Redundant at 62!

I have just found out my firm is closing the site and putting work out to sub contractor!

There is a nice thank you for all our hard work and overtime during Covid, coping with extra workload and covering for absent colleagues.

So modeling has to go on hold for a bit whilst I job search.

So sorry to hear that Cliff.

Seems to be the modern way of management - take no responsibility, sub-contract all you can. In the vernacular of these times, Outsource.

Hope you find something soon.

Ian

Thanks BackinBlack,

I am under no illusions that it is going to be easy at my age and in this current climate but fingers crossed.

Know the feeling. Been there six times in my life.

Hope you find something soon.

From my past experience. Try and do some modelling it helps...Trust the voice of experience

Edited By Peter Miller on 05/09/2020 13:53:36

Thanks Peter Good advice.

Hoping to maybe get a days flying tomorrow weather permitting.

Fourth time for me and second in less than two years, so I have not been with current employer long enough to get any payout!

Edited By Cliff Bastow on 05/09/2020 14:00:02

My sympathies. 62 is bad, but 57 is worse!

When I went to sign-on, I was told that my savings (i.e. my pension) were too high for me to get any JSA.

When my 'gardening leave' expired I thought I'd better be a good boy and tell my car insurer of my change of status to officially 'unemployed'. Thanks for letting us know, they said - we've now cancelled your policy... "We don't insure unemployed people".

No JSA and the stigma of 'unemployed' made me change my status to 'retired'. Never looked back...

Edited By David Ashby - Moderator on 05/09/2020 14:42:45

I'm, afraid these days employees are just a number, and loyalty only works one way. If they can get a robot or a machine to do the work they would get rid of you in seconds even if you had worked there for ages. A book I can recommend, "The ragged trousered philanthropist" one part was even banned years ago as it give the working class too many secrets as to how employers kept the means of production to themselves. Hope things turn up better for you.

Sorry to hear it Cliff, must be this new "Work life balance" I keep hearing about.

Hi Flyboy3,

You are right there, they expect loyalty from there employees but give non back, they have already sent a letter round saying that if we decide to leave before planned shut down date we will have to work out our notice which in my case is 1 month. Fat chance, if I get another offer I am off and they can whistle for my notice. Loyalty works both ways.

Sorry to hear that Cliff. Are you able to go self-employed in any way?

Not really Jonathan,

I could maybe work through an agency but then I would have to travel about and you get all the shifts nobody else wants, weekends, bank holidays, nights etc. An option if I get desperate.

We could maybe downsize and be mortgage free which might help but we don't want to if possible as we both love our bungalow and I have my nice workshop attached but needs must if desperate.

I have also wondered if I could draw down enough from my pension to pay the mortgage off but of course there would be less to live on then when I do retire.

Its a mess!

Edited By Cliff Bastow on 05/09/2020 14:43:58

Look on the bright side - apparently we are all going to 'prosper mightily'...

Hard luck Chris. I was made redundant at 60 so I know how it feels.

Mike T, unless they have changed the rules since my day you should have been able to get Contributions Based JSA for six months even if you were as rich as Croesus providing had been paying Class 1 (ie Employed Status) National Insurance Contributions. If you were self employed however...

It was Social Security Benefit which was means tested. They've both been replaced by Universal Credit.

I thought that I was out of a job JCB, had a redundancy letter in June, after they were looking to lay quite a few off, but they made a agreement to find a way to stave off redundancies, as work was there, just couldn't get much sense of the Covid situation.

Luckily went back 2 weeks ago, and even been working overtime, including the first Sat since last year..

I don't know the full circumstances of the closure, but my understanding of employment law is that if the work is to be carried out by another firm, TUPE legislation applies (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)). Employees should then transfer to the new employer on their existing terms and conditions. I'm not an expert and I suspect that some firms will try to avoid their obligations, however, it might be worth looking into.

It is my understanding that TUPE does not apply because it is the transfer of a contract and not the business but I am by no means an expert. thanks for the thought though.

I was working as a technician in a school at my last job (1992) When they made me redundant in January to take effect in September. Then I became ill with Mycoplasma Pneumonia which developed into ME.

The head of department then tried to get me slung out on medical grounds to save the redundancy pay.

When I told the medical examiner he said "Really!!.I see! Of course you will probably be fit to go back to work!!"

In fact I wasn't but I did get my redundacy pay

Edited By Peter Miller on 05/09/2020 18:26:40

Employers these days are like insurance firms, they will try all ways and tricks to get out of thier responsibilities. Cheers

Sorry to hear of your problems but there is always a silver lining ! I was made redundant at 58 and it is the best thing that could have happened to me. I was giving everything to the job, overtime, shifts, covering sick leave and more - and I was going downhill. I left my job, after a little pushing, and was able to take a deep breath. THEN I started my own business and have not looked back. I truely mean it, it was the very best thing that could have happened and now at 64 my business is doing well and I have no intention of stopping, in fact it would be nice to employ someone to do the work lol. My advice therefore is take that deep breath and look for opportunities.

See you smiling on the other side.