Redundancy Rules

[countrykid]

A friend faces losing their job, which they have held for 14 years. The situation is still uncertain, but the questions we need answers to are as follows:

If the company offers a different position/job instead of making them redundant, must that job be of equal pay or can the company force the person to accept a lower wage?

If they can offer a lower wage and is too low to be acceptable, can the employee ask instead for redundancy or is it a case of "take or leave the job being offered"?

Many thanks

[Ethel]

Good information here, including the freephone number for ACAS who will give you the answers to your specific questions:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employe es/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/DG_10026616

Any 'new job' with the same employer in the circumstances you describe must have a trial period (and other considerations) of a minimum four weeks.
If the job is refused before the end of the trial period then redundancy will be effective - if it is turned down for a good reason. This includes a change of salary.

Normally, if the new job has less pay, the employee has 'protected pay' for a period. This can be, for example, no cost of living rise until the new job has reached the same pay as he is getting.

More good information here:

http://tinyurl.com/5loqlv

[countrykid]

A huge thank you Ethel for brilliant info and links. You have responded to some of my questions previousley, and always in a structured and professional manner. Many, many thanks for being a great ABer