Being asked to relocate...

geeba88

Hi There

As part of a business restructure I’ve been told this week that my job being centralized to an office over 200 miles away. My options are therefore to relocate or move onto pastures new.

After discussions with my wife relocation isn’t an option. I’m concerned though that by doing this I’ll be effectively taking voluntary redundancy (my contract has a mobility clause within it).

Can anyone offer any advice on whether or not I’m likely to encounter problems negotiating a severance package? I’ve read that if there are good reasons why relocating isn’t practical then the company has to make me redundant. I have 3 children who are all settled in school, this alone should surely be reason enough?

Any advice greatly appreciated

p00hsticks

How much notice are they giving you to make the move ?

Pee

What are your chances of finding another job where you are?

How old are the children? If in the two years for A level or GCSE this should be a factor, but surely not if they were younger.

Would it be an option for you to relocate and maybe live as a lodger there, coming back at weekends until you can find something else?

geeba88

The kids are 3, 6 and 13. I'm on a 3 month notice period. I've already been told that if the family doesn't relocate i'll have to meet the costs of working away, which makes the idea impractical - the wage i'm on isn't that good!

getmore4less

How long have you been in the job and what sort of packages have they given in the past?

Is the mobility clause reasonable what does it say.

Moving the job to a new location is probably automatic compulsory redundancy if no suitable alternative can be found unless they have a contractual term that will hold up.

Pee

If the wage isn't that good, then can you find something else better locally?

geeba88

Pee wrote: »

If the wage isn't that good, then can you find something else better locally?

the wage isn't bad, but not good enough to sustain the cost of working away for 5 days week.

My role is pretty specialist IT stuff, i'll probably have to think about contract work until something permanent becomes available in my area.

kateab

I too would like to know what the mobility clause says. Does this move fall outside the clause because if it's not, I can see problems ahead.

This page might help:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_10028541

kateab