Redundancy and redeployment

Bell428

I’ve been made redundant from an NHS trust, after 14 years of service.
this was following organisational change and 40 jobs condensed into 16. I was interviewed for one of the roles but was not successful. I was then put at risk and given 12 weeks notice of redundancy.
in this time I was told to apply for vacancies internally. I haven’t found any of these suitable or appropriate for me.
my contract has now been extended for 4 weeks so I can find something.
i have not consented to this so my question is can the trust refuse to pay my redundancy money and also continue to extend my contract as this has been hinted although I can’t get this in writing as I’ve requested.

El_Torro

As I understand it the 4 weeks extension requires mutual agreement. Are you still going to get a redundancy payment at the end of those 4 weeks? Assuming you don't find another role. If so then I would say you might as well play along (assuming you don't have something important you want to do during those 4 weeks). If they continue to extend then this could become more of an issue. 

Are you a member of your union? Seems like a good time to speak to them if you are.

Bell428

Thank you for your response 
I don’t know if I will still get my redundancy payment, this is really my question 
really wished I had signed up to a union but too late now.

ButterCheese

Do you want to stay in the NHS or take redundancy?  Because what's happening here is you are "offered" 3 roles, you get 3 chances to accept a role at either the same banding, or 1 below or 1 above.  Effectively you have rejected these roles by not applying and interviewing for any.  So they can I think pay your redundancy and off you go.  By extending the 4 weeks, they are doing you a favour by giving you a longer timeframe to find a suitable role.

Could you not talk this through with HR or your line manager?  I'm sure they will be best able to advise in a somewhat (but not completely) objective capacity

Bell428

Thank you for your response Buttercheese
i do not want to stay in NHS. The best option for me is to take my redundancy pay. I have approached HR and my line manager regarding this and they are unable to tell me is my redundancy payment will be made if I don’t apply for other jobs. 

I am very unsure of my rights here 

gwynlas

If they say that you have transferable skills that would mean you could work in another role then you should be applying for anything deemed relevant.

it is likely that you would be putting yourself at risk of dismissal otherwise as it is your job that is redundantt not you.

Why do you think it best to take redundancy payment when this will just leave you unemployed? It is always easier to get a job from a job as experience current and references fresh rather than from a position of being unemployed.

HR can advise you of possible outcomes but they are primarily there to support the organisation