Cost-cutting is therefore not automatically unlawful, and recruiting someone on a lower salary later does not by itself prove a false redundancy. Yet timing, role similarity and the destination of the work can be relevant evidence.

A responsible employer should be able to explain the business rationale, the proposed pool and selection criteria, the consultation undertaken, and the alternatives considered. ACAS guidance stresses meaningful consultation and consideration of ways to avoid or reduce redundancies.

Healthcare workers can raise concerns through several different routes, but the correct pathway is not always obvious. This article explains the distinctions between a grievance, speaking up and whistleblowing—and why employers should examine the substance of a concern rather than relying only on the label attached to it.