Management has asked for offers on hours

marble

This is a little complex (for me!) so I apologise in advance.

My partner is employed to work 36 hours a week but has been working 48 hours a week (12 hours extra as a 'self employed contractor') for the last two years.

The management has said to her today that they're merging with another company and she has to come to them next week with an offer of how many hours she is willing to accept (no more information than this).

Essentially, there are 5 people applying for 80 hours of work a week. If my partner were to get the same 48 hours, they'd have to make 3 people redundant. If she asks for 20 hours a week (which isn't really enough for us to live on) then they'd only have to make 1 person redundant (which I guess is much cheaper). Perhaps my partner might even be made redundant which wouldn't be fun.

I can't really decide what the best course of action is and what advice to give her. My gut feeling is to tell her to ask for her current hours and let the employer make the tough decision ... but I don't want to put her in a position where she's an easy target for redundancy.

This seems too much like gambling here. Are there any relevant laws which might help? The employer isn't in any financial trouble, they're just trying to maximise profits

SarEl

Ermm - she has a contract of employment. They are expected to honour that. Her 12 extra hours self-employed are irrleevant to anything (and probably very unlawful too!). She has a contract - there is nothing further to discuss. This is the employers problem and not hers, and she will be giving up valuable legal rights by entering into any discussion about her contracted hours.

marble

Thanks for the reply. The point is that, while she does have a contract, there are going to be redundancies. I think you're correct in that standing her ground and letting the employer come back with an offer is the best thing to do from a legal point of view.

I was just worried that, because she works the longest hours, she's the obvious choice for redundancy (since making her redundant will cost less than making 2 or 3 others redundant). Agreeing to lower hours might have made her less of a target ... but, as you say, waives much of her legal rights.

kazwookie

Her 'offer' is her contracted hours, it is not her job to sort out what is happening when the 2 companies merge.