Office closure

merrydance

Hi
I have not had any face to face meetings about this, just informed over the phone my office was closing. I received a letter saying there would be a meeting to discuss where I was going, no meeting just a phone call telling me where they would be putting me. The job is the same I would imagine who knows, nobody has informed me. The regional manager is meant to be contacting me. I am going to book an appointment at the CAB. They are a large corporate company.

Spendless: I have to catch 2 buses each way.

merrydance

Gets even better now. Just looked up bus times and one of the busses I need to catch, does not have a Sunday service.

Undervalued

merrydance wrote: »

Gets even better now. Just looked up bus times and one of the busses I need to catch, does not have a Sunday service.

I'm sorry but how you get to work is not your employer's problem.

I appreciate your concerns but your firm have a legal duty not to make you redundant unless there is no viable alternative. They are simply moving you to another office a relatively short distance away. It is most unlikely that a tribunal would consider that unreasonable. Generally up to an extra hour's travelling, for example, is not considered unreasonable for this purpose.

merrydance

Yes I understand this, but when accepting the job at the office which is now closing. One of the main reasons I accepted it was because I could easily walk to work. Is that not taken into account? I have been there 18 years after all.

Undervalued

merrydance wrote: »

Yes I understand this, but when accepting the job at the office which is now closing. One of the main reasons I accepted it was because I could easily walk to work. Is that not taken into account? I have been there 18 years after all.

Legally no I'm afraid.

They will argue that they are doing their duty of not making you redundant, by finding you a job at what would generally be regarded as a short and reasonable commute away.

Also, you mentioned earlier that there was not a mobility clause in your "contract" but there is in the staff handbook. That is more than sufficient as your "contract of employment" is far more than just a sheet of paper with the word contract on it. In any case the situation and distance we are talking about is likely to be considered reasonable even without a specific mobility clause.

I do fully understand and sympathise about how you feel about all this. Sadly though that does not change the legal position. As I said earlier, if you really don't want to travel, I would be tempted to suggest to them that you would consider a settlement offer as I really don't think a tribunal would enforce redundancy. It is easy to calculate what the statutory redundancy figure would be. Maybe offer to go for two thirds of it and be willing to settle at half?

Undervalued

One other thought...

How about contacting a couple of local taxi / private hire firms and asking what they would charge to take and fetch you on a regular basis? Depending on how it fits with their work patterns deals can sometimes be done at a fraction of a normal one off fare.

Obviously it will be a lot more than the bus but if it keeps you working it may be worthwhile. Even if you got full statutory redundancy (and I don't think you will) it won't add up to more than six months pay then after that nothing.

Just an idea!

merrydance

I will make an appointment at the CAB, to see what they say. If I have to go to the other office I will, and stick it out until I have my operation. My doctor says I will be off work 6/10 weeks. I will get paid for this and then leave. Seems about the best I can do in this situation. I want to find out if they have to see me in person about this office move or if it can all be done via the phone.

missbiggles1

merrydance wrote: »

I work 13 hours per week on the minimum wage 13 x 7.20 =£93.60. Bus fares will be at least £6 per day x 2 £93.60 - £12 = £81.60 - looks like I would be better off. No overtime lately. No of course he's not claiming now, I'm working.

As you're 60, won't you be able to use your bus pass, at least for the return journey?

lincroft1710

Bus pass minimum age is now 66

getmore4less

for a suitable alternative they have to look at individual cases.

keep pushing back on this.

I suspect someone has said they will open Sundays but never got approval.

How many people are effected by this closure?

if over 20+ ask when they are starting the statutory consultation.