Express & Star

Dudley Council staff brought back after getting redundancy pay-offs

One in 12 council workers in Dudley who were made redundant over a two-year period were later re-hired, it can be revealed.

Published
Last updated
Dudley Council House

A total of 29 members of staff were brought back to either work part-time or full-time at Dudley Council, despite having received redundancy pay-offs.

One worker received a pay-off of more than £60,000 only then to be brought back on a casual basis.

Two others received redundancy packages of more than £30,000 and nine workers got more than £20,000.

Six of the workers returned to authority within just three months of leaving.

Of the 29 who returned to the authority after losing their jobs, 17 were given permanent roles while 12 came back on a casual basis.

A report showed one worker who received a salary of £38,400 was given £26,500 in redundancy money before then returning with a salary of £27,100.

Another who was paid £31,900 received £23,600 redundancy package before returning three months later on a wage of £13,200.

Dudley Council made 362 staff redundant between 2014 and 2016 as it was hit hard by budget cuts.

The authority said it was the role that was made redundant rather than the employee, and some were offered the chance to return when circumstances changed.

Councillor David Stanley, cabinet member for transformation and performance, said: “Under the current policy the council can stipulate the length of time that must elapse before an employee can be reemployed by the council, in a different role, following redundancy. After this time has elapsed, they would be eligible to apply for a different post within the council and would not be required to repay any redundancy payment.

“Scrutiny is such an important part of the democratic process which is why the committee looks at policies such as this. We will be looking at any recommendations made and acting on them.”