| Did you discuss this with your (former) employers in a 'without prejudice' meeting? It seems strange to just send you it out of the blue...
Essentially the can make you redundant by following a prescribed course of consultation with everyone who is employed to perform the duties of the role that is being made redundant. Once it is agreed who should be made redundant there is then a minimum statutory redundancy payment (which is not a lot). The reasons for wanting someone to sign a compromise agreement can be nefariou - like they want you out and are not actually making your job redundant at all. If they make you 'redundant' then employ someone else to do your job then you can take them to the cleaners.
I know about this stuff from the other side. I had to make someone redundant (genuinely) but the complication was that he was a shareholding director of the company so we settled the matter in 'without prejudice' meetings (which means neither party can use it in court) and drew up a compromise agreement to the satisfaction of both sides. Loosing a founding member of the company can be like a messy divorce and the agreement kept it clean.
Like you said: Go see a solicitor - preferably one who specialises in employment law.
Good luck!  |