Redeployment

rosedale

Hi. have been informed that my role is at 'potential risk of redundancy' and I am currently on 'garden leave'. I am the only one. I have been told of a Fixed Term Contract within the company but not within my department. I am more than qualified to take this role and I have expressed an interest. I have worked for the company for 23 months. Do they have to give me first refusal of the new job before they offer it to someone outside of the company ?

Kate78

You would have thought that they'd have to give "first refusal" to existing staff, but apparently not.

My post is also "at risk" following a departmental restructure - those of us who were not slotted in to the new structure were given the opportunity to apply for posts, but no guarantee even of an interview. Posts advertised externally in the first instance, didn't get an interview, now going through the motions of consultation for a job which has already gone (taking a sledgehammer to my office - literally - was a bit of a clue there). Before you ask, I wasn't in there at the time, I was given a whole fifteen minutes to pack my belongings while furniture was removed at the same time.

That said, many companies do have the courtesy of giving current staff an interview first, so good luck with it.

Sii

As part of your redundancy consultation, it is your employers duty to search for "suitable alternative work" for you, so press them on this other role as you should get a chance to discuss this before they advertise/offer to anyone else. It doesn't matter that you are under the statutory 24months for redundancy payouts, they should still follow this basic procedure.

rosedale

Thanks for the replies.

I found the job vacancy which was posted on a website. I will push them for more information although my redundancy HR contact does not appear to be in the know.

Found the following on the Direct Gov website:

If your employer has suitable alternative employment but does not offer it to you, your redundancy could be an automatically unfair dismissal.

I also checked the CAB website and it says a similar thing.

What does anyone think to this ?

Has anyone had experience of this ?

:A

rosedale

Hi

Been for interview for the alternative employment. Lot less money and only on a contract basis for an initial 6 months but at least it would give me a breathing space. My redundant consulation period is up at the end of this month and they are not sure when the alternative employment will start. They are talking about 4 weeks notice after the end of my consultation period. During my consultation period I was advised by them that I could take Garden Leave, which I did as I did not feel able to sit at my desk and try to be 'normal'. Can they insist that I go back to my original job, from which I am being made redundant, for the length of the 4 weeks notice. If my role is redundant then surely I shouldn't have to train someone to do my job ?:eek::eek::eek: