Redundancy support and resources

Over recent months, the environmental sector has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the economic and operational impacts of the pandemic have forced many businesses to consider the possibility of redundancies, leaving many in the sector facing an uncertain future.  

Whilst redundancies should be a last resort for companies facing financial difficulties, as the end of the Government's Job Retention Scheme on the 31^st October draws closer, several prominent environmental consultancies and organisations have recently announced redundancies within the sector.

If you’re facing, or expect to be facing, redundancy in the coming months, you’re likely to have a lot of questions and, as the end of the furlough scheme nears, organisations are reporting a recent surge in demand for redundancy advice.

To help support our members and those within the wider environmental science community during this difficult time, we have compiled a list of resources which aim to provide answers to some of the most common questions around redundancy:

• The UK Government provides information for employees on their rights during redundancy, including:
  
  • Being selected for redundancy;
  • Redundancy pay;
  • Notice periods;
  • Consultation; and
  • Suitable alternative employment.

• Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, a government-funded independent public body, provides information for employees facing redundancy in the following areas:
  
  • Redundancy rights and pay;
  • Redundancy notice;
  • How your employer must consult you;
  • Taking another job with your employer;
  • Checking your redundancy is fair; and
  • Appealing a redundancy decision.

You can also call the Acas advice line on 0300 123 1100 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) to talk through your situation.

• Citizens Advice provide resources and advice for employees prior to and after redundancy, including:
  
  • Checking if your redundancy is fair;
  • Redundancy pay;
  • Notice periods;
  • Your options if your employer offers you another job;
  • Challenging your redundancy;
  • Preparing for after redundancy;
  • Voluntary redundancy; and
  • Being laid off or put on short-time working.

As we navigate through these unprecedented times, the IES is committed to supporting our members and adapting the services and resources we provide to reflect the impacts of COVID-19 on the sector. As an organisation, we will also be exploring additional ways to support members that are facing redundancy during this difficult time. If you have any suggestions for ways in which we might be able to provide support to those who have been made redundant within the environmental sector, please get in touch.  

Our COVID-19 Impact Report, undertaken in April to help understand the impact of the pandemic on the sector so far, identified that 1 in 3 of our professional members who took part were either facing, or expected to face, an impact on their mental health as a result of the pandemic. In response, we compiled a list of resources to help understand, respond to and boost your mental health during this uncertain time.

If you are worried about securing employment following redundancy and would like support and advice on your CV or help identifying suitable vacancies, the IES’ career resources, including our CV clinic and mentoring scheme, may be able to assist you.