is this suitable alternative employment?

dharm999

A friend is potentially redundant. He works at a location that is closing and his employer is offering another job which would take an extra 25 minutes travelling each way. The terms and conditions of the new job are the same and the employer is offering to pay travel expenses for a period of time. My friend does not have a mobility clause in his terms and conditions. He would like to take the redundancy pay but is not sure if will be eligible for it, given the other job he has been offered. Would he still get his redundancy if he turns down the other job as it is too far away? He works in a low paid industry, so the extra travel costs would be a big chunk of his pay.

Thanks for your help.

Emmzi

"Suitable" is subjective. 25 mins each way seems entirely reasonable to me. What's his travel time now, and total time to the new place? I don't reckon his chances much.

patman99

Your friend needs to do the following -
Clarify with their current employer as to whether or not they are to be made redundant, and if so, when.
Once they have this info, they then need to approach their potential new employer and ask if they can defer starting until after they are made redundant.
If the friend has a few years service at their current employer, there is no reason to pass-up the pay-out they are due.

As for turning-down the new job whilst still employed in the old one. This will have no affect on any redundancy or JSA claim. However, with jobs being scarce, I'd take any job that came-up if I were laid-off. The potential new employer is willing to pay travel expenses for a period. Is it possible that your friend could pick up other workers from the new employer on route and therefore cut his travel expenses ?.

Emmzi

patman I read is as old job and new job are with the same current employer but in different locations - I didn't see a different employer?

Lakeuk

I agreed that this is a suitable alternative regarding to new location being only 25mins travel away.

I would clarify if you were not to take the role then what redundancy payment would be, see if they say none as it's a suitable alternative then you know your two options - I'd take the job and the temporary travel allowance to give time to find a suitable alternative job

If redundancy would be offered then I'd ask if he could do the new role on a trail where if it doesn't work out that he could leave and still be entitled to redundancy

Get any agreement in writing

What are the travel costs being offered, when I moved location (twice) I got the following:-

Move1
Year 1 - 32p a mile
Year 2 - 66% of 32p a mile
Year 3 - 33% of 32p a mile
Year 4 - Zero

Move2
Year 1 - 32p a mile
Year 2 - 50% of 32p a mile
Year 3 - Zero

I think 40p a mile is reasonable - you'll think you'll quids in but over time you'll see that it pays for the extra maintainance etc...

SarEl

Just to be clear - the employer does not have to offer any costs for additional mileage, and even if there is a work trial, that does not mean the employer cannot refuse redundancy on the grounds that a suitable alternative employment has been offered. At 25 minutes extra travelling time the legal position would be clear - this would not be grounds to turn down the position as a suitable alternative (there may be others, but I don't know that from the information provided here). Based solely on the information here, the employer would be entitled to refuse redundancy - but that does not mean they will. As others have said, the only way to find out is to ask them.

But don't forget that there are other consdierations. It is easier to get a new job when in work than when out of work. And even a low paid industry wage is better than no wage - there aren't a lot of jobs out there, and it isn't always wise to assume that you'll find something before the rdeundancy money runs out.

getmore4less

You have to ask the employer what their position is.

They may be happy to let people go.

low wage, whats the redundancy package?

f going down the not suitable route, need morethan just time.
mileage,cost,,inconvenience(eg, child care),, the more reasons the better tha chance from a low chance starting point since they are oferng hep with costs.

Unless the redundacny package is a good one, taking the job and looking for a new one may be the best financialy till the subsidy runs out.

dharm999

Thanks to all that have replied. I will point my friend to this thread. Looks as if he needs to update his CV and get job hunting while he works in the new location. To make matters worse, I think, he's checked his contract and there is a mobility clause in it, so even less chnace to opt for the redundancy.