Boss tells me possibility of coming out of furlough but doing a different job

[livingnextdoortofred]

Had a conversation with my boss who warned me they may take me out of furlough next week. My job per my contract is on the event side, but nothing will be happening in this for quite some months because of the Covid 19 distancing. He wants me to go back to work and do a completely different job which has been created temporarily. It's not a role I particularly want to do. Are they in their rights to ask me to do this to keep me in the company, or do they have to bring me back specifically for my contracted role.

I would assume they will make you redundant if your job no longer exists. They are offering you an alternative. Why should the gov pay you to do nothing when there is work to be done.

So effectively at the moment the activities within your own role have ceased or significantly reduced. That means there is a potential redundancy situation. Nobody can tell right now how long that situation might last. So rather than place you at risk of redundancy and you lose your job they are looking at what other activities you could do. Seems fairly reasonable to me. Depends what it is. Wouldn't expect you to be asked to going from events planning to building construction....how extreme is the change in duties? What support are they offering if you need training to do the tasks?

Honestly? Unless it's a massive demotion or seriously unpleasant I'd do it. There will be precious few jobs in events for the foreseeable.

Are they generally a good employer?

Sounds like you have a good employer and they are trying to avoid making you redundant. Would you prefer redundancy?

A few things that I'd consider,

1. If they made you redundant would you get a decent package?

1. Do you want to be made redundant? Are there other roles/companies you could go to given where the economy is about to go?

1. If you want to stay in employment what is it about the new job you don't like and could you negotiate changes to it?

I agree. The events side of things has obviously died a death right now. We do PR for events so this is a problem.

I would accept right now, so as to have a job! The alternative is to be made redundant. Surely you don't want that?

You can then think about things and consider your options. We'll all have to wait and see what happens with events long term.

I would assume the alternative is redundancy, so, do you need a job or not? (Genuinely, I know a lot of mnetters are in quite privileged positions)

I would contact ACAS to ask their advice, if you belong to a Union also get them on board with what is being proposed

You may want to take redundancy, that may be your entitlement and it may suit to have a package and you get another job elsewhere or something different, so finding out legally where you and the company stand would be good.

Well they’re not obliged to keep you on furlough. If they are stopping that then it sounds like your own role would be redundant. They are obliged to try and avoid that if possible including offering you alternative work where it is available.

If the role is suitable (which doesn’t mean it has to be the same) then you wouldn’t be eligible for redundancy pay.

You mention that the role is temporary. I would suggest asking them to put that in writing; that it’s a temporary redeployment, to be reviewed in (say) three months, and that you’ll go back to your original role if the situation changes sufficiently to make that possible.

Happy to take the temporary role, was just wondering if change in contract needed some protection.

If your happy to do the temporary role I’d do it. Can’t see any events happening for quite a while

I think it's sensible to document the terms of the change in an email. I hope it works out for you OP, it's a scary time for a lot of people.

If a company offers you a different role and you refuse if could affect any redundancy payment. You can do the new role for a trial period at least 4 weeks and if not suitable hand notice in and you can get redundancy payment. Think you have to show some willing first. Check ACAS for more info.

There is usually a clause in employment contracts about doing other duties/ job roles/ tasks as they arise. So the employer is within their rights and you are still bound to your contract.