Forced to work at different location

sp2020

Hi, just hoping someone could help with some advice regarding my situation.
My work (care worker at a day service) may be closing, as the number of service users has dropped due to the coronavirus outbreak. We have now been told that we are going to be sent to work at other day centres, which could be as far as 50 miles away. As i dont drive this would be pretty much impossible. We have been told that if we refuse, then we will be laid off. Are they allowed to do this? Does anyone have any advice on what i can do in this situation?
Thanks in advance.

sharpe106

what does your contract say? are you on a zero hour contract?

onwards&upwards

Can you organise car shares?

sp2020

Hi, no i am on a full time 40 hour per week contract. I dont have my contract to hand unfortunately. It has been mentioned about the governments announcement to pay 80% of wages if not laid off, but they have basically said people wont be getting paid to sit at home, so its either work at another location or get laid off.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

sp2020 said:

Hi, no i am on a full time 40 hour per week contract. I dont have my contract to hand unfortunately. It has been mentioned about the governments announcement to pay 80% of wages if not laid off, but they have basically said people wont be getting paid to sit at home, so its either work at another location or get laid off.

The whole purpose of the 80% scheme is that people will be paid 80% (or more depending on what the employer chooses regarding the other 20%) for staying at home.

If you are working then you are ineligible for the 80%.  Simple as.

sharpe106

Have you told them you can not drive? what was there response

Jeremy535897

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

The whole purpose of the 80% scheme is that people will be paid 80% (or more depending on what the employer chooses regarding the other 20%) for staying at home.

If you are working then you are ineligible for the 80%.  Simple as.

The whole purpose of the coronavirus job retention scheme ("the 80% scheme") is actually to preserve jobs that would otherwise be lost. It gives employers the option of furloughing an employee rather than making them redundant. Then they can pick up the job again when things improve. That is why the scheme requires the employee to do no work for the employer in the meantime. It is not designed to be a safety net for employees, although of course it will be. If that were its purpose, it would look at the employee's other income and savings, not whether he does work for the employer.

sp2020

Yes they know i am unable to drive. They have basically said its not their problem, it is our responsibility to get to the other locations, and if anyone refuses they will not be paid.

sharpe106

I would look at finding your contract to see what it says about place of work.
Whatever happens I would be looking at another job when this is over as your boss could not care less about you.

onwards&upwards

sp2020 said:

Yes they know i am unable to drive. They have basically said its not their problem, it is our responsibility to get to the other locations, and if anyone refuses they will not be paid.

Do other staff drive?  As a care worker you are valuable!

calcotti

There may be some useful information here https://www.acas.org.uk/changing-an-employment-contract