Thread: Change in Job

Can someone help?

I work for a company which is amalgermating with another. The essentially meant that there were two people for every job. Although many of these can be accommodated one which cannot is mine and my opposite person. I was offered another role - this was discussed initially without me present amongst the partners. At this point there was no discussion of a competitive interview. My opposite person was offered the overall management job. Initially I agreed as the position they offered me was good for the skills I have and took all of these into account, however soon the doubts set in. I was visited by one partner who said that if I wanted the job to go to competitive interview then this could happen, but this was after my opposite had been offered the job and after I had been offered the job I had been offered. I was told that a job description would be raised and this would be sent to me for me to look at and then discuss. I had assumed, probably stupidly, that the job description would be given to me or written with me being included from the beginning, by one of the partners or someone outside of the company. However this was written by my opposite person, who at that time was my contemporary. There initially was no discussion or input from me at all. We did have a meeting to discuss the new role and the job description, which I have to say was very poorly put together, and I requested that each point of the description was discussed. Whilst the meeting was taking place I was verbally attacked by my opposite person, my contemporary - this was one week before the new positions became valid and in place. It was stated by him at this point that he felt that he did not think he could work with me as I was having such a problem with the way the description was worded. I stated that it was important for me to get it right as this was my future my job and not his. The other two people at the meeting did not say anything to him at the point but I was told that he was told after the meeting that he should not have done what he did. I have to ask myself 'why did they not raise the issue with him at the meeting'. I left the meeting quite shaken and was told the description would be re-written and an updated version sent. This did happen, however it was not put together exactly how it was discussed at the meeting and I put the corrections as I saw them to the two people responsible and waited for a response prior to 1 April as this was the date that the positions would be taken up. Consequently this did not happen I was told the people were too busy to open their emails and read and respond. Unfortunately I have been off sick since 15 April - not due to this, although I am sure it did not help, but due to ending up in hospital with a serious illness.

During the Easter holiday I had thought that I would take out a grievance against the company because of the way in which I had been treated, but with ending up in hospital this did not happen. Since my discharge from hospital they have sent me a letter requesting a meeting to discuss issues that have arisen at work which they consider to be misconduct. I have had a traumatic illness and a difficult recovery at home and have not been able to attend the two meetings they have suggested. The letter I received last week offering another date, gave an incorrect date and did not give a time. I received an email today at 6.05pm stating the time, but still the date was incorrect. I have already written to them stating the date was incorrect and the time was not given, I have also stated that I am taking the situation under advisement and have asked for a copy of the grievance procedure and my contract of employment. I really am up in the air at the moment. I think they are going to try to dismiss me and are looking at issues which I am not solely responsible for and for issues where I have been expected to carry out duties with no formal training etc.

Although I really do not think there are any question to answer per sey, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Is grievance the route to take?

Would this change in job, as dramatic as it was, constitute a change in contract. I was offered another management position but had no staff to manage - it really did feel like a demotion.

As my job does not essentially exist any more should I have not been offered redundancy?