How shitty do the employees get during the consultation period?
Re:Indian IT, “You're Fired”
by keithpeter on Tuesday July 11, 2017 @06:15AM
(#14742889)
Interpersonal relationships can become 'interesting' during this period, but deliberate vandalism would be self-selection for redundancy and possible criminal action. Management become very 'correct' - to the extent of external 'consultants' sitting in on meetings and taking notes - and you can bet on morale being significantly impacted during and for up to a year after a long consultation.
As pointed out below, the consultation period is before those being made redundant are (officially) selected. In large organisations - for extra fun - you have things called 'redundancy pools' based around areas of work or grades that all share a risk of redundancy but only (e.g.) 5 out of 25 will actually be made redundant. I should also point out that larger orgs often offer voluntary redundancy at enhanced terms within given 'pools' - unions where they exist will often bargain for enhanced terms.
Not a pleasant time but does give people weeks/months to find something else and take what financial precautions they can - and perhaps decide that 'VR' (voluntary redundancy) is possibly attractive. Yes, you do lose good people sometimes.
Often there is no requirement that they come in during this period, it's one form of "gardening leave".
UK: in larger organisations (I mean big enough to have more than say 20 employees being made redundant) there is a consultation process that lasts a month or can last up to three months depending on the number of people being made redundant. There is a process that has to be kept to and there is a statutory minimum amount of redundancy pay [1] as well as payment in lieu of notice. Redundancy payments are tax free up to a limit
The result is in my experience less secrecy (consultation period) and some sort of financial safety net, at least a few months worth.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/redundant-your-rights/redundancy-pay