Office Move - travel time and job role

@if ®afiq

@if ®afiq

@if ®afiq

Soldato
Joined
3 May 2003
Posts
6,077
Three of us from a team of four have been asked to volunteer to work at a new office location. For me this would mean my travel time increases from under 50 mins to over 2.5hrs as well as my job role taking a massive step back.

I checked my contract last night and it does mention I agree to work at any location, although this one was not built when I signed the contract.

We have been told we may face redundancies if we do not volunteer...where do I stand?
 
Depends I guess...is it an amended contract? That you've agreed to verbally or have you actually signed anything?

It's a bit of a predicament really...they probably planned it :p
 
Would you be better off if you get made redundant or do you need to put up and shut up until you can get a new job?

That's your two options.
 
LordSplodge said:
Would you be better off if you get made redundant or do you need to put up and shut up until you can get a new job?

That's your two options.
Click to expand...

Aye, kinda looking like that :(

Might be worth sticking it out for a few weeks till you can source something more local?

You say 2.5 hours....is that a roud trip ie there and back or 2.5 hours one way?
 
I wouldnt want to commute 2.5 hours, I'd probably point this out and if they make you redundant then that's life.
 
I do 1.5 hours and it's the limit of what I can bear. 2.5 hours is unreasonable but they covered that one in the contract unfortunately, so it looks like you have little to stand on.
 
Jonny69 said:
I do 1.5 hours and it's the limit of what I can bear. 2.5 hours is unreasonable but they covered that one in the contract unfortunately, so it looks like you have little to stand on.
Click to expand...
No they haven't, the contract apparently states agreeing to work at any location. Consult employment law, and they cannot ask you to do so unreasonably. They can either provide relocation expenses (might be worth considering), or a redundancy package.
 
Depending on your redundancy package, take it. Otherwise stick with the long commute until you find a job more local. No employer should expect their employee to voluntary travel for 2.5 hours.
 
Surely if you are having doubts the only choice is the redundancy package? Otherwise if you try to do the commute and can't do it, your only choice is to hand your notice in?

You may as well get a pay out from it.
 
Thanks guys - I'm not going to volunteer as 2.5hrs (each way) is way too much.

I guess I'll have to see what redundancy they offer me - but if I refuse that also, then can they simply fire me?
 
@if ®afiq said:
Thanks guys - I'm not going to volunteer as 2.5hrs (each way) is way too much.

I guess I'll have to see what redundancy they offer me - but if I refuse that also, then can they simply fire me?
Click to expand...
They can indeed, but would be stupid to do so. You could take them to tribunal for constructive dismissal and win rather easily.
 
You wouldn't be fired, you would just be made redundant? So no grounds for taking them to court for "constructive dissmissal"

Due to your employer moving, your job no longer exists in the same capacity.


The offer being provided to you would be classed as "unreasonable" so you would be entitled to redundancy payments.

Out of interest, worked for your employer for at least 2 years?

Direct.gov is a good site to read and addressed your situation fairly closely.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_10028541
 
You can try to negotiate, get them to pay for the travel, to provide you with a good laptop and to have your actual time behind a desk reduced as you are "working on the train".

At least when/if they refuse to do this you can look like you tried to meet them half way and will have more points in your favour if it comes to a tribunal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom