Bumping
Meaning & Definition
Bumping
Bumping is a practice used by many companies to reserve talent pool during downsizing, wherein, a senior level employee, whose position has been selected for elimination, is offered the option of accepting an alternative position of lesser seniority within the organisation. Bumping can be a useful tool for employers who wish to retain the skills and experience of an employee who would otherwise be downsized. A lot of employers, though, are reluctant to consider bumping because of its obvious injustice to the employee who is bumped.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the bumping rights at employment?
Bumping Rights means the contractual right of a senior employee being laid off to replace a junior employee not being laid off for a position he or she is qualified. They are essentially the privileges provided to senior employees, who have experience of many years, from being laid off and instead accept an alternative position in the organization.
Is bumping illegal?
No, in many organizations there are strict rules that govern bumping. It is accepted as long as fair and clear redundancy procedures are being followed.
What is bump redundancy?
Bump redundancy is when an employee who is at the potential risk of being redundant can transfer into another job role instead. This makes the latter employee redundant instead of the former.
What is the difference between bumping up and bumping down?
An employee being bumped up implies that they are being transferred to a higher position in the organizational hierarchy while bumping down is the vice versa.
Is bumping a good or a bad practice?
When considering to bump or not to bump, the following questions can be answered:
Is bumping a legal requirement?
No, there is no legal obligation to bump. There are no defined rights made specifically for bumping. In general, employees follow their redundancy policies when it comes to bumping as well.
