Started working fulltime for a company in May 2021 delivering medical equipment to hospitals, in July 21 I, along with the other employees were given an informal heads up from our supervisor that the hospitals won't be renewing the contracts to continue supplying the equipment in January 2022 So we need to start looking for new employment before we are let go and offical notice will be given in November 21. Found out the company still has the contract.
Context: the company is one of the biggest medical equipment suppliers in my country and supplies to about 10 other countries around the world.
I worked in a small team of 6, 4 delivery drivers and 2 laundry staff. We delivered to about 8 hospitals in our local area health district.
I was offered 1 months pay to leave and the more senior staff were offered 2-3 months pay or they could relocate to another store in a different district but that was over 2 hours away.
Assuming the company would be forced to close the local store all 6 of us including the supervisor left by the end of October 21 taking the 1-3 months pay.
Found out recently due to a stay in hospital that the company never lost the contract and have been delivering this whole time with all new staff they replaced us with. Seems like they just needed an excuse to get rid of their former staff.