Forced Relocation

nej

Hi all,

This is the situation I'm in. My employer is likely to shut down the office that I work from in the near-ish future. The reason for this is because it is not cost-efficient to keep it open - there are only a handful of people left in it. They want me to move to another office which is about 3 hours from where I am now as otherwise I'd be "office-less" and because they would like me to be in the same office as some of the other people. There would likely be some costs paid towards this. However, this is not an option for me due to childcare and the fact that my wife has a job here.

It has been put to me that if I decide not to move that I would be likely be given notice.

However - my contract of employment states that I work from home. Basically I goto the office because it's generally a bit easier to work there, but I'm not actually obliged to be there contractually. Our wonderful CEO doesn't like people working from home - he aquired me and the company I work for in a takeover.

Where do I stand?

Horace

Can you travel to the new place of work by train as this is likely to be much quicker than a car ride?

Personally, especially in this current climate I would relocate - even if its to a bedsit where I stay in the week and return home at weekends.

Look at all options before you decide. Bearing in mind, that if the office closes and you choose not to relocate you could be joining millions of others on the dole.

As you have made yourself office based and this has become custom and practice I don't think you can now claim that you work from home.

DKLS

Its getting common, My mate in Leeds has been told there is a job for him in London, or redundancy in Leeds. 2 weeks to decide.

nej

Well I'm not willing to be away from my family for the entire week, and there's no train station near either me or the other office.

Ho hum!