Redundancy and TUPE question please.

I have worked on a contract for 14 years as a warehouse supervisor. 18 months ago the contract transferred to company B (a multi user site) and we were TUPE'd across (20 staff). Almost immediately the contract died and we were used on other contracts. After hanging on for 18 months, i have been given 12 weeks notice that i will be made redundant. My question is: They want me to work my 12 weeks notice, but not doing a job that is in my job description. They mainly want to use me as a fork lift driver on another contract that is coming up for a busy period. Can they do this.

Personally i'd like to leave now, i have the chance of other work. Other people made redundant before me were paid off, including full notice. Us they are making us stay.

There is no right in law to be paid off for your notice period. If you have another job offered, then you can serve counter notice to the employer, and leave earlier to start a new job, but you would loose the remainder of your notice period (although not any redundancy payments). During your notice period they may ask you to do other meaningful work if your original job no longer exists or you are unable to do it, and provided that they continue to pay your normal terms and conditions, this would be broadly acceptable provided the work was meaningful.

Okay thanks.

btw, great forum.