[mytailorisrich]

Note that they are not require to negotiate notice, pay, etc. which are already specified in contracts and statutes.

What they are required to do if they plan to make more than 20 people redundant is to conduct a formal 'consulation', which means that they have to discuss with the employees potentially concerned about the reasons and how to keep redundancies to a minimum.

Companies may offer more than they have to for the sake of their reputation and for goodwill, and (maybe especially) to make employees sign terms that they won't sue and won't discuss the matter.

[darrenf]

You’re right, of course. Consultation was the word I failed to recall. In both my redundancies, notice periods were negotiated because both employers wanted us to work longer than our notice. “We’re getting rid of your roles, but can you just deliver this unreasonable project first?”

[mytailorisrich]

That does wonder for motivation and quality of work...