Tough times, tough choices; tough luck? #3

A little bit later than expected, I was given formal notice of redundancy on Monday 18 April. My contract entitles me to 12 weeks notice (this is related to my age and length of service). If I had a mid-life masterplan, no debts and a lot of courage, I could elect to simply leave the service of Orkney Islands Council right now, be paid in lieu of notice, and receive 19 weeks in redundancy pay (this is also related to my age and length of service). Sadly (or perhaps fortunately) I am missing at least 2 out of 3 of those qualifying qualities! So, I am grateful that the Council is keen to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever reasonably possible, and that there is a formal redeployment process to try to match volunteers for retirement or redundancy with those (like me) whose posts are now considered redundant.

As well as being given notice of redundancy, on 18 April my attention was drawn to 2 posts which I am likely to be suitable for - one of them (not an IT post) at the same grade as I am currently on, and also an IT post2 grades lower than my current grade (although I would benefit from salary preservation for 12 months). To be honest, this might turn out to be a good thind: I have been looking for opportunities outwith IT for a while now (I applied for a Service Manager post last March, although I did not get an interview and, in the end, no-one was appointed to the post). Now I have until the end of the week to complete an application form: if I am considered suitable for the non-IT post (and if no-one needing redeployed is considered suitable) then I will be appointed. If others are considered suitable, and wish to be considered for the non-IT post then there will be a competitive interview process to choose between us. As other vacancies come up, during my period of notice, I (and others seeking redeployment) will be able to apply for any for which I consider myself suitable on the same basis, before any such post is advertised internally or externally.

"What is this non-IT post?", I hear you ask! At this stage I have been asked to keep that information confidential, to protect the privacy of the person who has volunteered for redundancy or retirement. As I understand the process, only if someone (e.g. me!) needing to be redeployed is considered suitable, and wants the job, will that person's offer to go be taken up.

As soon as I am able to be more specific, I promise I will update this post: in the meantime, where did I put that CV I put together last year ...