Offered another job instead of redundancy? Suitable alternatives and the 4-week trial

What makes a job suitable

It depends on the job and on the person. Pay, hours, location, status and the skills needed all count, and so do personal circumstances such as childcare or a longer journey. A job can be suitable for one person and not for another.

If you turn it down

If the job is suitable and turning it down is unreasonable, you can lose your statutory redundancy pay. Both questions depend on the facts. Put your reasons in writing so there's a record of why you said no.

For this to apply, the offer has to be made before your current job ends, and the new job has to start within 4 weeks.

The 4-week trial period

If the new job is different from your old one, you're entitled to a trial period of 4 calendar weeks. It can be longer if you need retraining, but only by written agreement setting out the end date and your terms.

If you or your employer end it during the trial for a reason connected to the change, you're still treated as redundant and keep your right to redundancy pay. Leaving without good reason during the trial can lose it.

Priority for vacancies

Employees on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave must be offered a suitable vacancy ahead of others if one exists. Since 6 April 2024 this protection also covers pregnancy and the 18 months after a birth or adoption.

For employers

• Make the offer in writing, setting out what's different from the old job
• Give the trial start and end dates, and book a review before it ends
• Record the reasons if someone turns it down, and your view on whether that was reasonable