Redundancy - What happens if alternate job offer isn't suitable due to hours?

[moana1234]

Due to go on maternity leave in a few weeks, my workplace is restructuring at the end of the year due to a loss in funding, under the new structure my job doesn't exist. A similar job has been created which I presume I will be offered but its full time and I currently work part time (3 days a week) Due to childcare there's no way I can accept a full time position. Is this valid grounds to reject the alternate job offer and claim redundancy instead? I have been with the company 2 years.

There isn't a cut and dried answer to this. You haven't asked whether they can make it a job share or otherwise accommodate you. In the end there is no "right" to claim redundancy - and if an employer wants to play hard ball they can push the issue. That said, have you asked them if you asked to be made redundant what their approach would be. In their shoes, if that is what you want I'd be likely to make it happen rather than faff around with trying to make it a fit when that isn't what you really want. Sometimes just having an honest conversation is the best way - just say that you don't think it's a fit, you're minded to consider redundancy, what do they think. They may be reticent to raise it in case it looks like a deliberate startegy to get rid of you!

I cannot even imagine that your employer is going to try and argue that a full time role would be a suitable alternative to a part time role, I think you are worrying about something that isn’t going to happen.

You need to ask about the part time hours.

This is a normal and reasonable question to ask in a consultation.

They might be open to it. Every single job at my workplace is open to full and part time options. Not all employers are stuck in the past.