Office relocation - Consultation period / Notice

girl_withno_name

Hi all - hoping that someone can help me, I'm asking on behalf of my partner... if additional information is needed then please ask and I'll find out as much as I can.

Basically my OH's office is relocating - the announcement was made 25 days ago and they entered the consultation period. They are to give their decisions on/before Friday with most people planning to confirm on Friday (I assume as some are waiting on news from job applications and interviews at the moment). On Monday they are moving to the new office - and I don't believe this has been officially communicated, the date for the move also wasn't discussed during the initial announcement 25 days ago.

What will happen on Friday for people who aren't accepting the relocation offer is that they'll be given 1 month's notice - meaning that they'll still have to work at the new location for a month!

Is this right? I didn't expect they'd be able to force people into working at the new location, but that's what will be happening unless notice was given within the first few days.... but I've (fortunately) not been through this before, so don't know and would welcome people's opinions.

heretolearn_2

What is the distance between the two offices?

girl_withno_name

Approx 45 miles ... taking commute from 19 miles to 58 miles (office is moving from Wales to England, so the new commute will include the bridge toll too, although I'm not sure how relevant that is)

getmore4less

What is in the contract about work location and mobility

dseventy

As above, whats in his contract about base and travel?

D70

caeler

The employer has the right to ask your OH to work notice and obviously the practicalities of the office having physically moved does present a problem. Sounds like a fairly significant new journey to work and what is the betting the contract didn't provide for mobility which is why they entered into consultation. Am I right in thinking the consultation was for redundancy for reasons of a work place closure? Those interviews would have been for roles at the new office and for those who didn't apply or have been unsuccessful their consultation will conclude and notice will be issued. In this situation I don't think the employer can expect your OH to attend the new office because his role has been made redundant! If they want him in then they should pay expenses or he should continue attending the old office for the duration of his notice. Could he ask about arrangements for the notice period, is there any option of pay in lieu? Will expenses be paid? Will there be activities that could be carried out at the old office? I think he needs to ask some more questions, so should those others who are effected in this way.

girl_withno_name

The consultation would have been for redundancy for reason of a work place closure.

I don't believe there are any compulsory redundancies yet, the information pack states the numbers are difficult to determine until all options are considered. I don't think anyone there has actually applied for their own roles / roles in the new office. They are accepting voluntary redundancies - which I assume is the opportunity to say "no" to the relocation and get given the month's notice and redundancy entitlement.

I will get him to ask some further question and dig out his contract. [EDIT: Found in email - "Your job is based at XXX but you may be relocated within the UK. at the discretion of the company and with four weeks notice. Your job may involve travelling for the proper performance of your duties."]

There is some information about payment in lieu - this will be considered for notice periods in excess of 4 week, but will be the subject of consultation.

girl_withno_name

Quick update... and a not so useful one from the managers:

If staff are willing to move then contracts will be drawn up and signed ahead of the move (given that there are no working days between the end of consultation and the move, I guess this all has to happen on Friday)

If staff are not willing to move then or have other job offers, then they will get a month's notice but they are not currently getting any answers re: pay in lieu, working from the current office or expenses being paid - apparently these are too dependent on external factors.

getmore4less

They can't just give a months notice to anyone with 5 or more years service they have to pay full statutory notice.

girl_withno_name

getmore4less wrote: »

They can't just give a months notice to anyone with 5 or more years service they have to pay full statutory notice.

This won't apply to my OH as he's not been there 5 years - it might apply to one person, but I think they're planning moving with the company anyway.

girl_withno_name

Could someone help me understand these terms, they sound a little contradictory and so I think I'm confused!

"No employment with any previous Employer counts towards your period of continuous employment with [this] Company."

"Due to your employment by another of our associated companies immediately prior to this appointment, continuity of service applies. Your start date for statutory purposes is [original start date]."