Do I have to accept relocation

_MMR_

Our company is closing down our current site and we have been offered to relocate to an alternative site or reassured redundancy if we decided not to. Our 90 days consultation period started in April. To beging with we had some relocation options, 2 sites option already running by our company, one over 100 miles away and the other over 300 miles away. We had also a 3rd option, a new possible opening with no confirmation or detailed informations, more than 20 miles from the current site and my house. The last option was confirmed by the company on the 16th of June but we still haven't been given any real information position and no formal written confirmation of what we would be entitled to at the alternative site. I haven't personally find out about that until last Monday as have been on Holiday leave until then and just find out that I'm expected to give written confirmation of my choice without any formal written information from my company. Also, unless we can provide reasons that satisfacy their criteria of what constitutes a 'detailed reason' for not being able to work at the new place we may not get redundancy pay.

I haven't own transport to take me there and back as the car that me and my partner own is used by her to get her to work and back. We also cannot afford a second car and don't know of anyone that can give me a lift to work. To be honest I don't want to rely of anyone, apart from me, to be able to get to work.

What I would like to know if I have to accept the relocation as could lose the redundancy or if I can refuse it and ask for redundancy? They have offered some petrol compensation to the driver but with a condition, there must be 4 or 5 employees on the journeys to work, what I think is a joke.

Any help would be really appreciated as all that misinform and mislead is starting to stress me out.

Kind regards,

Ninjawombat

I'm no redundancy expert but I know that you can't request redundancy. You can easily refuse relocation if your new place of work is seen as not being a reasonable commuting distance. Then, as far as I know, compulsory redundancy would be offered. I'm not sure what reasonable travelling distance is when it comes to relocation but someone else might be able to answer that.

Does your contract say anything like 'you may be asked to work in other locations'?

There must be some form of public transport that goes to this new site? I can't imagine them forcing you to work somewhere if you've no physical means of getting there. That would certainly be a 'detailed reason'!

ian1969uk

I don't think 20 miles between home and work would be considered unreasonable if that's the option they offer. Obviously the 100 and 300 miles are a different matter.

Ninjawombat

I would say it's unreasonable if there's no other means of getting there other than by car.

SarEl

I can't seriously see that you will find a lot of sympathy if the employer refuses redundancy because you turn this job down. 20 miles is well within the "normally reasonable" distance, and I can't see any grounds here that would make it personally unreasonable other than the fact you don't want to do this. Bearing in mind that if you have to sign on 20 miles will be a pretty short area - the JobCentre will expect you to be willing to travel further than that!

The crux here is whether the employer is willing to pay redundancy - it really is their choice. if they can't be bothered arguing about it then you may be lucky and get it. You may also have fun finding another job before the money runs out at this point in time. Would it not be more sensible to stay in the work you have until you find something that suits you better than risk what you have on the off-chance that the employer might pay up and you might get another job?

_MMR_

They have actually offered to pay public transport tickets or petrol money to the driver if 4 or more employers in the same journey to work.

It's no way I can get to there as no public transports running early in the morning to get there on time at 6am. Also impossible to get a lift there with someone willing to get the petrol compensation as too many people wanting that lift and no people available to drive as already got that people.

The best way would be having my own car to get me there and back but like I already say I can't afford another car as mortgage, car loan, credit cards and bills to pay. Even if I would be able to afford it probably I wouldn't be able to get the petrol compensation as you can't rely in people, the sometimes can't be bothered to go to work or just be sick and then you are screwed up. About taking a lift there is more of the same, if the driver can't go to work you are screwe up. With a salary of £13455 a year before tax I wouldn't be able to afford paying £150/month for petrol or miss going into work because the driver can't make it to work that day.

In the current location 40% of the time I do my journeys by walk and the rest my partner takes me a lift when she isn't working as is only a 5 min drive. In the new location is a 30min drive and actually don't have a guaranteed way to make it there. What I personally think makes it reasonable to refuse a relocation there.

They have asked me today why I'm interessted on the compulsory redundancy, option that they offered if not being able to be relocated, and also asked why I wouldn't be able to get there. I did give my reasons and now they just want them by written to make a decission for me and lots of employees as the work shop was officially going to be closed tomorrow, also made offical on the consultation, as the company leasing the place need it them out end of june as the renting contract is over and they need the espace that we had in the warehouse for their own bussiness. Now my company is allowed to stay and make sure all is out until the 8th of July to hand the keys on the 11th. Our consultation finish on the 7th of July maybe that's why. They want to let redundant people finish on the 30th as officially was said and keep relocated ones until the 7th of July and train them or help to move stuff to be transfered to the new place.

Don't know if that helps but thanks for all the replies.

_MMR_

I would also like to add that the problem isn't that I don't want to go there, the problem is that I can't actually think of any affordable way to take me there everyday. To be honest I would love to as really don't want to be jobless and have to worry about having to find a new job as bills and payments can't be paid without mine's and partner's wages.

And also they tried to add the relocation on the new contracts just before the consultation but most of us refused as we knew some possibility of that with the gossip that was circulating in the workshop.

Emmzi

2nd hand 50cc motorbike, does 50 mph, under £500

_MMR_

Emmzi wrote: »

2nd hand 50cc motorbike, does 50 mph, under £500

Does it use solar energy? Maybe then I could afford it! Or maybe... I could share it with 4 or more employees on the motorbike and that way I would be allowed to submit a travel expenses reimbursement!

Ark_Welder

The following may be useful:

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


Can't put it in as a direct link due to being a new user...

For more info, try a websearch for 'redundancy relocation'

Emmzi

_MMR_ wrote: »

Does it use solar energy? Maybe then I could afford it! Or maybe... I could share it with 4 or more employees on the motorbike and that way I would be allowed to submit a travel expenses reimbursement!

Y'know, it's btter than signing on. But suit yourself.