Hi, I am a trainee legal executive in a solicitors firm who is making 9 redundancies (4 fee earners and 5 secretaries). I was promoted in April 2007 to my current role from a secretarial role.

I have not yet been notified that I am definitely selected for redundancy - the selections will be made tomorrow and we will be notified on Friday.

My employer has asked me, if my current role becomes redundant, would I accept a secretarial role instead, meaning somebody would get bumped if I am re-instated as a secretary.

My problem with this is that I have now been fee earning for almost 2 years, have my own case load and own client base. I am taking my final ILEX exams in June. I am not at all happy about the prospect of returning to secretarial duties for several reasons and whilst I have today indicated I may accept their offer they are pressurising me into giving them a straight answer.

My question is ... what is defined as "unreasonable" refusal of a job if, during the trial period in the new job, I decide I simply cannot accept it and my employers argue I am being unreasonable and refuse statutory redundancy pay?

What is defined as "suitable alternative employment"? Shouldn't it be equal in status to my current role?

Thanks,
G.