Permanent Employment Contract

Free-2-Flow · 09-06-2017 7:39am #1

I work in a large multi national company.

It is the type of company that you have to work in for 4 years to be permanent and there are a few of us getting to that line.

A few months ago a certain batch of people got their permanent contracts which kinda look like some of the older guys contracts.

But now we are coming up and for the 1st time in a long time the contracts have changed wording.

One noticeable thing in the new Contracts is this term, is says "If (company) business is slow we may move you to London or elsewhere depending on the circumstances, if you refuse the company wont be in breech of contract, you will"

Is it possible if work dries up and you refuse to leave your family for England that they don't have to pay you redundancy?

A small group of us went to the Union about this, The union is a group of long term employees who wouldn't jeopardise their own employment so they tend to stay away from the younger generation problems (useless I know)

I love Sean nos · 09-06-2017 9:49am

That looks like an attempt to bring in something that large multinationals have been trying in the US; demanding relocation rather than paying redundancy.

I can't imagine this being legal in Ireland. Relocation should be reasonable. If offered the choice, I'd refuse or resign, then head for a constructive dismissal.

LiamaDelta · 09-06-2017 10:42am

I'm no expert but imo that wouldn't pas a test of being reasonable. You can ask staff to move a reasonable distance and I would argue that precedent for this has been set at less than 50km - taking the public service as a guide. If the company asked you to move to London, it would have to be a temporary measure and you would have to be fully compensated. I was in that position at one point - London or redundancy was offered - there was no such clause in my contract though.