Being replaced at work!

[beetree1]

Not sure if I'm posting on the right section but I need to vent and get some opinions on what to do...

I work for the NHS in an admin role and due to go on mat leave next month. I have constantly been told they're going to put out for temp bank cover for my year off to do 2 days until I return.

Today I have come in and seen my exact job role but with higher banding and listed as a permanent job! To say I am stressed/angry/upset would be an understatement! I've had no warning or information regarding this and if anything there's always been talks of saving money hence why they were only going to get bank to cover 2 days a week in the first place.

There is also only a need for one admin across each team so I don't understand why they need me back after mat leave?! They've sent an email now inviting all of the teams to a meeting to discuss plans moving forward, which is in 3 weeks time. They refuse to discuss it further until this point.

I feel like I should have personally been given a heads up seeing as it affects me the most or at least some clarity before listing the job?! I have emailed my manager but yet to have a response. Also why should I be told or voice my opinions in front of 30 odd people 3 weeks after my own job has been listed for better pay and permanent position?!

I have spoken to the other admins who do the same role in different locality's and they are all angry at the fact 'our' jobs are being listed for higher banding when the work listed is exactly the same as we do. Nothing extra at all. A few of them have also emailed but have been told they do not wish to discuss it further until the meeting.

To top it off the same manager also sent an appreciation email to all of us yesterday for 'world admin day' about how fantastic we all are and hardworking through covid whilst also undermining our work and pay at the same time.

I just don't know where to begin. I'm stressed I'll have no job to come back to but if its confirmed my role is staying then I'm angry that someone is coming in to do the same and getting paid much more than me!

Please be kind and tell me I'm not being crazy and hormonal?! A similar thing happened in my last pregnancy where I was due to go back to work and they didn't take me back because of covid and they were making cuts for them to only employ someone around the time I was due back. Then trying to get a job during covid was an absolute nightmare. The thought of having to go through all that and job hunting again and finding something suitable is just making me feel so stressed 😣

They can make you redundant on ML not illegal so long as they follow process. That seems to be the biggest risk.

New higher band role in, perhaps some part time lower band created and all the existing staff make redundant after due process.

Apply for the job anyway.

If your role is dependant on others doing weekend and late shifts then they can't deploy you without work to do. Until the "client facing" staff all agree to the change in operational times your times can't change.
Only if and when the times change do you then need to react.

Has there been any situation where lack of admin cover caused operational problems? Because I can see where having 1 or 2 out of hours staff may be beneficial in an emergancy situation.

The person who emailed you know that you are due mat leave its not likely that s/he or your manager knows why the new job has been advertised and structured for the longer hours. It's likely only that staff member is being careful not to make a mistake as they are not the decision maker.

But join the union and get advice. Ask other staff which unions are active and have a lot of members in your area.

NB if you are writing to/phoning other admin staff about this keep it off the work computers and only use your personal phone's internet. Plus keep any conversations (in so far as possible) to breaktimes.

Apply for the job and see what happens. Even if you get it, you don't have to accept it. Worth finding out from the inside what the point of the new job is suppose to be.

Seriously, I think you should apply for the new job. You don't have to take it off you're offered it, but you'll find out more about it that way.
Is the extra money to do with paying time and a half or double time for weekend working?
It might be worth actually considering it as the extra money would pay for some extra childcare (where is your baby's father?). You won't need childcare forever and you'll be better off in the long term for a small sacrifice in the short. Pension and future mat pay would be more too.

they're going to put out for temp bank cover for my year off

There is no automatic legal right to return to your exact same job if you take the full year off though, legally all they have to do is offer you an alternative role with equal or better conditions, they just can’t leave you worse off.

OP post in Employment Issues or Legal Matters, you’ll get better advice there.