Redundancy Question- Urgent

[RunDeeEmCee]

I’ve tried contacting CAB and Acas today but couldn’t get through before they closed.
I’ve recently been told I am being made redundant due to a shake up within the company and my role no longer existing. I have been offered an alternative, however this position is not the same as the one I was in, infact it is a pretty big step back in my career and although I would keep my salary, I would lose a package of benefits meaning I would be worse off each payday. The position I was in offered me flexibility with childcare meaning a family member was able to look after my child while I worked, this new position would mean I would have to get my child into a childcare setting ASAP, again this would impact massively on expenses. I would also have to travel for the new position meaning again I would be worse off overall. The problem I’m having is that I’ve now been told there is a 6 week notice period in which I would have to take this position (I was not made aware of this during the redundancy meeting last week) There’s no way I can arrange childcare in such a short amount of time. I don’t know where I stand right now in terms of my right to decline the alternative position and take redundancy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I had the same. My role was made redundant and the alternative role was a downshift in job level, i would keep my pay but only for 6 months then would take a sizable pay decrease. It would also mean I would need to arrange wrap around childcare, which I didn't need in my redundant role.

I sought union advice as I didn't wish to accept the alternative role. I was told childcare was a valid reason that alternative role wasnt suitable. I was advised to put my reasons in writing but be careful on how I worded it, I.e don't write or say anything that could be constude as resigning.

My employer lightly challenged. I just repeated my letter word for word - something along the lines of: I have 2 children who would require wrap around care for the alternative role, I do not have a local support network and the cost of childcare would be £x per month, meaning the alternative role isn't financally viable. My employer mentioned 2 other roles in the discussion but I said my childcare issue would remain. They didn't push further and confirmed they would send across next steps in redundancy process.

Good luck, I hope you get the outcome you want

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes, childcare is the main issue here, at the moment I’ve got by due to being able to choose my own hours so have been able to rely on a family member and my partners working hours, but the new role would require wrap around childcare and the decrease in salary would mean we were far worse off each month, not really something we can afford to be during a cost of living crisis! I hope it all worked out for you and you’re in a much better place now!