Voluntary Redundancy Solicitors Liverpool
If you have been offered voluntary redundancy, take legal advice before you sign anything.
Voluntary redundancy can look straightforward at first. But it can involve important decisions about your pay, your rights, and the terms of your exit.
In some cases, your employer may also ask you to sign a settlement agreement. If that happens the agreement should be checked carefully before you sign. A settlement agreement is only legally valid if you receive independent legal advice on it.
At JR Levins, our employment solicitors advise employees across Liverpool, Huyton, Widnes, Runcorn and Birkenhead on voluntary redundancy and settlement agreements. We offer clear advice, quick turnaround, and appointments in person or by Teams within 2 working days.
What is voluntary redundancy?
Voluntary redundancy is where an employer asks employees whether they wish to leave as part of a restructure or reduction in staff.
Sometimes the package offered is attractive, and even though the paperwork may appear routine, the details are important. It is crucial to understand exactly what is being offered, and what you may be agreeing to when you sign.
Where a settlement agreement is included, it usually sets out the payments to be made, the date employment ends, and the claims the employee agrees not to bring afterwards.
Do I need legal advice on voluntary redundancy?
In most cases, yes.
Even where the wording looks standard, it is still important to check what you are being asked to agree to. That can include your notice, holiday pay, tax wording, confidentiality clauses, and any restrictions which continue after employment ends.
If you are being asked to sign a settlement agreement, you must receive independent legal advice before it becomes legally binding. Employees should usually be given at least 10 calendar days to consider the written terms, unless both sides agree otherwise.
What will JR Levins do?
We will read the documents carefully and explain them in plain English.
We will tell you what the agreement means, what rights you may be giving up, and whether anything needs to be clarified or challenged.
If the wording is unclear or unfair, we can raise that with your employer or their solicitors.
If there is a wider issue with the redundancy process, we can advise you on that too.
Our employment team deals with these matters regularly. We are used to working to tight timescales and can move quickly where needed.
Will my employer pay for legal advice?
That depends on the documents you have been given.
In many settlement agreement cases, the employer makes a reasonable contribution towards the cost of the independent legal advice. We can check that for you as soon as we have seen the paperwork. NHS employers often meet the reasonable cost of that advice, but the wording and amount should always be checked against the actual agreement.
Do I have to accept voluntary redundancy?
Not necessarily.
You should not feel pressured into signing before you understand the terms. Once we have reviewed the documents, we can advise you on your position and whether anything should be renegotiated or clarified first.
Speak to a voluntary redundancy solicitor today
If you have been offered voluntary redundancy, speak to JR Levins as soon as possible.
We can review your paperwork quickly, explain your options clearly, and help you move matters forward without delay.
Call 0151 480 5777 or use our contact form to arrange an appointment.
SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS
If you need any further assistance please give us a call on 0151 480 5777 or fill in our contact form below.
Why choose JR Levins?
We know these agreements need to be handled promptly and properly.
Our employment team is led by Jon Heath, assisted by Tom Harvey. Jon has more than ten years’ experience as a tribunal advocate and has also represented clients in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. Tom joined JR Levins in 2023 and qualified as a solicitor in early 2025.
We deal with these matters day in, day out. We know what to look for, and we know how important speed can be.
We can offer appointments in person or remotely via teams within 2 working days. Where deadlines are especially tight, we can often move faster.
If you need a voluntary redundancy solicitor in Liverpool, Widnes, Runcorn or Birkenhead, get in touch, we’d be happy to help.