[Closed] Staying motivated at work after being made redundant

Is PILON not an option?

In that situation I agreed a scope of works to be completed before I left, hammered through it and left 3 weeks earlier than my date.

If your role's been made redundant then how can there be a new goon to hand over to (he asked naively)?

How have you been made redundant if there is a "new goon" to take over your job?

+1 maccyb

Agreed it sounds very odd - you’re redundant but somebody is taking over your work, and also they are continuing to employ you on a contract basis? Something not right there. Generally though, take a deep breath and keep calm. Karma often delivers.

Turn up for work.. do very little...
Have you got a Netflix account?

It sucks, but just do what you need to do and think of the long-term plan - re your contract work. End of October won't be too far off. If you didn't have the ongoing relationship, then yeah do what you want, but you can't really this time.

@scotroutes @maccyb This is where they have shafted me.

The option was to either re-apply for my current job (with a revised and inflated job description) and for 8K LESS than I am currently earning, or leave and retain the contract work going forwards.

The 'new goon' will be doing twice my job for 8K less, and I'll likely have to walk him/her through the systems I've developed when they arrive.

Eugh, thinking about it now he/she will probably be here in the office with me for a week or so before I finally do leave. Not looking forward to that.

@nickc They won't go for this option as I have projects that run up to the final date.

In a similar ISH situation.

Earlier in my career I got put back to field engineer because we were desperately short of field engineers.

A new person was moved into my project from a different product.

I did hand over no bother handed it all over.....things were going south anyway with some failing elastomers

Then I stopped going to the office-as field contracts don't require you in office on a daily basis -just to be contactable by phone and in reach of your email .

Soon after technical questions/decision points started coming in and being directed my way almost instantly when you looked at email time stamps I would answer them eventually to maintain relations with client but as a field engineer your not expected to be sat Infront of your email all day every day.

Eventually the client worked out what was going on when I would cc the client in directly to my replies and started phoning my mobile directly to cut out the delay.

And soon after I was put back in my old job.

Worked out well. Wasn't calculated but I figured **** it , your not getting credit for my tech knowledge.....I've spent 10 years amassing it and being second fiddle to a project eng taking the credit.

Never tell all you know for free would be my point....error by omission as they call it in the "courses" if your replacement doesn't ask key questions -then let them highlight their short comings when your contracting by being availible to answer but do so visibly.

As all above - they have made the post redundant (not you) so there can be no other new person doing the work.

And from what you have said, it suggests that your employer hasn't followed the correct procedure to identify positions at risk and go through the correct redundancy process either.

When I was made redundant I made I took full advantage of time off for interviews with new employers etc. I also got my employer to pay for some exams and spent some work time studying which helped.

It is not an easy situation but if you can make progress towards moving on from your current job you will feel a lot better.

Do you really need the contract work? - it would be a lot easy to deal with if you did not feel dependent on that.

Sounds daft, if you make someone redundant you can't expect a motivated employee if you make them work out their notice period.

go to the doctors, get a sick note for stress, caused by work situation.

you owe em **** all, so don't fret over it.

as I have projects that run up to the final date

Are you serious? They've made you redundant but still expect you to complete projects for them..? And you want to work for this shower as a contractor?

Your decision clearly, but I'd be brushing up my CV at this point and emailing their competitors.

The contract work could work well as bridge allowing you to pickup other work. It may be a good thing!

^ yeah this too.

Not sure on the size of your firm but does it have an employee support program you could be referred to and speak to someone?

How sure are you of this contract work, do you have an contract and agreed terms, or is it just a bit of billy bullshit to keep you cracking on till you go?

That's the only motivation you can have really. I've been made redundant twice in 10 years, it sucks. The 2nd the environment was so toxic, they let me go via e-mail at the weekend and barred me from returning, anywhere **** them.

The first lot gave us 3 months notice, we hoped for gardening leave, but they decided to keep us around, towards the end they stuck us in a room without computers or phones and left us there, day after day, I used to tell them I had a 'meeting' once they got over the fear that it might be a real meeting with a real client they didn't care. I went the to cinema.

they have made the post redundant (not you) so there can be no other new person doing the work.

Isn't this what normally happens? Some other poor sucker will end up doing two jobs, including the OP's to save the company a few quid. It is only the 'role' that has disappeared.

As above though, your experience and knowledge has value, so only pass on the minimum necessary to new goon to look like you're being helpful. If they later run into problems which used to be solved by your experience and knowledge, that's the decision they took.

Are you sure the contract work isn't being used as a sweetener to get new goon trained up well, at which point they will pull it?

a big part of my job is writing enthusiastic content to promote the business.

Start every paragraph with a drop cap, which, when combined, spell out '**** YOU'. 🙂

Ok, I'll add some flesh to the bones for context, but I don't want to say too much for privacy reasons etc (understandable, I think)

Small company circa 23 employees (of which approx 17 are abroad contactors)

I was asked to come across into the office from the contactor team to be a paid-up member of the office team, as well as keeping my contract work, which I perform well at. A good sign I thought, having started at a very junior level a few years before.

All was well in the office and I enjoyed the role for 2 years until the directors split (married couple) and a new financial director came in as my bosses new right-hand-man. This guy made it clear he had a problem with me from day 1 and has for the last 2 years been low-key bullying me whilst simultaneously brown-nosing the boss. Pretty common in most workplaces ime and something which annoyed me but I managed.

I followed all correct channels, ie approaching my boss directly when necessary to communicate these issues, and was reassured I was being listened to and it would be resolved. Cool, I thought. Crack on.

My standing in the office was still good and I was well respected.

FFWd to three weeks ago and I was told that they'd had an internal review and working the contract role AND the office role concurrently was spreading me too thin and they wanted me to make the decision between the two. They "desperately' want to keep me, or so they said.

Option 1. Re-apply for the office job and take a pay cut. The role is to change, incorporating other bits and bobs, and the hours will increase too. Apparently I'd have to re-apply as it is a brand new position - something which I questioned at the time and still smell bullshit... I'm a "strong candidate" apparently but I know I'd never get the job, otherwise they'd save themselves the time and hassle by just giving it to me. This is basically a way of giving me the boot, clearly.

I cannot keep the contract work if I re-apply for the office role.

Option 2. Keep the contract work, but only that. One of the only positives in this is that I can earn enough £ (only just) to scrape by on by doing just the contract work, and it only takes up 14 weeks of my year allowing me time to work/travel elsewhere.

So, the problem remains. How do I keep things ticking over whilst all the time wanting to stove the FD's face in and do a turd in his briefcase?

In that scenario, I'd just chuck it now and find a job elsewhere.

The new FD clearly can't dislike you any more than he already does. You're not going to change that by playing the good guy.

If they absolutely need you for contract work, make it be on your terms. Get paid up front if you can.

I would engage every fibre of my being to not give your FD the satisfaction of knowing you were in the slightest bit aggrieved.

And spend your spare moments casting around for other opportunities while coasting towards the end of October doing the bare minimum.

You have more than 2 yrs in perm post so have employment rights.
Go get external advice - solicitor if you can afford or CAB; let employer know that you want to check legality and legislative compliance of their proposal - to protect both your and their interests.
Low-level bullying is still bullying; combining this with re-defined job role could constitute constructive dismissal - get proper advice proto.
If they don't have 'proper' HR Dept how have they checked legality of their position? Even with HR, companies get these things wrong too often.
Is there reduced requirement for your work?
I would have no confidence in their statement regarding contract work if you don't go for the perm role.

How will there be any contract work for you if they've lined up a replacement and you've to train him?

Stringing you along methinks.

And spend your spare moments casting around for other opportunities while coasting towards the end of October doing the bare minimum.

+1

Youre entitled to spend time looking for a new job whilst in your current one. Get contract roles elsewhere. If your current employer values your experience with them make them pay above the market rate for that extra knowledge. Which you can charge if youve already got potential work elsewhere at the market rate.

Im back at the company that made me redundant 3years ago, i left ok terms but did eff all work in the last couple of months as they gave me nothing to do so i could only book my hours against the redundancy overheads. When questioned i said i would rather work but as they were making me redundant there was none what exactly did they want me to do? Despite being back i dont think either of us feels like they owe the other anything beyond a pay cheque and a notice period.

Tinas.

Glad to see you have got a little bit of stability back. I'm guessing your back to being office/lab based as opposed to driving all over the UK in your stopgap job there.

My biggest concern would be the contract work. Is there actually anything in writing from them that they guarantee you xx hours of work a week? Given the FD seems like a c nut, I wouldn't be trusting them on just their word.

Its rudementry understanding..but..I see

Option 1:stay and re apply...

Option 2: go **** you and find a new employer who's willing to give you a good job..

Gave up a perfectly well paying job after a mental break down(that no one let me recover from..EVEN EXPECTED ME TO FINNISH THE SHIFT!!!) And I gave it up for a starting rate as an apprentice and never looked back guaranteed 42 hours a week plenty of dog and my colleagues respect me ...not going back

And this sounds iffy made redundant but the position is open ...somethings off..

As all above – they have made the post redundant (not you) so there can be no other new person doing the work.

Meanwhile, back in the real world.... Seriously though, it happens all the time. Or possibly the goon the OP speaks of is just the person who is taking on extra responsibilities left by OP post redundancy.

I was in a similar situation, only difference was that I was taking voluntary as part of a redundancy re-org. Really struggled to stay motivated, as it was the 5th or 6th redundancy I'd seen and was just brow beaten by that point.

I did the bare minimum, that was all.

Dude, don't waste time and emotional energy on this company.

Get your CV up to scratch. Go out for interviews on work time. Don't let them see you are bothered and don't be reliant on the contracting work. Work from home wherever possible. Book some dentist appointments and doctor appoints in the middle of the day. Get your life admin (insurance, energy company, holidays booked) all done and dusted.

Also spoke the FD good with laxatives

Personally I think I'd walk away from it all, sounds like a situation that you'll never really enjoy as you'll have to deal with the FD as an external contractor and you don't trust them already. Make a clean break, find something that gives you what you want/need and sometime to do other things as well.

Probably wording but there shouldn't be a replacement as such...the role has been made redundant, not you.
Unsure how to deal with that,my place had a load of redundancy a while back. Everyone was over the moon about being made redundant so loved their last few weeks as they did the absolute minimum whilst looking for new jobs.

Look after no.1, whatever it takes.

Both time I've been made redundant (one voluntary) I was out within a week.It makes sense if you are really redundant. The fact you have work to do suggests otherwise.

personally;

check home insurance policy, legal cover? speak to an Employment law specialist.
if you have a copy of the job role compared to the new job role (and they are similiar), then it could be constructuve dismissal.

Get your CV updated and circulated

you appear to have loyalty to your company, stop that now.
you could do with a clean break, no kids are involved.

get contact information for customers/ businesses etc

ask for gardening leave as you have been offered a job at a close competitor..

a job isnt for life, move on

Thankyou to all who have taken the time to reply, I really appreciate it.

I guess I've found something to occupy my time in the coming weeks, STW! I just discovered REDDIT today too - goodbye free time!

TBH I'm glad to be leaving the office, albeit not on these terms.

Thanks again.

I went through a really toxic redundancy, lasted for over a year and broke me.

The best piece of advice was from a solicitor who said I had a good chance of constructive unfair dismissal.

"Decide where you want to go and work at it".

Rather than stewing over the lies and mismanagement i put my efforts into obtaining a new role.

Glad to see you have got a little bit of stability back. I’m guessing your back to being office/lab based as opposed to driving all over the UK in your stopgap job there.

Yup, back in the same office, its changed a bit, cant see it for the trees 😉

TV was fun, and my last project is going to be on C4 tonight so will be having a beer to celebrate. Nice to be waking up in the same bed every day!

What can I do!?

As little as possible.

Or as ton mentioned above.

go to the doctors, get a sick note for stress, caused by work situation.

you owe em **** all, so don’t fret over it.

You owe nothing.

Steal as many contacts, code and project docs you can then picolax the FD and anyone else you don't like there.

My redundancy took 3.5 years to complete.

I just coasted, waiting for the payday and luckily for me watched the job Market improve.

Used the extra time to sort loads of things out and get fit, loads of lunchtime walks, cycle commutes etc.

go to the doctors, get a sick note for stress, caused by work situation.

you owe em **** all, so don’t fret over it.

This. **** 'em. Life is short, do something else that makes you happier 🙂

edit- a load of us (building materials testing lab) were made redundant in 2007 just as the banking crisis started to take hold. Ten or so of us were offered the 'opportunity' to apply for two jobs and none of us did. **** 'em. We all coasted for a month or so and a few of us even had holidays left to take so we did. I love what I do now (make stuff).