Forced to take a different role? advice please!

[curlyHedgehog]

Hi,
I work part-time for a largish company. There are not many part-timers (I was ft originally but part time since dc three years ago).

Today my manager called me to a meeting and told me my current role is being changed, some of the work is no longer needed and some will be allocated to a new role that will be more junior than my grade. He went on to say that there is another role available that I can apply for, still part of his team but it sounds dull and mind numbing, he said it's the only role available at my grade. When I asked about opportunities in other teams he said none were available (clearly all the area controllers have discussed this in their monthly meeti

Sorry posted too soon!

The controllers are quite a strong team and tend to plan this type of thing in advance!

My question is,do I have to take job I don't want, or should they make me redundant if I don't want it (my preferred option)?

What has your manager said are the next steps? If he spoke to you today about fundamental changes to your role, or your role effectively no longer existing, I would expect them now to be entering into a consultation with you. During consultation they should seek suitable alternative work, listen to your feedback on the proposed changes, and if a suitable alternative position isn't found, then at the end of the consulation period you would leave by reason of redundancy. Is the role you've been offered similar to yours in terms of hours, pay, skills needed, responsibilities? If not, you could argue it isn't a suitable alternative and opt to take redundancy. If it is, but you don't accept it, you wouldn't be entitled to redundancy on the basis you've turned down a suitable alternative role.