Retrenched? Check it was genuine

Retrenchment is one of the few dismissal reasons that is not about you personally. It is meant to reflect a genuine business need, not your conduct or performance.

What it means

Retrenchment happens when an employer ends your job because the position is no longer needed. It often follows restructuring, downsizing or the closing of part of the business.

Unlike a misconduct or performance dismissal, it should have nothing to do with anything you did. The role, not the person in it, is meant to be the reason.

Why it matters to you

Because retrenchment is meant to reflect a genuine need, your employer is expected to choose who goes by a fair, objective process. The usual starting point is the most recently hired staff.

An employer can depart from that order, but only with sound, specific reasons. Personal preference is not enough.¹

Was the redundancy genuine

Look at whether the role truly disappeared and whether similar roles were filled again later. Check also whether staff in comparable positions were treated the same way.

If your employer offered a package to leave voluntarily instead, read about VSS to see how that differs from a retrenchment.

Even where the reason looks genuine, check your 60-day window to challenge the process on the deadline calculator.