I Offered What I Beleived To Be Suitable Alternative Employment, What Now ??

Hello all, this is my first post after finding the site whilst scouring the internet looking for answers !!

I have what i hope is a simple question...

I have a staff member who is working his notice currently but i have today offered him what i beleive to be suitable alternative employment, what happens if he turns down my offer, how do you deem what is reasonable and what is not and who does so ????

To give an idea, he is currently contracted for 37 hours. His job is becoming redundant and we have offered 30 hours in the same workplace, is this reasonable or unreasonable and what should i say if he turns down my offer ???

I hope someone can help me, my heads about due to explode worrying about this !

Thanks very much in advance to anyone that can help me.

The really bad news is that a tribunal decides what is reasonable and what isn't. And that's an expensive way of finding out. But this is a no brainer. A reduction in hours is not a suitable alternative, even if all other things remain the same. It would only be a suitable alternative if he agrees to it. So if he refuses, then he continues to be redundant unless you have something else to offer.

Thanks very much for the reply, i apprecieate you clearing it up for me. I just wasn't sure what was right and what was wrong etc. I offered him the alternative for two reasons really, firstly to try to retain him as a member of staff as he is valued by our business but probably more importantly if i'm honest because there are simply no monies available to pay him redundancy and with it looming it is really going to put us under enormous pressure, possibly even fatal for the business.

Thanks again very much for your help.

You are welcome. And I appreciate your candour. But the truth is that if you are trading that close to the edge then you need to seek advice - there are quite a few free business support advice centres around. You simply cannot fail to pay the redundancy - and in his situation, would you want a four days a week job in a company that is going under, with a good chance that there won't be any redundancy money at the end of it? Maybe he's willing to take the risk (and if he is, I hope you recall this in the future) - but I guarantee you that not paying the redundancy money will put you under, one way or another.

Thanks again for your help, one final question from me, is it ok to pay any redundancy due in instalments, say over a four week period or has it all to be paid at the one time ???

Thanks again.

It should be paid when it is due, i.e. at the time of termination of the contract