Enforced reduction in working hours

A question about : Enforced reduction in working hours

Hi All
I am trying to find advice for my friend who works in my office for a different company.
She was advised several weeks ago that a reduction in hours was necessary and it was decided as she worked the most then her hours should be reduced the most. She works part-time for a major company and they are not in financial difficulties. She advised her employer that if her hours were cut (she has lost 7 a week) then she could not meet her weekly bills therefore has been compelled to take the voluntary redundancy as the only option left to her. She intends to pay what bills she can with this money while she looks for another job with the hours she needs as soon as she can. Does she have a case for constructive dismissmal? As she is leaving, her remaining reduced hours have been shared out amongst the rest of the staff. Unfortunately she is not in a union but has notified ACAS of her situation. Thanks to anyone who can point us in the right direction.

Best answers:

• It does sound like a redundancy situation to me, though I am not an expert. Advise her to join a union when she gets a new job!
• Surely you can't have your cake and ... voluntary redundancy AND constructive dismissal?
• As above, one or the other. What redundancy package did she get