Redundancy and loss of income

BBC Radio 4's Money Box Live Wednesday, 15 July 2009 at 1502 BST Listen to the programme Programme transcript (17 pages)

Money Box Live presenter Paul Lewis and a panel of expert guests answered your questions on employment rights and redundancy.

UK unemployment reached 2.38 million in the three months to May say the Office for National Statistics.

The redundancies level for the same period was 301,000, up 31,000 over the quarter.

Some employers are trying to avoid job losses by introducing pay freezes, unpaid leave, reduced hours and even asking employees to work for nothing.

The CBI has asked the government to begin an "alternative to redundancy" (ATR) scheme.

Under an ATR employees would stop work for up to six months and would receive an allowance equivalent to twice the rate of Jobseekers' Allowance, half paid by the government, half by the employer.

What are your rights if you are asked to take a pay cut, pay freeze or reduce your hours?

Are you concerned about redundancy?

You may have a question about redundancy pay or the procedures for consultation and selection.

If you have lost your job or your income has reduced, what benefits might you claim?

Or perhaps you are a small employer making difficult decisions to survive the recession.

Presenter Paul Lewis took your calls and e-mails and put your questions to:

• Rachel Hadwen, rights advisor, Working Families
• Jane Amphlett, employment partner, Finers Stephens Innocent
• Sian Keall, partner, Travers Smith

Presenter: Paul Lewis

Producer: Diane Richardson

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