Appraisal - employer not delivering

Caporegime
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So...slightly annoyed today.

Basically I joined my current employer 3 years ago. One of the reasons I joined was the position was advertised as offering certain things (working in certain locations which would be extremely beneficial to career progression).
I knew it wouldn't happen straight away but - made sure every year during my appraisal to mention and have recorded that I still wanted to do it and also it's recorded in my appraisal that should the opportunity arise I would be accommodated.
Well...the opportunity has finally arisen! I've worked at and developed a very good relationship (to my employers benefit) with my client and they have agreed to cover all expenses and accommodation for me, the only thing my company would have to do is let me go and cover my salary.

They won't.

I'm management so require an exec to sign off and they're refusing saying that I'm needed elsewhere within the business.
Instead they're sending someone who my client doesn't know, who hasn't worked with the client and will not benefit from the experience to the extent I would. Needless to say they're not overly impressed either as having me out there would have been of great benefit to them.

Now my knowledge of contracts is deep enough to know since it ain't in my contract there's bugger all I can do - however is there anything I can do about them not agreeing to what was previously agreed and signed off in my appraisal? This was signed off by the exec in question as well.

Basically I'm livid and want to know if there's anything I can do other than find another job and move on from a company that is apparently an 'investor in people' and 'top 100 UK employer' which clearly from my experience there in the last 3 years they aren't?
 
Caporegime
Joined
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25,658
Ask other company if they'll take you on full time? Get other company to insist that it must be you and you only? Other than that there isn't really a lot you can do and, tbh, it's pretty common for a business to offer the world then forget about it if it's not written in stone. With your blood.
 
Soldato
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Stoke area
Even if it's not in your contract as long as it was written down at the time you have a leg to stand on.

Personally, I'd speak with an exec, explain that you took the role on so you could accept these certain things and if they are going to stop you from doing it then there is no benefit to working there. You don't have to mean it but threaten it.
 
Caporegime
Joined
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26,052
It makes no sense to not send the primary contact for this customer where both sides want it. Presumably they're saving no money at all by sending someone else?

Who have you royally ticked off in a past life?
 
Caporegime
OP
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Northern England
That is bizarre - it isn't necessarily unusual for a client to push hard for a particular consultant/whatever.

The trouble is I wouldn't be there to work. I'd be an observer. So they can't justify it that way.

The other person gets paid from a different departmental budget and is cheaper. It's also worth noting that the contract is coming to a close. However thanks to what I've done repeat work is almost a certainty. Quite frankly I worked my arse off and put up with a lot of crap from our client. I delivered on time (actually early) with nobody hurt and no major quality incidents when at one point we were three months behind and the end user was considering pulling out of the deal and had grounds to!
I genuinely thought I had a good relationship with the person making the decision which I think is one of the reasons I'm stung so badly.
 

alx

alx

Soldato
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Dubai, UAE
As someone mentioned before, can you get the client to speak to your exec directly and heavily insist it's you they send?
 
Caporegime
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So work have now made two rods for their own back by possibly negatively affecting their client relationship by not sending the clients preferred candidate and now has lost you too? Sucks to be them. Good luck in the new place.
 
Caporegime
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So work have now made two rods for their own back by possibly negatively affecting their client relationship by not sending the clients preferred candidate and now has lost you too? Sucks to be them. Good luck in the new place.

Can confirm the client were not happy. They pointed out the person that was sent in my place served no purpose at all.
 
Soldato
Joined
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8,355
Basically I'm livid and want to know if there's anything I can do other than find another job and move on from a company that is apparently an 'investor in people' and 'top 100 UK employer' which clearly from my experience there in the last 3 years they aren't?


Many firms claim this kind of ********, it's a joke. Employers are all scumbags when you get right down to it.
 
Caporegime
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Northern England
It's all just been complete and utter rubbish. A few times I've proposed training which would be beneficial to both myself and the company and every time it was shot down.
One example was where we were being forced to use contractors at a cost of about 200k a year. I told them I was happy to do the courses necessary to become qualified, showed them which courses and where I could do them. Initial cost was 25k. Would they let me? Would they heck.
 
Caporegime
OP
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Northern England
It's sadly not. Given the industry downturn at the minute I really struggled to find anything given my specialisations. Luckily this ties in nicely, corrosive environment piping and pumping system design. I'll be overseeing a few decent size projects and have a team of technicians and design engineers reporting to me.
 

fez

fez

Caporegime
Joined
22 Aug 2008
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25,023
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Tunbridge Wells
Some companies are just ***** with this sort of thing and sometimes companies have good intentions but naturally prioritise themselves over your personal development. When it comes down to it you have to take responsibility for your own development and progression and if they aren't satisfying you then move on.
 
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