Commission for Healthcare Audit & Inspection v Ward

redundancy | suitable alternative employment | employee's refusal

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that, when deciding whether or not a redundant employee's refusal of an offer of suitable alternative employment is reasonable, an employment tribunal is entitled to take into account the degree of suitability of the new job.

The Employment Rights Act 1996, section 141 provides that a redundant employee who unreasonably refuses an offer of suitable alternative employment can be denied a statutory redundancy payment.