Office closure

merrydance

Hi

I received a telephone call this morning to say that the office I work in, is closing imminently and they want to move me to another office about 10/20 minutes away. I do not really like the set-up of this other office, do I have to take it?I would rather they made me redundant but was told this is not possible. I have been with the company for over 18 years and work 2 days a week and overtime.

I know it must say something on my contract, which is in my file at work, just wanted to be a bit forearmed before I go in.

London50

As far as I understand it you would not be made redundant as there is still a job for you, all they are doing is moving it to the other office. So unless there is something in your contract I do not think you would have a chance of redundancy :0(

merrydance

Only thing that is different is that the office I am moving to does not open one of the days I work. But they are prepared to open it. Looks like I'll have to accept.:(

London50

Check your contract, there COULD be something in it that COULD give you the thing you would like. As you say that office does not open on one one of your working days so there MIGHT be something regarding that {ie you were taken on to work just for those two set days} but until you can look at the fine print no one can say for sure. Good luck :0)

merrydance

Oh they have decided to move me to an office 2 bus journeys away. I walk to my current office. It's going to cost me a lot more to get there and make my working day much longer. They said they are allowed to move me in a 15/21 mile radius. Waiting for a copy of my contract as so many changes have happened in the time I have been there, not sure if my current contract is the latest. I explained I do not have access to a car - they couldn't care less. Can they make me do this? Think I might just chuck it all in and get my hubby to claim pension credit for me.

TELLIT01

In short, yes they can do this to you. A move to an office 10/20 minutes away isn't going to be classed as a major relocation. The most you might get from them is a contribution to you additional travel costs for a year or so.
Last place I worked they could potentially move us to any other office within 90 minutes travel time by public transport. Thankfully there wasn't another office which fit that criteria.
We did have a lady though who had to transfer to our office when hers closed. She had previously cycled the couple of miles to her old office.
To get to the new office was only about 12 miles but she also had to get two buses. Because she lived in a rural area bus times meant she had to leave home shortly after 6am to get to work by 8:30. That was her problem, not the company's.

merrydance

Yes look like my feat is sealed It will take me another 3/4 hour to get there at least. They will not pay out any travel expenses, I know that for sure. Not had a pay rise for 9 years. Difficult getting another job too, when you are over 60. I have asked for a copy of my contract as I am not sure I signed one with a mobility clause in it.

theoretica

If they are prepared to open the office specially for you that implies you will not be working with other people.Would working at home for that day be an option you would like to propose?

merrydance

Unfortunately the office is opened to deal with the public. Crazy isn't it opening an office just for me. It would cost them far less to pay me redundancy.

agrinnall

merrydance wrote: »

It will take me another 3/4 hour to get there at least.

Not according to, well, you...

merrydance wrote: »

Hi

they want to move me to another office about 10/20 minutes away.

TELLIT01

merrydance wrote: »

Unfortunately the office is opened to deal with the public. Crazy isn't it opening an office just for me. It would cost them far less to pay me redundancy.

Paying you redundancy is not an option. Your job is moving to another office in the same area, and the job still needs to be done. Redundancy is about a job role ceasing to exist, or that role being moved a lot more than a few miles.
Some years ago my job moved nearly 30 miles but there was no option of redundancy.