UK REDUNDANCY PAYMENT

We represent a national network of solicitors who specialise in claims arising as a result of employment including UK statutory redundancy payment law. Our lawyers act on behalf of clients using the no win no fee scheme which means that if your solicitor does not succeed in obtaining compensation on your behalf then he will not get paid. If you would like to talk confidentially to an experienced solicitor without obligation just complete and send the contact form.

To claim compensation for redundancy an employee must have been dismissed due to the entire business closing down, or if the business continues, there must be a reduced need for workers of the employee's type. To qualify for compensation the dismissed employee must have been continuously employed by the employer for 2 years at the date of the dismissal. Some employees are excluded from making a claim including:

• people aged under 20, or past normal retiring age for the post or if there is no such age, 65
• employee's dismissed for misconduct
• employees who refuse suitable alternative employment
• fixed term contract workers of more than 2 years, who have renounced their rights
• share fishermen, people ordinarily working abroad, employees of foreign governments, civil servants and certain public officials

Redundancy compensation is capped at £9,300 with maximum weekly pay figure of £310 and is as follows:

• one and a half week's pay for each year in which the employee was over 41 years of age
• one week's pay for each year in which they were over 22, but under 41
• half a week's pay for each year over 18, but under 22
• the maximum number of years which may be counted is 20

If an employer offers an employee a suitable alternative job which is unreasonably refused by the employee then no claim can be made. An employee may still refuse to accept an alternative job and claim a compensation payment if the refusal was reasonable particularly after consideration of personal circumstances including health and family commitments. In such cases redundancy payment law allows a trial period of 4 weeks in the new job for assessment and the subsequent right to claim if the new job is unsuitable.

All employee's are entitled to a written statement showing how the amount of their compensation has been calculated and in the event of dispute a claim should be made to an Employment Tribunal within 6 months of the work terminating however the Tribunal does have a discretion in certain restricted circumstances to extend this period by a further six months.