Secondment at work

Thomas. PLease. · 8 Jan 2013 at 18:12

Has anybody here got much experience with secondments at work?

I recently applied for a permanent position at work (a promotion from my current position), the hiring manager has decided to offer me the job but as a 12 month secondment.

However, my current senior managers are saying they won't let me go on secondment, and are blocking me from doing so.

Where do I stand?

Thomas. PLease. · 8 Jan 2013 at 19:25

From what I understand of it, the current management team have the right to block the secondment. However, I'm not sure on the reasons why they would want to do this, and the reasons they would be allowed to.

Just curious to see what other experiences people have had in similar positions as well.

Big white dog, so you just took it on the chin and tried again? I still have the union and HR available to me, however sounds like they might not be able to help as you say.

Thomas. PLease. · 11 Jan 2013 at 16:48

Appreciate the advice guys. I hadn't actually had the official answer until today, which was to deny me the secondment. I was pretty much expecting this, and glad I kept my cool really. I just asked why this decision had been made and didn't make further comment to my manager.

However, I did go and visit the hiring manager, who was unhappy to let the decision go, and will be talking to my senior manager, and his own to see if there are any other options.

So its yet to be decided, but I'm glad I didn't fly off the handle to begin with, so thanks for that!

Thomas. PLease. · 11 Jan 2013 at 17:06

Wink said:
To a degree the hiring manager has brought it on himself by offering it as a secondment. If you're capable if the job they should be offering it to you outright.

Offering a secondment makes the matter a bit more complicated for your current management, which I'm sure you can appreciate.

Personally, if someone on my team wanted to leave (secondment or not), I wouldn't force them to stay. I may want to keep onto them for a period of time to transition someone else in to fill the gap, which for an internal job move I think is a fair request.

Hopefully they can reach some sort of agreement and you can move on

This is what I would have thought the usual outcome would be. Its opened my eyes to the fact my department and manager don't really have my best interests at heart. If it comes off that they uphold the current decision, I fail to see why they think I'd want to stay in the department anyway!