Suitable Alternative Employment - Slotted in????

Chunk54

From 1 April I will be "slotted in" to a new role at work as part of the VR process currently taking place. They are not calling it suitable alternative employment.  I do not believe the role is suitable.  It is the same grade but they have reduced the hours, my pay is not protected where it would have been if i had dropped a grade and I do not have a 4 week notice period in the new role.   I feel that this is unfair and I am being discriminated against.  What do you think?  

Brie

I don't think it sounds like discrimination as such unless they seem to be doing it only because your sex or colour or similar.  It does sound like you are being treated unfairly though.

Go back to the T&Cs of the VR process and see what it says in there about what is deemed suitable.  Assuming the V stands for Voluntary then check what your potential grounds are for refusing to accept this role.  

Hoenir

Chunk54 said:

From 1 April I will be "slotted in" to a new role at work as part of the VR process currently taking place. They are not calling it suitable alternative employment.  

Not entirely clear what the position is. VR suggests that you aren't actually under the threat of redundancy (as yet). It's a broader restructuring of the organisation and not a question of offering you " suitable alternative employment". 

EnPointe

Chunk54 said:

From 1 April I will be "slotted in" to a new role at work as part of the VR process currently taking place. They are not calling it suitable alternative employment.  I do not believe the role is suitable.  It is the same grade but they have reduced the hours, my pay is not protected where it would have been if i had dropped a grade and I do not have a 4 week notice period in the new role.   I feel that this is unfair and I am being discriminated against.  What do you think?  

 which Protected  Characteristic are you being discriminated against with ?

Slotting in at same grade is  common in these processes, not  so sure aobut the change in hours aspect 

also as others have  noted  the fact  that current redundances atre VRs  suggests the formal  process  has not  begun , and  often VR is used to  try and avoid  going down the route of  the entire formal  consultation as  VR allows  peopel who the corganisation deems to be  'not  essential to keep on'   to leave of their own accord  with their mouths stuffed with gold ... 

Cobbler_tone

Not a fan of VR shenanigans...or as uni's call it VS as the 'R' word isn't in their vocabulary.

To make people redundant...get the HR1 in, establish the pool and a robust selection criteria (which can include an element of VR) and job done! Blanket offers of VR/VS rarely end well.

For the OP, have they formally told you that you are under threat of redundancy? Have they set up consultation meetings? Have they given you a timeline on the consultations? Are they saying to take this role or forgo redundancy? Would you rather have redundancy?
From the limited info provided it may/may not be a suitable alternative in the eyes of employment law.