Redundancy
A potentially fair reason for dismissal when the employer's need for work of a particular kind reduces or ends.
What does redundancy mean?
Redundancy is a dismissal caused by the employer's reduced need for employees to do particular work, the closure of a workplace or the closure of the business.
A genuine redundancy situation still requires a fair process, including consultation, reasonable selection and consideration of suitable alternative work.
What matters
Start with the rule
Redundancy is a dismissal caused by the employer's reduced need for employees to do particular work, the closure of a workplace or the closure of the business.
Write down the decision
Keep the policy, dates, calculation inputs and decision together so another person can understand what happened.
Check the current source
Redundancy is a high-stakes employment process. Use Acas guidance and take qualified advice before acting.
A practical checklist
For a small team, a short repeatable process beats an impressive policy nobody follows.
- Identify the genuine business reason
- Plan meaningful consultation
- Define a fair selection pool and criteria
- Consider suitable alternatives
- Calculate notice, holiday and redundancy pay
- Confirm the decision and appeal route
Where software helps — and where it does not
HollyHR can keep the relevant people record, dates, documents, leave and working pattern in one place. It cannot decide a legal, medical or employee-relations question for you.
Redundancy is a high-stakes employment process. Use Acas guidance and take qualified advice before acting.
Check the source, not just our summary
Rules and product pages change. These are the first-party references behind this page.
Questions people ask
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a practical summary for UK small teams. Check the linked official guidance and take qualified advice for a specific or disputed case.
Why keep the source with the calculation?
Rates and rules change. Recording the inputs, date and source makes the answer reviewable instead of becoming an unexplained number in a spreadsheet.
Can HollyHR track this?
HollyHR can hold the underlying employee, working-pattern, leave and document records. It does not present itself as a legal-advice engine.
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Keep reading: Notice period guide · People records