Payment in lieu or going into redeployment pool?

Namaste75

Hi

I am currently "at risk" my post has been deleted and I have been ring-fenced to apply for a newly created "merged" post at a higher grade with one other candidate. Interview is early July...

I have income protection insurance.

I am due to sell my house in August and due to the uncertainty have decided to go into rented and it makes sense to move closer to my partners work. Timing will be tight between interview and completion on the house - so we need to decide our options beforehand.

My HR advice suggests that I can take payment in lieu of notice rather than sit in a redeployment pool during my 3 months notice - This is on the basis that it is unlikely a suitable post will become available and as a result of my intention to relocate.

My question - Will the insurance company hold it against me if I take the payment rather than apply for the job, potentially not get it and then sit and wait for 3 months?

Technically I don't have to apply for the new role and with minimal chance of being matched to a suitable alternative - it makes sense to "cut and run" and relocate.

Thanks

Emplawyer

Namaste75 wrote: »

Hi

I am currently "at risk" my post has been deleted and I have been ring-fenced to apply for a newly created "merged" post at a higher grade with one other candidate. Interview is early July...

I have income protection insurance.

I am due to sell my house in August and due to the uncertainty have decided to go into rented and it makes sense to move closer to my partners work. Timing will be tight between interview and completion on the house - so we need to decide our options beforehand.

My HR advice suggests that I can take payment in lieu of notice rather than sit in a redeployment pool during my 3 months notice - This is on the basis that it is unlikely a suitable post will become available and as a result of my intention to relocate.

My question - Will the insurance company hold it against me if I take the payment rather than apply for the job, potentially not get it and then sit and wait for 3 months?

Technically I don't have to apply for the new role and with minimal chance of being matched to a suitable alternative - it makes sense to "cut and run" and relocate.

Thanks

I think only your insurance company can answer that question, but I would read your policy very carefully, as if you have the option to mitigate your redundancy by going into the redeployment pool and choose not to do so, that may well invalidate a claim, as it may constitute voluntary redundancy rather than compulsory.

But if you were planning on relocating anyway, and they found out or suspected that you were already planning to before you were made redundant, that may also invalidate a claim. Why do you need to claim at all if you are relocating voluntarily?

Namaste75

Thanks Emplawyer

There is nothing in the policy that refers to redeployment opportunities and HR have confirmed that I will still be classed as involuntarily made redundant.

We were not planning on relocating our home (we had an offer accepted on a house nearby just before I was formally consulted) But in view of the risk and timing of our house sale (which was ongoing prior to finding out about the job) it makes sense to move closer to my partners work (an hour away) and reduce travel time / costs. So my viewpoint was to take the money, relocate rather than sit in redeployment (potentially being paid to stay at home / but having to be available if required) having taken on a new tenancy close to my current work address (we both have long commutes) - Eager to reduce the uncertainty - at least with PILON- its final, I can move and crack on with looking for work.

....if that makes sense....

Emplawyer

Sounds like you might be alright then - nothing to lose by the sound of it.