Job security is something that everyone in Ireland looks for when it comes to employment. Being assured in your job is something that can give you a lot of confidence and peace of mind.
Unfortunately, there will be instances in which jobs may not be as secure as they may seem. The truth is, it can be difficult to predict redundancy in any kind of a business.
Redundancy is something that can hit people very hard. Not only can it cause a lot of stress, but you may endure some financial issues as well in response to redundancy.
Here at the National Redundancy Helpline, we want to help as many people as we can who have been made redundant. This is why we offer a series of support for Irish people who are struggling with this tough time.
What is redundancy
Redundancy in Ireland is when you lose your job due to the closure of a business or a reduction in the amount of employees in an establishment.
You are not considered redundant if you are being replaced by another employee or you have your contract terminated for breach of company policies.
Redundancy is something that your employer will have to officially declare. As an employee, you cannot decide that you have been made redundant.
How to deal with redundancy
Being made redundant is definitely a very hard thing for anyone to deal with. However, it is important to try and not panic in this situation.
Here at the National Redundancy Helpline, we offer a series of support and advice to help get you back where you need to be. Each case of redundancy is unique and every persons’ situation is different, so we give attention to detail in each case.
In the event that you have been made redundant, the following options are worth considering as potential next steps.
Redundancy payment
When you are made redundant, you are entitled to a payment to support you following the loss of your job. The amount that you receive will differ from person to person.
You are only eligible for the redundancy payment if you have worked in this role for at least two years. The way in which your redundancy payment amount is determined is relatively straightforward.
You will be given a lump sum for your redundancy payment. This will amount to two week’s of pay for every year of service you provided, as well one additional week of pay.
The maximum weekly amount that you will be entitled to is €600 per week.
Your employer may volunteer to contribute to this fund with a top up payment. However, they are under no legal obligation to do so.
Unfortunately, a single lump sum is not enough to resolve all of the issues that are caused by redundancy. This is why here at the National Redundancy Helpline, we offer advice that you can avail of.
Job placement agencies
Being made redundant means that you will now have to begin searching for another job. This is unfortunately something that is not always necessarily straightforward.
One way you can improve your chances of getting a job as quickly as possible is by using job placement agencies. These agencies can put you in valuable positions that can increase the chance of your employment.
By having a free consultation with us, we will be able to advise you on the next steps to take to get your career back where it belongs. This includes recommending you the job placement agency that is going to provide the best results for your situation.
Career counselling
It may be beneficial for some people to undergo some career counselling following the loss of their job.
Being made redundant is something that can take a large toll on mental aspects of employers. This is why career counselling is often recommended to people who are going through this tough time.
Career counselling can help you get your confidence and trust back in regard to your employment. As well as this, it could provide an avenue to explore potential new avenues within your career.
If making a career change is something that you have considered in the past, then a counsellor can help advise you on the possibility of that.
A career counsellor is also going to be able to advise the next steps in your career that can put you in the best place possible.
Government Initiatives
Residents of Ireland can avail of government initiatives to help improve their situation. Here at the National Redundancy Helpline, we can recommend what services can best help your situation.
One way in which you can use these services to get back on your feet is through training support. These schemes are used to try and get those who have been out of employment for a long time back to work as quickly as possible.
There are also childcare schemes that can help parents fund childcare to allow them to return to employment.
Another example of government initiatives is also schemes in place to help you start up your own business. These include back to work enterprise allowance, as well as short-term enterprise allowance.
Each government initiative does come with its own set of eligibility criteria. However, once you undergo your free consultation with the National Redundancy Helpline, you will have a clearer understanding of what may be available to you.
Improve your chances of employment
There are also some things in which you can do for yourself to improve your chances of employment. Even the small changes could make a big difference in regard to bouncing back from redundancy.
For example, if you have been in your job for a long period of time, it may be a while since you have updated your CV. Spend some time on your resume to make it as strong as possible.
It is important to remember that more is not always better when it comes to creating a CV, so make sure to play to your strengths.
You may also want to undergo a course or additional training in your career’s field. Certain industries can be very competitive when it comes to employment, so having more qualifications could help to give you the edge.
Tips for getting through periods of redundancy
Going through redundancy is something that can cause a lot of financial strain. So it may be time to make some adjustments to reduce these stressful impacts.
Again, in this instance, sometimes small changes can make a big difference.
Some things you might want to consider to get through your period of redundancy are:
- Reducing bills where you can
- Using emergency savings
- Sell unused items
- Assessing your necessary costs
- Budget your redundancy payment
Contact us
There are a lot of different problems that can arise due to redundancy. This is why it is important that you have someone to talk to.
Here at the National Redundancy Helpline, we can help assure you your finances are in order while made redundant.
You can contact us by phoning at 0818 123 444, or you can email us at info@nationalredundancyhelpine.ie.
You can also choose to request a callback. All you have to do is fill in our online assessment and one of the members of our team will get in touch shortly.
