Bermuda: Know your rights when made redundant

The Employment Act 2000 (the “Act”) provides that an employer can only make an employee redundant in certain conditions such as: the modernization, mechanization or automation of the business; the discontinuance, sale or reorganization of the business; the reduction of business necessitated by economic conditions, contraction in the volume of work or sales, reduced demand or surplus inventory; the impossibility or impracticality of carrying on business as usual as a result of the shortage of materials, mechanical breakdown, acts of God or other circumstances beyond the control of the employer. If a redundancy is not lawful and fair or determined not to be genuine, an employee may be in a position to challenge the redundancy as wrongful and may have a claim for unfair dismissal.

When a decision is made to make an employee redundant, an employer should:

(i) advise the employee of the reasons for the redundancy;

(ii) advise the employee of the reasons why the employee has been selected

(iii) consult with the employee prior to making any redundancy; and

(iv) consider alternative employment options within the company for the employee.

Whilst not strictly required under law an employer should follow these steps in order to be in a position to demonstrate that the redundancy is fair and reasonable. An employer must also inform the employee’s trade union or other representative if the employee is unionized.

An employee has several rights under the Act in the event that they are made redundant.

Notice of Redundancy: An employer must give an employee notice before terminating an employee by reason of redundancy. The period of notice to be given to an employee is determined by the terms of their employment contract or, where silent, the Act. An employer may either require an employee to work their notice period or make a payment to the employee in lieu of notice.

Severance Payment: Under the Act an employer is required to make a lump sum severance payment equal to: (i) two weeks wages, for each completed year of continuous employment up to the first ten years; and (ii) three weeks wages for each completed year of continuous employment thereafter, up to a maximum of 26 weeks wages (i.e. 6 months). Under the Act an employee is entitled to a written itemized pay statement before the payment of any severance entitlement. An employee’s employment contract may provide for other payments in addition to those provided under the Act in the event of redundancy.

Vacation Payment: An employee is entitled to be paid an amount equal to the pro-rata value of their annual leave accrued and untaken.

Health Insurance and Benefits: An employer is required to maintain all benefits to which an employee is entitled to for the entirety of the notice period. At the end of the notice period, if an employee is unable to secure health insurance from another employer, the employer is required to continue to provide health insurance for the employee for a period of four weeks.

Pension: An employer is required to continue to make all contributions to an employee’s pension plan during the notice period. The vested portion of an employee’s pension is transferable on redundancy. The employer must ensure that the administrator of the employee’s pension plan provides the employee with a pension statement.

Certificate of Termination: The employer must provide (if requested by the employee) a certificate of termination setting out the terms of and reasons for the employee’s redundancy.

On receiving notice of redundancy, an employee should review the terms of their employment contract and their employer’s handbook and policies and procedures to identify any rights provided in addition to those under the Act. For example, an employee may be entitled to receive a contractual bonus payment under their employment contract. Expatriate workers should also be mindful that on redundancy their work permits will cease and that an application will be required to be made to the Department of Immigration to remain in Bermuda and seek alternative employment.

It is recommended that an employee should always seek legal advice from an attorney in the event of redundancy. An attorney can assist by providing advice and guidance regarding the legal and statutory requirements. In addition an attorney can review the terms of an employee’s employment contract as well as assist with the negotiation of the terms of any settlement agreement.

An original version of this article was first published by Women in Reinsurance Bermuda, January 2019.

© Carey Olsen 2019.