Can my employer force me to take a job with a DIFFERENT company?

Hello,

My job of 18 years is redundant, but my employer has found me a similar job with a different company.

I have refused to take the job with the different company, and have now received a letter from my employer saying that if I don't terminate my contract of employment with him by a certain deadline and accept the new job with a different company, I will effectively be putting myself out of work with no entitlement to anything.

My question is: Can my employer avoid paying redundancy by finding similar employment for me with a DIFFERENT company?

If you're wondering why I don't want the job with a different company:
1) I want the redundancy payout
2) I do not believe the job with the different company is secure
3) I have something else lined up

Many thanks.

Just a follow-up from my original post.

It would appear that an employer can't force you to take a similar job with a different company to avoid paying redundancy.

Thanks to everyone who read my original post and tried to find an answer.

Hi, I was just about to answer your post :-)

Is the "different" company where you have been offered alternative employment was associated with your employer?

Two employers are treated as associated if:

(a) one is a company of which the other (directly or indirectly) has control, or
(b) both are companies of which a third person (directly or indirectly) has control;