Made Redundant? Your Rights and What to Do Next

1. Check you are genuinely redundant

A redundancy happens when your employer no longer needs your job done, for example because the business closes or reduces the work. Employers must follow a fair process. If your job is simply replaced by someone else, it may be an unfair dismissal rather than a redundancy.

2. Understand the consultation process

Your employer should consult you before making you redundant. If they plan to make 20 or more redundancies at one workplace within 90 days, there are collective consultation rules, with at least 30 days for 20 to 99 redundancies and 45 days for 100 or more. Even for a single redundancy, a fair individual process, including explaining selection criteria, is expected.

3. Know the money you may be owed

• Statutory redundancy pay if you have at least two years’ service. Use our redundancy pay calculator.
• Notice pay, the statutory minimum or your contractual notice. See our notice period calculator.
• Accrued holiday pay for holiday you have not taken.
• Enhanced redundancy if your contract or company policy offers more.

Statutory redundancy pay is tax-free up to £30,000 in total. See is redundancy pay taxable?

4. Time off to look for work

If you have been continuously employed for two years you are entitled to reasonable paid time off during working hours to look for a new job or arrange training, when you have been given notice of redundancy.

5. Suitable alternative work

If your employer offers you a suitable alternative job, you generally have a trial period of four weeks to see if it works. If you refuse a suitable alternative job unreasonably, you may lose your right to redundancy pay.

6. Claim on time

You normally have six months from the date your job ends to claim redundancy pay if you have not been paid. If you think your redundancy was unfair, speak to Acas early, as there are strict time limits for tribunal claims. Acas offers free, impartial advice.

This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates checked 8 October 2026 against GOV.UK.