Work have moved to a new location

zippybungle

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone can offer me any advice?

I work for a very large company (Royal Mail)

I have been on maternity leave for nearly 12 months now and during that time the department I work in has moved to another location.

The new location is in the city centre (13 miles away) whereas my old location was just 3 miles away, in the town where I live.

I have 3 Children (6, 3 and 11 months) and it will make life very difficult for me if I have to work in the new location, I know it's only 13 miles away, but the traffic in and out of the city centre is very busy, plus there is no Staff car park.

Working in the new location will add another 2 hours to my working day, so that will be another 2 hours that I have to pay for Childcare each day (working 2.5 days).

Can my employer force me to go to the new location? I know there are rules on flexible working, but not sure about this?

I can't really afford to just leave my job, but I can't really afford to go to the new location either.

Also, when the move was announced last year, some people from my department were given jobs in the town where I live, yet I was not informed about these jobs, is this fair?

Zippy x

kazwookie

Maybe they are waiting for you to contact them, to discuss your return to work?

Other wise I can offer you no advise apar from contact them

zippybungle

Yes, I am in the process of contacting them now.

Zippy x

SomeBozo

Can my employer force me to go to the new location?

Whats in your contract? I would be very surprised if they did not have something in your contract about moving your base.

some people from my department were given jobs in the town where I live, yet I was not informed about these jobs, is this fair?

Where you on mat leave when this happened?

Its very hard for the employer to walk this thin line. There have been posts on these very forums complaing about employers contacting employees when they on sick/mat leave to keep them informed of work issues.

Bozo

custardy

unfortunatly most RM contracts have sections on changing locations etc
however you are entitled to relocation money.its not a huge amount but make sure you enquire about it.
as for why werent you told about those jobs.RM Nepotismin force no doubt
i would contact your manager in the 1st case about whats happening and what options regarding working in your own town are open to you

Emmzi

have they actually said you have to go to the new office and not the old one?

what have they told you about your return to work, and what are you assuming?

viktory

13 miles is not an unreasonable distance - I have worked through 2 relocations and my husband is being moved 20 miles.

The research I did stated that as long as the company move within a reasonable travelling distance there is little you can do - for example you are not entitled to redundancy.

Check your contract, but I would bet it says something vague about location.

bathgatebuyer

I also work for a large company where the limit that HR set on staff for relocations is 10 miles (that is, where it's deemed not to be a relocation but the same place of work). It's stipulated in all our contracts. The Royal Mail may have similar.

Conor_3

13 miles = 2hrs? Most of my work has been 30 miles away from where I live and involved travelling 5-6 miles across a city to get there. Only takes me just over an hour.

custardy

Conor wrote: »

13 miles = 2hrs? Most of my work has been 30 miles away from where I live and involved travelling 5-6 miles across a city to get there. Only takes me just over an hour.

when we moved i tried public transport
made my journey to work about an hour.
home about 90 minutes
i bought a car as its just too long to be commuting for me