Been put in a rubbish position at work - venting

Scottland

Scottland

Scottland

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
15,713
Location
North Wales
Hi, just need to vent a little to get it off my chest - basically I've been put in a rubbish position at work and feeling a but peeved etc. Maybe some folk could offer up some advice?

Currently I work as part of a remote team, working about half my time in home and half in my nearest office ~45 mins (35 miles) away. I walked in to an email on Thursday morning telling me I either have to change office to Liverpool (2hrs commute) 5 days a week, or take a demotion to a field engineer (I have no experience or background here). There is a third option of course of finding a new job, but that's easier said than done!

I don't particularly relish the prospect of 4hours of travel every day, especially considering none of my colleagues will be in the same office, so I'll just be there "for show". On the other hand, I'm no field engineer!

So that leaves me with the third option - the most frustrating bit of this is that they're not willing to give me a time frame on when they'd be expecting to move - other than sometime in the next 12 months. Is it just me or does this bit seem a bit off? If I knew a rough timeframe I could plan better, if it was 6 months away it would give me a little relief that I'd have enough time to find a new job.

Any thoughts/advice?

PS - I know other people fair worse and I should be thankful they're not just giving me the heave ho, doesn't make me feel any better though :p
 
Rroff said:
What does your contract state in regards to changing location of where you work?
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Technically I'd be 'volunteering' to change location, they can move me into a different role (field engineer) within my contracts terms is the role I currently do no longer exists at my current nearest office. My boss (and his boss) don't want me to leave, they want me as they'll have to replace me if I go anyway - but to be fair they're pretty understanding given the situation.

4T5 said:
Start looking for a new job as of Monday is my advice.
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Have been since this afternoon!
 
That does suck. If I thought there was a chance of negotiation, I'd speak to them and see what I could work out. So, for instance, agree to Liverpool, but WFH 2 days per week. If not, I'd suck it up and agree. The fact that you might have 12 months helps - at the very least you might be able to delay it.

Then, either way, I'd be straight onto the job hunt to see if I could find something better. And leave with no guilt.
 
Scottland said:
Technically I'd be 'volunteering' to change location, they can move me into a different role (field engineer) within my contracts terms is the role I currently do no longer exists at my current nearest office. My boss (and his boss) don't want me to leave, they want me as they'll have to replace me if I go anyway - but to be fair they're pretty understanding given the situation.



Have been since this afternoon!
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So does that mean that someone will be hired to do your job at your current location, just under a different name or Liverpool? Surely if they're changing your place of work then don't they need to contribute in some way?
 
So basically the role you have is now redundant - i.e. the role that is in the location has been dissolved and the same role is now relocated.

They also risk constructive dismissal if you refuse to go and they don't make you redundant. There's a package they should be paying you in severance if you don't want to move but they're trying not to pay that. The fact you're made to feel like crap with the change is possibly grounds to push you out of the company - hence seek proper legal advice.

I would talk to the citizens advice bureau.

In the mean time - get the CV out, even if you win the place will be out for revenge.
 
Jim99 said:
That does suck. If I thought there was a chance of negotiation, I'd speak to them and see what I could work out. So, for instance, agree to Liverpool, but WFH 2 days per week. If not, I'd suck it up and agree. The fact that you might have 12 months helps - at the very least you might be able to delay it.

Then, either way, I'd be straight onto the job hunt to see if I could find something better. And leave with no guilt.
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Having it reduced to a couple of days a week would help, but still not a long term solution so I'd still be job hunting. I also need to understand the implications of 'volunteering' to work from Liverpool.


MissChief said:
So does that mean that someone will be hired to do your job at your current location, just under a different name or Liverpool? Surely if they're changing your place of work then don't they need to contribute in some way?
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The role still exists, but not at my current office so if I were not to go to Liverpool then they would need to advertise to fill the position. I believe there may be some contribution to extra travel costs - but it's the time not the money that's my issue.


ci_newman said:
Take the demotion and keep job hunting. I assume no pay decrease?
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It's not just a demotion though, it's a complete job change, different field even. From a developer/analyst type role to a field engineer knocking on peoples doors. Besides, last time they pulled one over on my like this I rolled over and took it and it took me quite a while to get me confidence back up again before I could even look at my CV.


NickK said:
So basically the role you have is now redundant - i.e. the role that is in the location has been dissolved and the same role is now relocated.

They also risk constructive dismissal if you refuse to go and they don't make you redundant. There's a package they should be paying you in severance if you don't want to move but they're trying not to pay that. The fact you're made to feel like crap with the change is possibly grounds to push you out of the company - hence seek proper legal advice.

I would talk to the citizens advice bureau.

In the mean time - get the CV out, even if you win the place will be out for revenge.
Click to expand...


I need to read my contract again and see what exactly it says, from what I've read over the weekend they can't force me to take the field job as it's a significant change to my role. I get the impression they expect an answer what I want to do mid-week, which I don't feel is anywhere near enough time to make a decision - especially given where my head is at at the moment :(.
 
Realistically, your options are:

1. Make the move.
2. Take the other job.
3. Find another job and quit.
4. Ask them about terms of redundancy should you refuse all of the above.

Whichever redundancy package they're willing to offer you might be a major factor in your decision, so I'd definitely be asking for details of that.
 
NickK said:
So basically the role you have is now redundant - i.e. the role that is in the location has been dissolved and the same role is now relocated.

They also risk constructive dismissal if you refuse to go and they don't make you redundant. There's a package they should be paying you in severance if you don't want to move but they're trying not to pay that. The fact you're made to feel like crap with the change is possibly grounds to push you out of the company - hence seek proper legal advice.

I would talk to the citizens advice bureau.

In the mean time - get the CV out, even if you win the place will be out for revenge.
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I believe that because they've offered him an alternative role, it makes it slightly more complicated in terms of redundancy =/

But yes, in your position I'd be either pushing for (significantly) more money to make the commute worthwhile, or looking for a new job.

Unfortunately I'm probably going to be in a similar position in a few months :(
 
Yup, first thing is to ask about what redundancy package they have available. When they ask why keep it to the facts, the liverpool option is not viable and the field engineer option is not what you are looking for in your career.
 
Relocation by more than a "reasonable distance" is normally sufficient to trigger redundancy if you're not willing to relocate. That's regardless of whether the role is even the same or not - the fact is your post at your current base location no longer exists.
 
Scottland said:
There is now a package on the table, but I need to see what's out there. North Wales isn't exactly a hot bed for my type of work.
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And if the role requires a trip up the Shotton bypass.. that's definitely 2 hours+ given the traffic and the roads. I grew up on the Wirral (Parkgate) and my parents used to drive into Liverpool for work.
 
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