// A group of Made.com employees have instructed a law firm over the way they were made redundant via Zoom
// Around 12 employees have already come forward but more are expected to join the action
Former Made.com employees are taking legal action after they were told they were losing their jobs over Zoom.
About a dozen employees have instructed law firm Aticus Law after they were made redundant on Wednesday following the furniture retailer’s collapse.
Aticus Law employment law specialist Mohammed Balal called the way the redundancy process was handled as “appalling” and drew comparisons to the P&O Ferries scandal earlier this year.
He said: “It’s absolutely appalling to think that nothing has changed since the collapse of P&O earlier this year, when the way the redundancy process was managed made headlines both here in the UK and further afield.
“Despite the concerns raised about the rights of employees to fair consultation over redundancies, it would appear that the employees at Made.com are the latest to be let go with immediate effect as their employer enters into administration.
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“Given that the brand has been bought but not all of the people will be retained, many staff members will have had their lives turned upside down, and they are no doubt feeling anxious and concerned about the future.”
Made.com’s brand was bought by Next for £3.4 million earlier this week.
Balal said that staff members have the right to hold the company accountable for the way in which it announced redundancies.
“Under current employment law, if a business is making more than 20 employees redundant at one establishment, they must follow the correct consultation process,” he said.
Balal said he expected more Made.com to join the action over the next few days.
The law firm will pursue a Protective Award claim against retailer, which is compensation awarded by a tribunal if an employer fails in its duties.
Balal said this is a “vital safety net for some many families in fast-paced redundancy situations”.
The staff could receive eight weeks pay in compensation, capped at £571 a week, if the claim is successful.
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