Where do I stand? *job question*

[RedM]

I've recently moved to a new dept. It wasn't my idea. I got called into a meeting and told that "we think you'd be the ideal person to move into blah blah" and that was it.

 

I don't like the the new role. My gut feeling, which always seems right where work is concerned, is that this role is just a filler role. All I'll be doing is flitting around and only secure when other people are off and their jobs need doing. There is no extra money but plenty of extra work and responsibility. In our depts first meeting (since I started) we got told we need to improve this that and the other and the penalty for not doing so was a not at all veiled threat of sackings, oops, I mean redundancies.

 

I can't go back to my old dept. as they have filled my old position and they implied, in not so many words, that the new role works out or it doesn't with the implication being that I leave if it doesn't.

 

I've never felt like throwing sickies before but I'm more tempted each day.

 

What can I do?

[Lee S]

ideally you should have negotiated a 3 month period during which or at the end of you could return to your previous position, seeing as they asked you to move i cant see how that would be a problem most good employers would do this any way, so i would speak to some one.

[Pete]

There are legal rules saying that employers can't effectively take your job away from you on a whim. Did you agree to this side shift or make it clear you weren't happy at the time? This may have some bearing in any complaint.

 

You may be able to prove that they've done it to force you out without redundancy, but it could be hard to prove.

 

Sorry to say it Martin, but it sounds to me like it's time to look for a new opportunity with a better employer.

[RedM]

There are legal rules saying that employers can't effectively take your job away from you on a whim. Did you agree to this side shift or make it clear you weren't happy at the time? This may have some bearing in any complaint..

 

TBH, I didn't explicitly agree to the move but I also did nothing to suggest that I didn't want to move. I thought it might be an interesting change and didn't even ask about money until two weeks after. I can be a bit to trusting where employers are concerned and often think that they do have my/our best interests at heart. Yes, I should know better but at the time I was bit flattered to considered the right person for this role.

 

Sorry to say it Martin, but it sounds to me like it's time to look for a new opportunity with a better employer.

 

I agree. Trouble is that I'm on good money for the qualifications I have and can't afford (abolutely can't afford) a pay drop. There don't seem to be enough of the kind of jobs I can do that also pay close to what I'm earning.

 

Feel a bit trapped, to be frank.

[Tom S]

Or if you know it's coming and you get Full Sick Pay for x number of months, go to your doctor claim stress ans he will have to sign you off and then ask work for a graduated return to work.

[Whitesupraboy2]

isnt this an old company trick of putting people into positions they dont like so they will leave of their own acord.

 

I know some companies put emloyees into a position they just cant do so they can fire them, if they want to get rid of them. Havent upset anyone have you mate?

[Pete]

Call ACAS.

Free advice. They'll be able to advise you wether you have a legal leg to stand on. I've used them before as an employer and they're pretty good.

 

Anything you do decide, then get it written from them (your employer)

[RedM]

Or if you know it's coming and you get Full Sick Pay for x number of months, go to your doctor claim stress ans he will have to sign you off and then ask work for a graduated return to work.

 

I get 10 sick days and when they are all used up I have to work a full year without being sick to regain them!

[Supragal]

I agree. Trouble is that I'm on good money for the qualifications I have and can't afford (abolutely can't afford) a pay drop. There don't seem to be enough of the kind of jobs I can do that also pay close to what I'm earning.

 

Feel a bit trapped, to be frank.

 

This is exactly where I am at the mo. I've been putting up with it for a 6 weeks now. I've had more days off sick in these 6 weeks then my entire life, and I do mean sick not sickies as in ill, but it's a bit of a coincidence. Sadly I'm a contractor so I don't get paid sick so it's in my interest to come in.

[jim_supra]

Have been in a similar situation myself. I was told that I was going to be moving to a new site, and would be doing a new job. I told them that I would only do it with a payrise and that I remained where I was, to which I was told that it was that job or I would be made redundant, so I declined the job. (It's a lot more in depth than that, but that story would take forever) I took them to court, where they were proved to have done everything wrong.

 

The biggest tip I can give you is keep a diary of everything that has happened, dates of meetings, who said what etc. also keep every single peice of correspondance relating to the matter. This will make Proving fault alot easier.

 

Also, don't take day's off sick, it's a tempting option, but don't give them any excuses.

 

As far as redundancy is concerned, there has to be a consultation period for redundancies, they MUST make an effort to find suitable alternative employment within the company, and if only a number of people are to be made redundant, they must grade people within the department and then find out who should leave.

 

anyway, that's my 2p's worth