Try to keep it brief.....
My work has been under threat of being amalgamated with several other similar work places across the NW into a central location for many years. It's been hanging over us for 10+years but recently got closer to being finalised. The chosen location was geographically central; rubbish for me because my commute would change from a 10 minute walk to a one hour drive, but hey ho, what can you do.
Anyway, that's gone to sh!t now for some political reason and we've just been informed the new location for my department is somewhere much further away. For those working at the northern end of the area, commuting is now totally out the question and they will have to totally relocate.
We've been informed that this option might HAVE to go ahead because in all the preceeding years, the departments/buildings have not been invested in and maintained and now need flattening.
So, TL'DR, my question is... given that because my employer chose not to maintain the buildings, they are now saying we have to move to a site a long way away, therefore would I have a case for compensation of some sort? i.e they f***ked up and now my colleagues and I are paying the price!
Not really. I think the best you'd get would be redundancy based on your inability to commute to the new offices. The reasons why your employer is moving are irrelevant unfortunately.
If they don't offer you a job at the new location, plus some form of relocation allowance then your compensation will be redundancy pay, either the statutory minimum or if your employer is feeling benevolent a discretionary payment. What does your contract say, also are you a member of a union as they may be able to collectively negotiate on your behalf.
Its complex basically. Possibly not redundancy as the post is still in existence but I am not sure. Relocation needs to be reasonable I think. the norm would be to pay all expenses involved in the relocation
You need proper professional advice but the TUC site might give some clues
Start job-hunting, yesterday.
^^ TJ has pretty much nailed it I think. Cannot be made redundant as the post is not a redundant position (cannot be refilled for 12months), and you would have applied for a job with a company with a location of X. If that location changes unreasonably they would need to as a minimum, pay a relocation package. While I'm not sure on the legality of that, it is the least I would expect.
I'm in a union, there's a meeting tomorrow. Think it's still far from certain what is going to happen, but the proposed changes will affect potentially up to 1000 staff (bit of a guess that.)
Relocation isn't really an option for me, they would pay commute costs for a year, but not the cost of buying a second car!!
They want to avoid redundancy, they'll be expecting those close to retirement to sack it off and the lower bands not to bother, thereby reducing the workforce.
I've tried to find my contract, the only thing approaching a mobility clause states "can be relocated anywhere within the Trust." This move definitely goes beyond that.
As others have said, they only have to offer redundancy.
Anything above that is discretionary e.g. payments for the extra distance, relocation, etc.
If you don't want to move, start looking for something else.
If you do want to move, you won't be entitled to anything but that's not to say your employer won't give something.
At my place they gave everyone who moved 12 months of payments equivalent to a total of £10k tax free i.e. they covered the increase in tax as a result.
But that was entirely discretionary, non-contractual and was paid by a FTSE 100 plc.
After the 12 months was up, that was it.
Start looking for jobs if you don't want to move, and hold off giving notice until their plan is announced formally.
As with redundancy, they'll have to do a statutory consultation, and as it affects lots of you, that will last 30 days. Probably not wise to hand notice in during the consultation as you'll lose redundancy.
Similar position. I've asked for a pay rise to cover public transport as I cycle and the cost is £6K a year gross. We shall see where it goes.
Sounds like ( from trust) that it may be NHS. If so you get a load of stuff under relocation including travel time paid usually! Dunno how much is legally mandated, how much is policy and how much is discretionary. Two years usually as well
I know of staff who were taxied from old workplace to new one for 2 years
I know of staff who were taxied from old workplace to new one for 2 years
And we wonder why the NHS is underfunded...
Why should staff either lose their jobs or pay 1/3 of their wages to travel to a new workplace?
dunno if it would happen now tho
