MARTYN JAMES

What you need to know if you're facing redundancy

- Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist

We live in challenging times. As many businesses announce recruitment freezes or plans to downsize, I've noticed that increasing numbers of readers are getting in touch about job losses, redundancy and your rights.

Redundancy is the most common reason that people lose their jobs in the UK. I've been through numerous rounds of "downsizing" over my working career - the process can be upsetting and the source of a great deal of stress, particularly if money is tight.

Redundancy rights

The most important thing to do is not to wait for the axe to fall. Get informed.

The process of redundancy varies considerably depending on the number of people losing their jobs and the size of the business. You can find out more about your rights on the Gov.uk website by typing "redundancy and your rights".

That advice is a little stark for my taste. However, there are some amazing free organisations that have much more accessible and helpful guides, along with links and sometimes helplines too. These include Citizens Advice, ACAS, MoneyHelper and MoneySavingExpert.