April Smith Made Redundant

[Cricko]

When you are involved with working with the elderly, the young and the vulnerable it pays to have at least one member of female staff. There is a lot that cannot be said publicly but I remain convinced in my beliefs on this.

Absolutely Kay, it may be a business decision but the whole thing does not sit well with me especially with the amount of effort April has put in over 10 years with the club at her heart.

If there was one person who works tirelessly in the background i would not like to lose from SUFC it is Apes.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Whatever happens re Apes if i can call her that, please pass on my thanks. Never knew about her before this thread, from all accounts she sounds like a proper Shrimper well done girl

 

[Chrisb]

Is April the only member of this team that has been made redundant ? Is a larger group than I realised.

 

[Liam AAS]

What a complete PR own goal from SUCET. I hope they think very seriously about reviewing this decision.

At a time where women are making major inroads in sports this seems (at face value) completely and utterly tone deaf.

April, in particular, is a fantastic role model for women in football. Either something very serious has happenened that we all don't know about yet or several people in the chain of command have totally gotten it wrong here.

Baffling decision.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Is April the only member of this team that has been made redundant ? Is a larger group than I realised.

Yes.

 

[The General]

As I put on her FB, a terrible decision, especially if it’s for business reasons. Having known her for nigh on 20 years, I don’t know anyone more dedicated to the cause and her love of anything football is greater than most. The clubs loss will be someone else’s gain, it’s a big world out there…

 

[Cricko]

I think we can all agree it is a ridiculous decision, even based on a business choice, it is so short sighted beyond belief.

 

[Yer Blues]

Weird given Mr Lockett was so keen to extol the virtues of Southend in the community at the meet the consortium night.

Does Gary have an account on here?

 

[RHB]

Does Gary have an account on here?

That's not information we are in a position to confirm or deny I'm afraid.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Yes.

For someone to be redundant it has to be the role that is made redundant.
I can't for a second believe that the role April did so well has ceased to exist.
An Industrial tribunal will have the community programme on toast.
Redundancy can't target a sole person. There needs to be at least 2 people at risk of redundancy and they are scored on a series of things, with the person with the lowest score being made redundant, again the role

 

[Cricko]

For someone to be redundant it has to be the role that is made redundant.
I can't for a second believe that the role April did so well has ceased to exist.
An Industrial tribunal will have the community programme on toast.
Redundancy can't target a sole person. There needs to be at least 2 people at risk of redundancy and they are scored on a series of things, with the person with the lowest score being made redundant, again the role

From what i know the role is going to be filled by another. It is not the role that has been reduced it is the person.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

From what i know the role is going to be filled by another. It is not the role that has been reduced it is the person.

That's not how redundancy works. You have to make the role redundant.
Apes has a really good case to take them to a tribunal.

'Your employer can make you redundant if they genuinely don't need you to do your job and your skills are no longer needed. So, if you find out that someone else takes your job just after you're made redundant, you could have a case for unfair redundancy'

 

[kaymac]

From what i know the role is going to be filled by another. It is not the role that has been reduced it is the person.

That likely qualifies as unfair dismissal.

 

[rayleigh dan]

That's not how redundancy works. You have to make the role redundant.
Apes has a really good case to take them to a tribunal

Was just going to post the same, you can’t make a person redundant then employ someone else in the same rule, that’d be breaking employment law. If April hasn’t already she should definitely seek some advice.

Although we’ve never met in person, I’ve have had some contact with April over phone/email as part of my job, as SUCET ran some activity groups for us. I always found her to be very professional and helpful, it certainly seems an odd decision.

 

[Mick]

For someone to be redundant it has to be the role that is made redundant.
I can't for a second believe that the role April did so well has ceased to exist.
An Industrial tribunal will have the community programme on toast.
Redundancy can't target a sole person. There needs to be at least 2 people at risk of redundancy and they are scored on a series of things, with the person with the lowest score being made redundant, again the role

Largely correct but a single job (person) can be made redundant.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

When you are involved with working with the elderly, the young and the vulnerable it pays to have at least one member of female staff. There is a lot that cannot be said publicly but I remain convinced in my beliefs on this.

@OldBlueLady It's more than that OBL. As a fully qualified Youth and Community Worker I can assure you it's obligatory to have both male and female staff at events etc.

 

[CanveyCastle]

I would love it if any member of April's family was an expert in employment law.

 

[OldBlueLady]

@OldBlueLady It's more than that OBL. As a fully qualified Youth and Community Worker I can assure you it's obligatory to have both male and female staff at events etc.

That was my thought, if you can provide anything to back that up, I am sure it would be helpful.

 

[kaymac]

Does anyone know if has been explained to April why she is being made redundant? Fair and clear reason has to be given.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Does anyone know if has been explained to April why she is being made redundant? Fair and clear reason has to be given.

I believe she has been told her "Match Day Liaison Officer" role is being made redundant. Which is weird in itself, because that is not her entire job. Just ask the Senior Shrimpers and the numerous schools she works with. I'm sure @Tinks can clarify.

I think they are backing this role back to the Club, which will be interesting because April is who I deal with for the flags, she also organises mascots and school visits, including escorts.