Forced Relocation

MaebyJade

Hi,

So 3.5 years ago I started my current role for a big online retailer. My contract stats my work location as one of their warehouses, I'm in a finance role and support that specific warehouse. I've been doing well and had a promotion in that time, been rated as a high achiever in performance reviews and was eyeing/on plan for more progression going forward.

Today all field based staff (about 20 of us) who are base at different locations across the country, like myself were asked to join a call and basically told we have 2 options;

1. Relocate to a corporate office. My commute goes from 10mins drive to an hour by train, costing me time and money.

2. Stay where I am but would no longer be eligible for future payrises or promotion

Would love any advice on what my options are here and if this is legal? I can't do that commute but I also don't want to do a job where there's no hope of progression. It feels like they are trying to cut heads and done this in the hope some of us resign. 

Ayr_Rage

You aren't being forced to relocate for a start.

The options available seem to be reasonable and you do not have to leave your current location.

Companies often restructure their businesses.

400ixl

Does your contract have a mobility clause? If so then nothing illegal that I can see unfortunately.

Even without they can probably do it with enough notice anyway.

LightFlare

Always option 3) stay where you are whilst looking for another job

As above - not a lot you can do about it appart from choose which you prefer

Changng from a 10min to 1 hour commute would most likely be deemed still reasonable although you mention you CANT do that commute - any particular reason why not?
Or is it that you just don’t want to ?

Hoenir

MaebyJade said:

It feels like they are trying to cut heads and done this in the hope some of us resign. 

A business is run for profit not charity and not for the convenience of it's employees. There's nothing personal in the organisational restructuring.  

Tucosalamanca

I'm sure that millions of people (myself included) would love to only have an hour's commute. 10 Minute drive was incredibly fortunate for you, as field staff, even two hour's travel a day doesn't seem unreasonable, far from it...

MaebyJade

LightFlare said:

Always option 3) stay where you are whilst looking for another job

As above - not a lot you can do about it appart from choose which you prefer

Changng from a 10min to 1 hour commute would most likely be deemed still reasonable although you mention you CANT do that commute - any particular reason why not?
Or is it that you just don’t want to ?

Kids. It would mean my husband has to do all the school runs or we put them in after school clubs on some days.

There is no mobility clause in my contract. Its 5 days a week from that location, which currently do.

I would understand it if the location I am currently working in was closing down but it's not. 

Ayr_Rage

MaebyJade said:

LightFlare said:

Always option 3) stay where you are whilst looking for another job

As above - not a lot you can do about it appart from choose which you prefer

Changng from a 10min to 1 hour commute would most likely be deemed still reasonable although you mention you CANT do that commute - any particular reason why not?
Or is it that you just don’t want to ?

Kids. It would mean my husband has to do all the school runs or we put them in after school clubs on some days.

There is no mobility clause in my contract. Its 5 days a week from that location, which currently do.

I would understand it if the location I am currently working in was closing down but it's not. 

Option 2 does not change your current contract.

A lot of us have moved to progress our careers.

theoretica

It feels punitive to me to say that if you don't move now you won't be eligible for a promotion in future - rather than saying any future promotions offered will be for work at a corporate office. 

mjm3346

Seems within a reasonable distance so they wouldn't need to offer you redundancy - option 2 lets you keep being paid while looking for something else.

Emmia

I swapped a 15min drive commute for 90mins each way by train when I joined the Civil Service, depending on how you're doing the commute it is actually perfectly manageable. I wouldn't do a 90 min drive, but on the train I found I got into a zone, and the time would fly by.

It wouldn't be the end of the world to use after school clubs. 

Alternatively, it's probably time to start that job hunt.