Company Taken over - employees rights

[Ollie_chuck]

MY company has just been taken over for the 2nd time in 6 months. We have all had to go on an "induction" with the new company, showing us around their head office and taking us for a meal! yum yum.
One of my colleagues suggest that an induction would suggest that all accrued years of service can now be zeroed and we all start from scratch with the new company as if we were new employees.
Is this the case, despite being verbally told that this would not happen?
Could the company legally lay people off now?

[laurence2]

I'm no legal expert on employees rights but it sounds like you are continuing your employment under your ''old'' conditions of service.

Don't take a verbal as an accurate answer.

Just ask a member of management.

They won't bite you

I assume that you haven't signed a new contract since being taken over twice.

Ps, why have you been taken over twice in 6 months by the way?

Alarm bells may be ringing?

[Ollie_chuck]

We were a thriving private company taken over by a larger business as an acquisition.
They were owned by an investment trust that has now sold on its investment to a plc as it was bigger than their planned investment size now.
No alarm bells, business is thriving and growing 20% year on year! :D

No new contracts, thanks for the advice.

[laurence2]

sounds like your in good hands Ollie.


I would double check just to be on the safe side tho, if you don't want to ask a member of the management team {some people do feel uncomfortable asking} ask another colleague

[buildersmate]

Your employment rights, including the continuous length of your service since you started with the original employer are transferred as part of you joining the (next) new employer. The majority of your terms and conditions of employment must be retained - this is covered under a legal process known as TUPE - Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment.
However note that this does not mean that the new employer can't change anything - merely that they must properly consult with staff if they wish to consider changes.
Induction is merely to help you get accustomed to the new business and its ways.