When employers propose making 5 or more employees redundant within 30 days, special collective redundancy rules apply under the Protection of Employment Acts 1977-2014. These rules require 30-day Minister notification, mandatory consultation with employee representatives, and specific information disclosure. Breaches can result in WRC claims for up to 4 weeks' pay per affected employee. Richard O'Shea Solicitor represents employees in collective redundancy disputes.
When Do Collective Redundancy Rules Apply?
Threshold Table
| Company Size | Redundancies in 30 Days |
|---|---|
| 21-49 employees | 5+ redundancies |
| 50-99 employees | 10+ redundancies |
| 100-299 employees | 10%+ redundancies |
| 300+ employees | 30+ redundancies |
30-Day Minister Notification
Employers must notify the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation at least 30 days before first dismissal takes effect. This notification must include:
- Reasons for proposed redundancies
- Number and categories of employees affected
- Period over which redundancies will occur
- Method of calculating redundancy payments
Crucially, no redundancy can take effect until 30 days after this notification - even if individual notice periods are shorter.
Employee Representative Consultation
Employers must consult "in good time" with employee representatives about:
- Possibility of avoiding redundancies
- Reducing number of employees affected
- Mitigating consequences of redundancies
💡 Who Are Employee Representatives?
Trade union if employees are members, OR employees elect representatives specifically for consultation if no union exists.
Collective Redundancy Breach?
Get expert WRC representation from Richard O'Shea Solicitor if your employer failed to follow collective redundancy procedures.
Expert WRC Representation