Qualifying for redundancy rights

To qualify for statutory redundancy pay and time off to look for work, you must be:

• an employee (see Chapter 2) — this includes apprentices on an Apprenticeship Agreement (see page 44);

• have two years’ continuous service by the dismissal date (see page 311).

There is no minimum number of working hours. There is no cap on age.

Employees do not qualify for statutory redundancy pay if they:

• accept suitable alternative employment;

• unreasonably refuse suitable alternative employment; or

• are dismissed for misconduct (section 140, ERA 96).