awkward & it might take a while before it comes to fruition. In your case the awkward thing might be your manager (who will have to be told eventually if its going to happen) who has not been given a headcount reduction he/she might be pissed off & try to block it but if HR have given the ok they getting a replacement what can they do...