Lost my job today...advice re redundancy?

[Tanfastic]

I have lost my job today along with three of my colleagues. Two of the three of us haven't been there a year.

My contract says I have no probationary period (they waived it) and they have to give me three months notice. They've offered to let me work my three months but I'd have to travel fifty miles to another office to see it out or the other offer is they will change the terms of my contract to say the notice period Is four weeks and I can leave now with four weeks pay in Leui.

However the letter I have from them states that I need to sign my acceptance of the change to my contract and the change to the contract will be effective from the date of signature. They've given me ten days to send the acceptance form back.

What I want to know is, if I sign the acceptance form now will my four weeks notice (I.e four weeks pay) run from that date or should I wait the ten days out and give myself a bit of leeway?

It wasn't really clarified in the meeting and I'm on holiday now for two weeks. Anybody shed any light?

I can no way drive a 100 mile round trip for the next three months so that really isn't an option for me.

It sounds like it will give you some extra time.

But to be sure just ask them - say something along the lines of

'I want to take a few days to think about it and investigate my options... just to confirm my leaving date would be 4 week from the date of signature, so if I sign date 8-aug-18 (for example) my last working date would be 21-aug-18'

You're leaving. They're the one making you redundant... don't worry about seeming cheeky too much.

Is the office location mentioned in your contract?
If it is surely you would just say that you're not willing to work in another location, but you're still happy to work out your notice in the current location.
If they can't facilitate that, then they would have to pay you your notice pay as per your contract which in your case is 3 months, rather than the 1 month offered.

[https://www.gov.uk/redundant-your-rights/notice-periods]

My contract says I have no probationary period (they waived it) and they have to give me three months notice. They've offered to let me work my three months but I'd have to travel fifty miles to another office to see it out or the other offer is they will change the terms of my contract to say the notice period Is four weeks and I can leave now with four weeks pay in Leui.

I would not agree to the change

• your contractual notice period is 3 months. It sounds like, by making it impossible for you to get to work because they are stipulating that you have to travel 100 miles per day, they are painting you into a corner and giving you no other alternative but to accept the reduced notice period, and thereby losing 2 months' salary. They are CF employers. And cheap skates.

I'd point out the above to them in as neutral a way as possible, to try to influence them towards paying you the 3 months.

Unless you really want to leave sooner. Personally Id prefer the money each month and pursue new opportunities during that time.

A compromise could be for them to agree to letting you go immediately but pay you two months money in lieu rather than your contractual right of 3 months, which would be a Win Win.

Thanks. I have a mobility clause in my contract to say they can make me work anywhere in the country so I think I'm stuffed.

Just to clarify, the office I am currently working from has closed as of yesterday when myself and colleagues were given these options. None of us want to travel....but they knew that!

I don't think you are stuffed. They can't just arbitrarily move you to a site 50 miles away without adequate consultation. It depends what your mobility clause actually states. It normally says something like your Home site is X but you may also be required to work from Y branch office from time to time. If that's the case you are then entitled to claim allowable business expenses whenever you have to work from site Y because it isn't your Home site. Thry can't just uproot employees at will and force them to work 50 miles away. That would be more like a relocation!

Honestly they are counting on you not fighting back because they bank on you thinking they're doing you a favour but they are cheating you out of potentially 100's of ££ if you let them do that. It's designed to put you under pressure.

Tell them you need 7-10 working days to consult with your solicitor because you don't think they are treating you fairly. Get some RW advice before you decide.

They are taking the piss. They are dismissing you, and while you don’t have any rights to claim unfair dismissal, you are entitled to your contractual notice.

Tell them you’ll be having your 3 months pay in lieu as you can’t work 50 miles away, or you’ll be suing for breach of contract