Redundancy question - Vic
Hi, I have recently been made redundant but have some concerns about the whole process.
In Feb 2025 I had a meeting with my boss, who told me that my role was no longer going to exist. This wasn’t unexpected, our business had acquired another business and there was a lot of double roles.
HR was not involved in this process, no offer to bring a support person, and the word redundancy wasn’t mentioned.
I was told that my role as a Customer Service Manager, and another similar leadership role from the other CS team would be combined. I could apply for that new role, or take a vacant role that existed in my leadership team, as a Capability Coach. I took the Capability role.
The other person impacted by this restructure decided she didn’t want the new combined role as they were not paying any more. So she asked about redundancy, and took that. Again, the initial conversation for her didn’t involve HR and redundancy wasn’t mentioned until she asked about it.
I was put onto a secondment in the Capability role, for 6 months. It was extended in Oct 2025 for 6 months. It was due to end in Apr 2026 when I received notification through workday that it had been extended again, until Dec 2026. As my boss didn’t mention anything, I asked about the extension. She said it was to protect me so I could really get a feel for the role (that I had been doing for a year at this stage) to see if it was what I wanted to keep doing.
June 2026 I was advised by my boss that the following day we’d be meeting with HR, that it would be about my role, although not my performance, and I could bring a support person. I knew what was coming, and the following day I was told they were ending my secondment. That because my substantive role no longer exists, I was being made redundant.
She then went on to explain that the capability role would still exist, but was being regraded from grade 15 to grade 12 (much more junior, much lower salary).
My question is, do I have any recourse here? I initially accepted it because I know that although the capability role was continuing, it was my substantive role that was now redundant and assumed I had no recourse.
As an aside, I was told about this 2 days before going on preapproved annual leave for 8 business days. I requested from HR to have either my notice period extended by 8 business days, or paid out those days, due to the intention of notice period being a meaningful opportunity to seek redeployment or alternative employment, and this opportunity was impeded by my leave. They have declined.
I’m sure there is nothing I can do here, despite the correct process back in 2025 not being followed. But thought it was worth checking - should I seek legal advice? Thanks.