Redundancy and time off to seek other employment

[POPholditdown]

Hi I’m hope someone can clarify what is reasonable in this case.

My team is going through redundancy consultation at the minute. I have an interview next week for another job which is expected to last a couple of hours.

I work nights, so the interview is obviously not in my scheduled work time, but at the same time I’ll struggle to work the night before, stay up for the interview during the day and work that same night again.

Annual leave is unlikely to be approved at this short notice, however my team is fully staffed on the night I want off (or to leave mid shift to get some sleep in)

Would this define ‘reasonable time out of work’ to seek other employment?

I’m trying to clarify this before I request it as my employer is not flexible when it comes to work life balance in general, so I have a feeling they might try to decline this on the basis that the interview is not during my shift. They’re inflexible with unpaid leave, too.

If they say no, do I have any comeback (my comeback would essentially be quoting the gov website on this matter..)

TIA

hopeful bump?

I don't see how you can claim this. You are asking for time off in working time to attend an interview that isn't. I can see your argument, but don'tI see that you could possibly find a legal basis to argue it.

I work nights, so the interview is obviously not in my scheduled work time, but at the same time I’ll struggle to work the night before, stay up for the interview during the day and work that same night again

Recruiters are normally quite flexible in terms of enabling the candidate to influence the time of the interview as they recognise current employment obligations.

If for example your shift starts at 10pm, can you ask for the interview to be mid to late afternoon, then it will enable you to have slept, woke and gone to your interview during your own time, attend the interview then go straight to your night shift. In a sense you have an advantage, because your interview can naturally fall in your personal time, butted up against the start of your night shift.