Restructuring & suitable alternative employment

[Bluecoats]

Hi all,

My company recently announced a restructuring and started the 30 day consultation period. My job (department manager) has been deleted and an alternative job has been ringfenced for me to apply for. Part of the restructuring is combing three departments, including my current department, and the new role is essentially manager of my old department plus 2 more. The overall number of staff members across those three departments, soon to become one department, will reduce by almost 30%. I understand I'm lucky to have that ringfenced role to apply for however there are no job descriptions available for any of the new roles but on the surface the new job would appear to be triple the work with fewer staff and the same pay. My concerns about this simply being unworkable aside, would this be considered a suitable alternative employment? I know that there are loose rules regarding commonality and to me this doesn't seem a reasonable alternative.

I'd appreciate any guidance here.

[ULA]

This kind of restructuring i.e. amalgamation of departments does happen and with it changes to roles which may be offered up as suitable alternative employment.

I think you need to find out more information on the job and that needs to be done through consultation with you before you can make any decision about its suitability.

However as a guide if you can say yes to following question then the company are likely to consider it a suitable alternative position:

1. Is the location the same?
2. Is the salary the same?
4. Are the hours of work the same?
5. Are any benefits you receive the same?
6. Is the new role similar to the job currently being undertaken by you?
7. Does your experience and skill set match those required by the new role?

It would then be down to you to consider whether it is suitable. If you did refuse the role as a suitable alternative position, the question will then arise as to whether your refusal was reasonable.