Career Change · UK 2026
How to prepare for a UK redundancy consultation meeting
Time
2 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
8
If you're in a UK redundancy consultation, the first meeting is information-gathering, not decision-making. Most candidates panic and accept the first offer. The candidates who walk away with the strongest packages prepare specifically: bring a witness, ask the right questions, and don't sign anything in the room. Here's the 2-hour prep that consistently produces 10-25% better outcomes.
Step-by-step
- 1
Read your contract carefully before the meeting
Specifically: notice period, redundancy entitlements, post-termination restrictions, settlement-agreement clauses if any. Make notes of anything unclear. The meeting is for clarification, not negotiation, but you need the baseline.
- 2
Calculate your statutory entitlement
UK statutory: half a week's pay per year of service under 22, one week per year 22-40, 1.5 weeks per year 41+. Capped at £700/week (2024) and 20 years. Maximum statutory ~£21,000. This is the floor.
- 3
Identify a colleague or union rep to accompany you
UK employees have a statutory right to be accompanied to consultation meetings by a colleague or union rep. Use this. Even a quiet note-taker increases employer professionalism in the room and gives you a witness.
- 4
Prepare your questions in writing
Top questions: timeline, who else is affected, voluntary redundancy options, the proposed package vs statutory, outplacement support, appeal process, next meeting date. Aim for 8-12 questions; ask the most important first.
- 5
Bring a notepad and pen
Write down what's said. People mis-remember consultation meetings. Your notes are the second-best record (after the formal letter). Date and time everything.
- 6
Don't sign anything in the meeting
You'll be asked to acknowledge receipt of papers. That's fine. You will NOT sign settlement agreements, waivers, or new contracts in the first meeting. "I'll take this away to consider" is the only correct answer.
- 7
Take 24-48 hours to process before responding
Read everything carefully at home. Take legal advice if you're being offered a settlement agreement (employer typically pays £500-£1,500 of legal advice). Don't respond emotionally; respond strategically.
- 8
Negotiate in the second meeting
Most negotiation happens at second consultation. Common asks that move: ex-gratia uplift (10-25% above statutory), notice period payment, outplacement upgrade, reference letter wording. Ask for things you'd genuinely use.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✗Going alone to consultation meetings — loses witness and asymmetric leverage.
- ✗Signing settlement agreements in the first meeting — gives up negotiation room.
- ✗Treating the first offer as final — most UK redundancy packages negotiate up 10-25%.
- ✗Not getting reference letter wording in writing before signing.
- ✗Skipping legal advice on settlement agreements (employer usually pays for it).
Recruiter pro tip
The single highest-leverage move is bringing a colleague to the meeting. Companies behave differently when there's a witness. The professionalism shifts, the language gets cleaner, and the package often improves between meeting 1 and meeting 2. Use your statutory right; don't feel embarrassed about it.