Thread: Redundancy on maternity leave

I have been told that my position is "at risk" of redunancy and have had an initial meeting with an HR Manager to discuss 'options' - either take statutory redunancy payment and enter into consultation OR take enhanced reduancy (not particularly enhanced) and sign a compromise agreement.

My role is not the only role although I have yet to determine which other roles are 'at risk'. The redunancies are occuring as part of a department restructure as well as making staff cuts due to the worsening economic climate. ;

At my 'at risk' meeting, I was told that there are 2 other positions available although neither of these is suitable. Although the restructure plans have not yet been announced, a new role was announced 2 weeks ago alongwith the name of the person now performing that role - a colleague. I was not offered the opportunity to apply for the role. As I understand it, because I am on maternity leave, my employer has to positively discriminate in my favour and therefore should have offered this role to me before offering it to anyone else (internally or externally). It seems to me that this is discriminatory. I am the only member of my department currently on maternity leave.

I have a job title and matching description but this does not accurately describe the breadth of my contribution. It is therefore unclear whether or not they are making only my job titled position redundant i.e. who will perform the other management tasks I performed. It is also not clear who my position reports to as there have been managment changes which have affected this whilst I have been on maternity leave (5 months). No one has spoken to me about any changes during this time.

Any advice on this would be welcome. I'm interested in reaching a settlement with my employer but at a much higher level than the current enhanced offer.

Thanks - very helpful.