Understand the proposal
Write down what the employer says is changing, which roles are affected and what remains undecided. Ask which information is available to help you respond. Keep the explanation of the business proposal separate from the selection of individuals. They are connected, but a question about one does not necessarily answer the other.
Make selection questions concrete
If selection is relevant, ask about the pool, criteria, evidence used, your assessment and the process for correcting errors. Acas says criteria should be fair, objective and measurable. Check any attendance-related information carefully where disability, pregnancy or maternity may be involved. Avoid asking only “Why me?” when a precise question about a score or record can produce an assessable answer.
Prepare alternatives
List practical suggestions you want considered, with any facts supporting them. Ask about available alternative roles and how they are being handled. Suitability and additional protections need checking against your circumstances; do not assume that any vacancy is automatically a suitable alternative or that refusing one has no consequences. Use the current official guidance before making that decision.
Use a consultation log
Record the date, your question, the answer and any follow-up promised. Send a concise factual note of important unresolved points through the appropriate channel. Keep meeting notes and correspondence together. A log should help you track the process; it should not be rewritten later to make events appear more certain than they were.
An example of a precise follow-up
A fictional worker notices that a score refers to an outdated performance review. Instead of asserting that all scoring is unlawful, the worker identifies the review date, the more recent record and the criterion affected, and asks how the assessment will be checked. That is a practical information request, not a legal conclusion.
Choose a focused resource
The Redundancy volume is the relevant book for this stage. If dismissal has already happened and you are considering a tribunal claim, the procedural volume may also be relevant. Review the Amazon descriptions and samples, then choose according to the task you actually need help understanding.
Sources & scope
Checked on 8 October 2026. Follow your tribunal’s directions and jurisdiction-specific rules. Examples on this page are fictional and illustrate preparation methods, not legal outcomes.
Edition notes and current-rule checks · General information, not individual legal advice.