Work trying to convince me to move offices

[EL8888]

I currently work at location A, earlier in the year work were trying to convince me to work out of location B and l was reluctant. It was so far from where l live and it would have impacted on what fuel l could claim back so it would increase my expenses. In the meantime, l was off sick for a few months and when l returned then work now want me to work at location C.

The job is fairly identical but would technically be a promotion but a lower salary -it’s further from London so no outer London allowance. Location C would be super convenient for my house. Realistically though lm going to leaving before the end of the year. I need further development as l need more of a challenge and more money which neither job will give me.

So lm wondering how to play work wanting me to move to location C. I would have to submit an application and attend an interview. But ultimately would be wasting their time and if l don’t apply they won’t be that thrilled either. Resource wise we are well staffed at my current location (a touch over staffed) but location C isn’t due to people leaving and switching to part time from full time. When they ask why l don’t go for it then l can’t really say lm bored and you pay me crap money so l am off soon. It’s a government type job so there is no discretion about my pay, so no point in even asking for more money

If the salary would be lower due to losing the London allowance, isn't that a cast iron reason you can give for not applying?

Can you not jus5 tell them you can't afford the to,e ?

Personally l would think it is but l know more senior managers often forget the difference a few thousand pounds a year makes to people. I probably should l have mentioned that l have applied for this job before and was unsuccessful. So there are likely to be assumptions l will apply again and l live so close. It doesn’t really matter if they guess lm going to jump ship as ultimately l will and there is nothing they can do about it anyway! I just want to play both sides for as long as possible until l find a suitable new job

I would get advice from your union or Acas

What they said. They can't force you to apply for a lower paid job. Channel being a confident, ambitious bloke who wouldn't dream of just rolling over and applying for a job with a pay cut.

What does your contract say - are you mobile? I'm signed up to work wherever in the UK I'm sent.

Two questions to think about: 1) would you take location C if they miraculously found a promotion for you? And 2) would you take location C if they matched the pay for a couple of years? Your answers affect how you should play it.

And there is no reason for people to assume you are planning to leave. You can say you really like working at A, it's a great team, and you are working towards promotion at A. I really think you are overthinking what they will think of you - it's not rocket science that someone will want more money more than a promotion.

Hang on though, if it's a payscale thing and you've be going up a band, is it possible they'd just start you further up the band so you don't have to take a pay cut?

Yep my contract is that l am required to be mobile. So yeah they can force me to move if they want but no l won’t be acting sorry when 3 months in they need to replace me as l have resigned

1. yes l would take it but there is zero chance of that
2. no. It’s still not enough money

@Attache funnily enough l said something similar to a friend recently. Who had 7 out of the 8 things that a job advert asked for and was asking me if she should apply. I said go for it! Most men in those circumstances would

You've factored in commuting costs (train fares?) in calculating the net take home, right?

Would the commuting time saved by working at C free you up to have more time look for a better job?

Would you get to claim more business mileage by working at C (since you mentioned that aspect).

Will you get a bad reference if you start at C now but leave within 6 months?

That's fine then - if they move you, they move you. I think it's a fairly clear Just Say No to applying, and if they ask why, say you prefer the money and like the team where you are.

If they move you anyway and then you resign, that's just business. Don't worry about it.

Yep my contract is that l am required to be mobile
You’re required to be mobile but you’re not required to take a pay cut to do so.
I work for an NHS Trust which has one site inner London and one outer London. I get paid at inner London rate because the inner London site is my main base but I’m required to work at both sites as the service requires.
Sometimes I have to work exclusively at the outer London site for months but my pay does not get cut because the service dictates where I go not me.
I would tell them yes I’ll work at site C bit only for site A money.
Even if they only agreed to match the pay for a year it would be ok for you because you’ll be gone before the pay cut comes in.

You simply tell them you’re financially unable to take the pay cut. It’s a reasonable answer and one they can’t complain about. My wife has been in a similar situation and said just that. They agreed for her to keep her higher salary AND agreed travel payments. If you’re going in a few months you’ve nothing to loose.