What's your current notice period if they make you redundant? I'd make sure the notice you have to give and the notice they have to give are the same.
As Dis86 says, 3 month notice period isn't totally unusual, but is more common in more specialist jobs. I have a 3 month notice period, but on the flip side they also have to give me 3 months notice for redundancy
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They only have to give me 5 weeks notice as the 12 weeks is not reciprocated in my favour, only benefits them.
I have emailed them (HR) today and will back it up with a written letter.
This what I have sent:
FAO HR Manager.
I am writing to you in response to the letter I received on the 4th February 2016 on the reference stated above. With regard to your request for me to agree to a unilateral change in my contract of employment with XXXXX, I formally decline to agree and you are to take this letter as my formal objection to this unilateral change.
I also request to raise a formal grievance with XXXXX over this change which I do not agree too. Can you please inform me on how to raise that formal grievance through XXXXX documented process.
I’d like to take this opportunity to state my extreme disappointment in how this matter has been dealt with in what I see as an unprofessional manner by XXXXX. It is clear that this decision has already been made without any due consideration for the me as an employee.
I have not received any written proposal to the contract changes that XXXXX are implementing on 1st March 2016 and therefore there has not been a reasonable time frame or the formal opportunity to consult over this matter, which I would expect to be at least one month from receipt of the proposals.
Please find attached some bullet points detailing further my objections to this unilateral change in my contract of employment.
Effect for Employer
· Helps Prevent high staff turnover which begs the question why does XXXXX have a high staff turnover and poor staff retention?
· Conveniently shackles employee to current place of employment and account.
· Easy solution without addressing the real reasons for people leaving, difficulties in recruiting and poor staff retention.
· There is every appearance of this being a formal agreement in which only one group of people involved agrees to do something (i.e. a unilateral contract).
Effect for Employee
· De-motivates staff as it’s seen as a restrictive action upon employees.
· Contractual change has no tangible benefit whatsoever for the employee.
· Notice period is not reciprocated by XXXXX to the employee.
· Removes an employee’s ability to be mobile in the work force if seeking career progression with a future employer. Three months’ notice will invariably be unacceptable for a future employer. Contrary to what we have been told three months is NOT an industry standard and certainly not for front line technical IT staff.
· This action has had an immediate negative effect on morale and needs to be recognised by XXXXX management. It is not a good policy for staff retention and has only increased the desire to ‘move on’ amongst individuals and has thus not proved to be a satisfactory solution.
· It leaves XXXXX staff open to further contractual, benefit and pay restrictions knowing that the ability of staff to further their career elsewhere has been made harder.
· Concern was shown that staff were notified in separate groups and not as a whole.
· If staff recruitment is an issue then XXXXX should be looking at more incentives to stay. A three month notice period on a new contract is very unattractive let alone the change to an existing one.
· It is understandable that a company wants to keep a motivated work force but this should not be at the expense of individuals managing their own career prospects.
Regards,
