Navigating Redundancy: A Short Guide to Useful Resources
Produced in association with Alister Sansum, Chair, Standards & Best Practice Committee
This guide has been prepared by the Healthcare Communications Association (HCA), to help anyone in the UK being made redundant find information and support.
For all of us working in the healthcare communications industry, the last few years have been turbulent. Both pharmaceutical companies and communication agencies are operating in an increasingly VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environment. This has meant shifts in business priorities to capitalise on new opportunities, resulting in both company and agency restructures, mergers, and acquisitions.
Communication teams are not immune from these changes and are having to evolve and restructure to meet these opportunities. One significant consequence of these changes is that roles are being made redundant and, some people are finding themselves without a job.
It goes without saying that redundancy can be very difficult. If you are reading this and are going through a consultation process, or have been made redundant, remember, redundancy is not your fault and should not be seen as a reflection on your ability or anything that you have, or have not done. It’s often easy to think that, but important that you recognise this fact and do not let it affect your self-confidence. That may sometimes feel easier to say than do when you have been made redundant, and that’s why it is important you share your situation with trusted advisors, organisations as well as friends, and family, so they are there to support you, and remind you how great you are.
Additionally, there is a wealth of information available to help you navigate being made redundant and through to the next phase in your career and life. We have provided some sources of information below that HCA members have found useful covering:
1. Understanding your rights during the redundancy process
2. Helping with financial planning
3. Looking after yourself
4. Planning for the future
1
Understanding Your Rights During the Redundancy Process
If you are in the process of being made redundant, these sites provide specific advice to help you understand the process your employer should be following and your rights.
ACAS acas.org.uk/redundancyGuidance for both employees and employers about the redundancy process.
Citizens Advice citizensadvice.org.uk/work/ redundancy/
Gov.uk gov.uk/guidance/redundancyhelp-finding-work-andclaiming-benefits
Information if you are being made redundant, about redundancy pay, notice period, challenging your redundancy, and voluntary redundancies.
Help on finding work, claiming benefits, managing debts, and pensions if you’re being made redundant.
The Law Society solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/The official database of 208,795 legal professionals to find legal help in the UK.
2
Helping with Financial Planning
Navigating the financial implications of redundancy can be helped with the sites below.
Money Helper moneyhelper.org.uk/
Money Saving Expert moneysavingexpert.com/ family/redundancy-help/
3
Looking After Yourself
UK Government-backed website. Provides information on all aspects of financial planning, including a redundancy pay calculator as well as useful resources covering benefits, pensions and savings.
Practical guidance for financial planning when being made redundant.
Redundancy can impact both your physical and mental health. Ask your current employer whether they have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in place that can support you through the process. Additional sources of useful information include:
HCA the-hca.org/WELLBEINGThe HCA website has numerous resources to support your health and wellbeing.
MIND mind.org.uk/workplace/ mental-health-at-work/copingwith-redundancy/
Shout giveusashout.org/
Coping with redundancy: ways to look after your mental health during the redundancy process including managing uncertainty, adjusting to a change in routine.
For 24/7 urgent mental health support and information to help support you.
The Samaritans samaritans.org/ Free support if you are having a difficult time. Can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week call: 116 123 for free.
4
4. Reframing and Planning for the Future
For some, redundancy can be used as an opportunity to pause and reflect on what you really want from your next role. This could be the time to think about a different job, retrain, or learn a new skill. It may also provide the opportunity to take some time off. There are many sources of information that can support and inspire you in the next phase of your life.
NABS nabs.org.uk/training/
Future Learn futurelearn.com/
The Open University: Open Learn open.ac.uk/courses
Final Thoughts
An organisation for people in UK advertising, media, or marketing services industry. Varied training courses, including confidence training and personal brand training. Provides advice on redundancy as well as career development, job hunting, amongst other topics.
Offers a large variety of training courses from business management through to psychology and mental health.
Open University offers free courses on a variety of topics and subjects.
During the redundancy process ask your employer if they can provide additional support including outplacement, CV writing, interview techniques etc. This can be provided either from the internal HR/Talent Acquisition teams, or via an external provider.
Consider also how you might expand your professional networks. Getting more active on Linked-In is one approach but getting involved in industry associations such as the HCA will keep you in touch with fellow industry members and keep you in touch through events and activities.
Redundancy is hard but maintaining a positive outlook can help you make the best of a bad situation. In the words of the Dalai Lama ‘’Optimism doesn’t mean that you are blind to the reality of the situation. It means that you remain motivated to seek a solution to whatever problems arise.’’
We hope this little guide is useful. Please do let the HCA know (email: info@the-hca.org) of additional resources that may help others.
Credits
Thank you to the following individuals who have reviewed and commented on this guide: Mike Dixon, CEO HCA; Antonia Katsambis, Independent HR Consultant and Rhiannon Meaden, Chair of the HCA Foresight Committee.
