Redeployment

[alan47]

Hi! and thanks in anticipation, my wife works with Scottish gas and has done for more than 12 years. However they have decided to reduce the number of Team Leaders, the people in the jobs had to apply for their own jobs, albeit a reduced number of jobs. Thus leaving unsuccessful applicants without a job. Scottish Gas say redundancy is not an option and that they should be redeployed in minor roles. This is causing my wife major distress and she is about to break down, she's crying at her work and is breaking down at home. Surely this is not right and that constructive dismissal should be applied in this case, if redundancy is not an option... In their opinion. Their must be a law against their actions. What should she do???

[Loosehead]

They are within their rights, no one is losing their job. Presumably what is worrying your wife is the potential for demotion. Does she then believe that she will not be sucessfull in her application for a team leaders job?

There may be a case for constructive dismissal if she can show that her new work situation is intollerable but that is very difficult to do.

Who knows she may be successful in applying for a team leaders job.

[undercovers]

as i understand it they can offer you alternative work, but of a similar nature, e.g. can't be a demotion / or pay cut, as this would amount to constructive dismissal. I think you should get along to your citizens advice office and have a word, or some solicitors offer half and hours free legal advice. But don't let the company push you around and be careful what you do even short term (as this can be construed in court as an acceptance of a change in contract)