Redundancy advice soars by 100 per cent, Citizens Advice Scotland says

Requests for advice on redundancy have soared by 100 per cent since February, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has revealed, with one in five employment queries now concerning redundancy.

In a weekly report tracking the changes in advice people are seeking, CAS said in the first three weeks of June 907 pieces of advice were given in relation to redundancies, 18 per cent of all employment advice.

In comparison, 543 pieces of redundancy advice were given in the month of April, and 679 in May.

Advice relating to redundancies was nine per cent of all employment advice in February, by May this had increased to 12 per cent, and 18 per cent by June – a 100 per cent increase since February.

Social security remains the most comment advice request, at 42 per cent, and advice around debt and housing has increased.

CAS social justice spokesperson Mhoraig Green said the rise in redundancy requests showed “it’s clear that the economic impact of COVID-19 is being felt now”.

“There is a real risk this impact becomes even worse in the months to come without an ambitious policy response.

“The Jobs Retention Scheme has been broadly successful in ensuring people have an income during lockdown but some people have fallen through the cracks and employers are starting to face difficult decisions about what comes next as the economy reopens and support winds down, with news of significant job cuts becoming a familiar feature in recent days.

“The response from government in the weeks and months ahead will be vital for defining the next decade. We need an approach that protects jobs and creates new ones, as well as strengthening the social security safety net to prevent people being swept into poverty by an economic storm.”