Forced Relocation

Author
Discussion

Some Guy

Original Poster:

2,111 posts

91 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
Our employer has advised they wish to "consolidate" a number of their facilities and obviously, ours is earmarked for the chop. We have been offered an alternative with another part of the business, but that is 45 miles away. Looking at google maps and planning journeys at rush hour it looks like another 55 minutes each way.

Over the course of a year, this works out at some 17,500 additional miles. A few quick sums and that is almost £5K in fuel, tyres and servicing. Loosing an additional hour and a half a day is also not looking favourable. My contract clearly states our current location as place of work.

Do those more knowledgeable think this would this be a case of simple redundancy, or constructive dismissal? In the mean time, guess I better update the old CV.

Trabi601

4,865 posts

95 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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A lot will depend on the terms of your contract - it wouldn't surprise me if there's a clause allowing them to move you to a different facility within reasonable travelling distance. Reasonable can mean many things - my employers say up to 90 minutes each way. But that's central London.

Ultimately it's going to depend on your standpoint - and how stubborn you want to be.

Is it worth giving up the job for statutory redundancy or is there negotiation space?

battered

4,088 posts

147 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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It's not CD because it applies to the entire site, not an ndividual or a few individuals. It's a redundo, simple as that. So move, or accept the commute, or leave. IIRC there is somewhere in the regs that says that the employer has to assist with extra commuting costs for a period of time. If it's not in the regs it's certainly customary or common. You might try negotiating this, or getting a contribution in terms of salary. They might tell you "no".

PF62

3,628 posts

173 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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Or alternately persuade all your colleagues to go on strike and bring misery on your customers - https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/members-updates/displa...

Condi

17,188 posts

171 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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Ive been told something similar and have (I think!) decided to leave the job and go somewhere else. The area they want me to move to is not somewhere I want to be and staying in a hotel 4 nights a week doesn't appeal either.

Jasandjules

69,884 posts

229 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
quotequote all
What have they offered? They may for example meet relocation costs.

It is not Constructive Dismissal but a Redundancy.

A lot also will depend upon your seniority within the firm..

Some Guy

Original Poster:

2,111 posts

91 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
quotequote all
Thanks chaps. Unlikely to be relocation and have only been there a few years. Looks like 24,000 miles annual commute, or take the money and run. smile

battered

4,088 posts

147 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
quotequote all
Are they offering a contribution to yout extra commute for a year or two?