If you have too many savings to qualify for any payment do you still "sign on" eg register as unemployed - if so then do your NI contributions get covered even if you get no money?

I am thinking of getting this lawyer to negotiate hard for me as I am sadly crumbling even before the third meeting. I was given so litle notice of first meeting I had to attend with a 7 month old. I can't handle the stress of the dirty ugly issues and the grey areas that the law may or may not recognise. Without being overly defensive there are clear undertones of discrimination but at the end of the day how I am to prove that when they made damn sure they've ticked all the procedural boxes. The pool was manipulated to include ONE eg me. They hate my flexible working and always have done and it causes resentment amongst colleagues (who don't bother to apply for it themselves but moan about it regardless) Thats just one of the issues...

Thanks I tried ACAS and they were helpful but they said it was so complicated I needed a lawyer...thankfully I found a really sound one! Thanks for advice on the house insurance angle I'll remember that

Cheers ...they made my job redundant by absorbing my work into the people who were looking after it for me whilst on maternity cover...this was deliberate, other people protecting their positions... they are way too clever and scared of litigation to mess up but there are other things going on underneath all the rubbish they come out with. I am pressing for a good settlement, I found out that redundancy is actually a breach of contract and they (try and) pay you as a "damages" award. Court would be just too awful

I know Just they have been very careful with "following" procedure ticking all the boxes, paying lip service etc Hard to prove otherwise and very stressful to try but I know 100% there are other things going on, they have an answer for everything and major lawyers. I think that I complained counted against me (it was a serious matter), also other things Just wanted the person who posted to think carefully about the implications of a grievance, not advising against I have seen it time and time again, if they decide its time for you to go it happens and having made a grievance = trouble maker - they can often fabricate whatever to support a redundancy. I've been a good and valued employee and it's still happening (I believe unfair selection)

Sorry if I am disparaging to any lawyers out there but my experience thus far has been appalling to the point I don't even think they believe in the law. My other post about redundancy in maternity explains my situation and I have had two initial consultations (well not that I would call them that) just to get some information about where I stand. The first one said after 5 minutes (no questions asked) well what do you want me for? and the second one said well lots of women like to stay at home with their small children...this just made a bad situation 10 times worse. If anyone can recommend a decent employment lawyer for initial advice in the Manchester region please help!

be careful - you need to decide if you can live with the unfairness of it all and move on or risk being considered a trouble maker not saying you shouldn't fight for your rights just weigh up the long term benefits... I made a complaint similarly where I was totally in the right and got an apology so didnt go to full grievance - i told them it was important they know it was wrong now I believe I was selected first for redundancy when the economic downturn came I was picked off... Good luck, only you have to live with the decision

clarification: what I mean by "another redundancy whilst on maternity" is not that it has happened to me before, just I hear so many women it happens to

On (second) maternity leave and I am in the middle of consultation being told my role eliminated and no other comparable roles. Of course there is an economic downturn but this outcome is very strongly reeking of pre-determined redundancy but they are covering themselves. Not offered any other work yet at second meeting, not even asked questions like what I would consider suitable (whatever happened to my work being covered whilst I was on maternity?) There are many things pointing to me being Easy Pickings and things they didn't like eg flexible working and poor behaviour towards me but what do I have to prove? Don't want to end up in court ;( but high earner, sole breadwinner, 2 very young children and job market terrible even if I took a large paycut and moved industry, timing the worst it could possibly be. The proposed package to date is not good enough by far. Any advice on negotiation or my position would help please. I chose not to have a colleague present because I have been off for 6 months and not in regular contact with anyone and the two I actually saw looked so sheepish I thought to bring anyone would just be a nightmare for them and me. What are they meant to be there for anyway? There is not going to be a lot of support there when everyone is scared for their own position is there?