LRD guides and handbook October 2013

Redundancy law - a guide to using the law for union reps

Chapter 9

9. LAY-OFFS AND SHORT-TIME WORKING

An employer facing financial difficulties or a reduction in work may attempt to lay-off employees or put them on short-time working for a specified or unspecified period. Unions can, and often do, negotiate better terms than the statutory minimum protection the law provides to workers in this situation. This Chapter explains the circumstances in which employers can lawfully lay-off employees or put them on short-time.