Change to part-time status

[stringbean]

My team at work is being re-structured and we were told a few weeks ago that our jobs were at risk. A new structure is being put in place and we have had to apply for positions within the new team. I've done this and have been offered the job. However, I'm currently part-time and the new role has been offered on a full-time basis only. I don't want a full-time role at the moment - dcs are school-age, but the youngest has SN so it really doesn't suit. Just wondering if my employer can do this? I have a colleague in the same team who is also part-time - who has also been offered a full-time role in the new team - and we thought we could effectively 'jobshare' the role, but have been told this is not acceptable for reasons of 'continuity'.

It's likely I will be eligible for redundancy - not much as I've not been there long. However, does my employer not have to demonstrate that the role cannot be done as a jobshare? I'm in the process of getting some legal advice on this, but just wondered if anyone had been in the same situation?

When advertised, was it as full time or part time?

If it was advertised as full time, then you made an error.

Yes they can do it.

I presume that if they have decided it's full time and requires one full time person, then they've done the assessment of what it needs to be.

It wasn't advertised as full-time - we were told part-time working/jobshare would be considered. There is more than one job available in the UK, and no-one else is likely to take one of these posts other than me and my part-time colleague. They face losing a lot of experienced people in the process of re-structuring, which seems madness.

They can do this in a redundancy situation, so not much you can do. Legally yes they should go through the analysis of whether it can be job-share, but in reality if they are dealing with mass redundancies they simply won't have the bandwidth to spend time on this until after it has all died down, and they may well be of the mindset 'they should just feel lucky they've got a job'

Saying that, it does seem silly for them to take this stance when they already have the perfect set up of two qualified people ready to do the job. Why don't you and colleague write a joint letter to them explaining how it will work between you and how it will benefit the company (eg continuity of cover when one of you goes on vacation etc). Keep the letter brief and leave out anything about your own needs to make it very much focused on the firm and how it can work. Then send to most sympathetic person you can find.

Depending on the number of people being let go there should be elected representatives working with the firm - you should approach them as well and ask if they can help you - they will be having regular meetings with HR and can push for you.