What are my rights if I take an external job before my alternative role starts?

[ChoccyJules]

My role is at risk of redundancy, i.e. it’s being scrapped. Work have offered me an alternative role but for various reasons I have also looked around to see what else is on offer. The one job I would be interested in applying for will not be able to let me know if I have an interview until after my consultation period ends.

So if I accept the alternative role at work and then interview for the new job and get it, can I still take the redundancy or would I have forfeited that by accepting the alternative role?

Check with your union. As I understand it, you'd be OK in the trial period, but don't rely on me or anybody else on the Internet.

Oh this is a tricky one love. Generally speaking, if you accept the alternative role then you're no longer being made redundant, so you'd forfeit the redundancy payment. You'd just be resigning from your new position if you left for the other job. However, check if there's a trial period for the alternative role, sometimes there's a statutory four week trial where you can still claim redundancy if the new role genuinely doesn't suit. Also worth asking HR directly what happens to your redundancy entitlement if you accept the alternative, get it in writing. Some companies have their own policies that might give you more flexibility. Don't assume anything, get clarity before you sign anything.

My employers do have a trial period for the alternative role, but apparently I would need to have strong reasons for leaving and still getting my redundancy because they think it fits me well.

Rare to get away with that in my experience. (HR)

Cheers, that's what I thought.

Don’t let them force you into the alternative role.

Well no, it's my decision. Either take it or go.

They can withdraw the payment if there is a suitable alternative and OP refuses it. Legally, at least.

Oh. I had no idea.

Be careful what advice you give then!