Is this a suitable alternative role? NHS redeployment

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

Hello, I have recently returned to work after Maternity Leave, dropping from Full to Part Time. My role was already at risk when I went off on leave so I have came back to an uncertain position. I am not on my 90 days notice yet but my department is fishing around for other jobs for me and I wanted some advice.

I have a meeting midweek about a possible role. I would like a job in this department but when I spoke to somebody on the phone she said they wanted somebody for 25 hours minimum. This is too much for me, I have dropped to 18 and don't want anymore at the moment, she kept asking what the most I would do was and I said twenty if I had to, but I really don't want an increase at all. Also I have gone to two and a half days a week but this department wants certain hours covered one of which is on a day I don't currently work, it sounds like it would be five hour days for either four or five days.. Can my department pressure me to increase my hours, spread them over more days or change the days I work?

I am struggling to get hold of my Union Rep as they are only on my site for one day per week and despite leaving a message no one has got back to me yet.

I would love to be able to tell you how to sort this problem, but am afraid it is happening everywhere. With the present government riding roughshod over the workers changing the law and restricting the power of the Unions. At my work it is the same. They are changing our jobs and pay and basically saying that if we complain we will be put on review. On review we could be offered any job, but if we do not accept 1 of the 3 offered, or if they cannot find a suitable alternative we will be fired because it would be our fault. I know someone who was relocated to a job that meant a 2 hr travel by bus, she could not drive. She worked 2 hrs three times a week. By the time she paid her fare there was little left. She had no choice but to leave. This is the reason at the referendum I voted yes, to fight against our present government, sadly the no won so things will just get worse.

I can only suggest accepting the hours and later trying to change them. Sorry.

If you want to stay, and are looking for them to match your hours then they should try to do this, but if they can't find a suitable match you would be made redundant. It is worth raising in consultation whether the 25 hour job could be done over 20 hours, but I'd imagine they will give sound business reasons why it is 25 hours. Worth raising it as a challenge though.