Why was I made redundant?

Your employer should be able to reasonably explain the criteria for why individuals were selected for redundancy.  Sometimes it is obvious, sometimes not.  Common grounds are: -

• last in, first out (where the employees with the shortest length of service are selected first)
• asking for volunteers (self-selection)
• disciplinary records
• staff appraisal markings, skills, qualifications and experience

Sometimes an employer may use a combination of criteria, perhaps using some kind of points system to get an overall score.

Your employer may select people by asking them to reapply for their own jobs. You should remember that this is still just a way for the employer to decide who to select for redundancy. If you decide not to apply or are unsuccessful in your application, you still have a job until your employer makes you redundant.

If you offer yourself for voluntary redundancy, it is up to your employer whether they actually select you.

Your employer cannot select people for redundancy based on the following grounds:

• gender
• marital status
• sexual orientation
• race
• disability
• religion or belief
• jury service
• age
• whistleblowing 
• trade union membership or taking part in lawful industrial action (12 weeks or less)
• health and safety activities
• working pattern (eg part-time or fixed-term employees)
• you have transferred employers and are protected under Transfer of Undertakings Regulations (TUPE)
• you are exercising your statutory rights (for example, asking for a written statement of employment particulars)
• any reason relating to maternity leave, birth or pregnancy or any other family leave, paternity leave, parental or dependants leave

If you fill any of these criteria, it is an unfair dismissal.

Voluntary redundancy

Where jobs are to disappear, an employer may ask for employees to volunteer for redundancy. Even if you take voluntary redundancy, it will still count as a dismissal and your employer must still follow the proper procedures. You won't lose any right you may have to redundancy pay.

If you volunteer for redundancy, it is up to your employer whether they actually select you.
Get expert advice about whether it's worth choosing.

Without knowing the exact details of your financial situation, including that of your total household, it is hard to be able to say what you would or wouldn’t get.

It is worth remembering that in the UK, the Job Seekers Allowance, and many other benefits, are means tested, so if you have a great stash of savings (in October 2011, the threshold is over £16,000), you are unlikely to be able to claim anything other than benefits such as child tax credits.


It is common for voluntary redundancy to include a lump sum payment and then a number of months fully paid. While you can sign on as unemployed straight away, if you wish, you are unlikely to be able to claim JSA or other benefits, such as housing allowance, until the period of time that you have effectively been paid for is over (e.g. 2 months) regardless of how much of the money you actually spent, or what your salary was.