To think I can't continue in this job after recent events? Very long, sorry.

[Tepeetent]

I work for a large, public sector organisation.

Four years ago I was seconded into my current dept from my main job. Am technically still on a secondment. My job description for this secondment says that I am a key member of Dept X but it's a very niche position which doesn't quite fit in with the dept. I worked very closely with the manager of this department as her second in command initially. As the years progressed a more senior manager was getting me to do more general work not very closely related to dept x which needed doing. I'm the only person doing this work.

We had a new big boss recently, think director/board level.

My immediate boss saw the writing on the wall as new boss comes with a reputation and big boss had immediately said he didn't like how the dept was being run. My immediate boss who I got on with very well left.

Her job was advertised internally, as a secondment, but at a lower level/grade. The advert basically was what my job description is. I tried pointing this out but was just told to apply. I did apply and didn't get it. The new person started, didn't like it and left after two weeks. So I thought maybe big boss would ask if I was still interested. I'm the only other applicant and the only other person with any experience.

However he didn't. They gave the job to someone who hadn't applied for it but has just come back after long term sick.

I've stewed over this for a while and then made an apt to see the big boss. The meeting went very badly.

It started off with me getting told off for a post I put on a closed group on Facebook. The group is related to my Union and talked about possibility of working to rule, I admit I was encouraging it. Big boss very unhappy. Someone has printed conversation off and put it under his door. But our union had also been discussing this and it wasn't long after we came out on an official strike.

I then started trying to say I was unhappy with what's happened. He said ive got to clear my desk and leave my office as I can't be based in X dept anymore as I might hear stuff I shouldn't be privy to. I said how only a few months ago I was doing the work which is done in this dept. He tried to downplay how involved I am in the dept. I said my job description says I'm to deputise for the dept manager in her absence. He was saying no way am I to do that, it's not my role, etc. meeting ended suddenly as he ran out of time. Told me to come and see him again next week.

I just feel bullied, victimised. I feel totally un appreciated.

So I have two choices. I carry on doing the work I've been doing for the last few months which I don't enjoy as much as the work I should be doing. With a boss who treats me like shit on his shoe. Move my stuff out the office, find new desk space, etc and put up with it.

Or I resign from the secondment. Money is the same in both jobs. Downside is that I would have to go back to shifts and the work is physically harder and sometimes I feel I'm getting too old for that sort of stuff!

Upside is that I can cut my hours which ive been wanting to do for sometime and go from full time to 4 days a week. As Id get unsocial pay if I went back to my old job Id earn the same money for less hours.

Current post looks better on my CV but unless I'm prepared to commute I can't really progress. I think I can kiss goodbye to any career progression in current employment as the big boss is the same in whichever job I do and I genuinely think he doesn't like me.

Current job has a lot of responsibly and hassle which I wouldn't have if I went back to my old job. But then I do currently on a day to day basis get to sort my own workload out, be my own boss to a large extent which is nice.

So stay or go?

Current job. Hassle, full time, boss hates me, feeling stressed but do enjoy being challenged. No shifts.

Old job. Less hassle, can leave at end of shift and forget about work. Can reduce hours. But shifts, nights, weekends. Still the same boss but probably off their radar a bit. And I must admit there's a small immature part of me which wants to do it as leaving my current job will cause my big boss a headache. But I do feel I want to make a point. That if I'm not good enough for what used to be my job then you can fuck off!

Old job for me, no question. But I'd try to get a job somewhere else if I were you ASAP. x

Well I would be contacting the union and asking for someone to be in the meeting next week.

Id also post in employment. Do you still want this job?

Old job, no question. Same money for less hours and no/less aggro? Its a no brainer, really, isn't it?

If you're feeling unappreciated, then you probably are.

It was very unwise to put something like this on FB however it's done now and it was unfortunate that somebody told. Do what suits you best. If the money is OK just jog along if you're reasonably happy in the job for the time being. You never know this big boss you don't like might soon move on to pastures new. These types quite often do. Try not to make a decision because you're annoyed. Hope things work out.

Part of me does think go to the union and fight about the stuff that's in my job description that they're ignoring. That and the fact that they've given a job to someone without them interviewing for it.

But as I'm on a secodment they can stop the secodment at anytime so I feel the JD gives me no lever. Plus they are arguing they've had to find a role for the person coming back off sick leave as that person can't do their old job anymore due to illness. Technically I'm not sure that's legally correct.

My main problem though is if I chucked the union and HR at them Id be a dead person walking. There was someone recently who was seen as a troublemaker, demanding meetings with management to insist on better working conditions, etc. management hated her and waited for her to make a tiny slip up and then suspended her for a year while they tried to fire her. Anyone else would have been ticked off for the same thing.

So I feel I have to keep my head down. Either accept the shit and carry on. Or accept that I can't change it and decide not to accept it and do the only thing I can of going back to old job.

I hate nights!

Yes I agree it was probably unwise to put it on FB. However I was careful not to slag the business off, etc.

Other people on that fb convo said worse than I did and haven't been told off. Which adds to my feeling of persecution!

please look up the ACAS guidelines on bullying and harrassment at work. it sounds like you are being treated very unfairly. dont answer if you prefer not to but could this be any form of discrimination due to your age, sexuality, gender, race?

are you aware of your company's greivance processes?

I would insist on having a rep in any future conversations with the boss, and make notes of conversations, asking for everything said to be backed up by email.

It wouldn't be discrimination due to any of those things.

I think he's just seen the FB thing and decided that's it as far as I'm concerned.

There is a grievance proceedure and I know I could put a grievance in against him but I think it would be suicide. I'd be too scared to take a union rep in with me to be honest. It would antagonise things. They're not keen on the union.

I'm kicking myself about the fb thing. But surely if your union was talking about work to rule and striking it's not that bad a thing to be discussing options on a closed group? The organisation at the time were totally changing working terms and conditions against the specifications in our contracts so emotions were running high. They ended up getting their own way in the end. Big boss said to me last week I should have gone through official channels if I was unhappy. I feel I should have defended myself more and say that we all did. We had meetings with management, union involve,ent, etc. didn't say any of that, I'm not good at thinking quickly when I'm a bit stunned. If Id known what the meeting was going to be about beforehand I could have been more prepared. I wish I'd stopped the meeting and insisted on a rep coming in. Though like I said it would have antagonised things I think.

I've just been crying for days since this happened. Am so frustrated.

So you have been on secondment for four years? What's the company's policy on secondment length, surely they should have made you permanent in your current role by now?

Surely he's not allowed to show his displeasure with your Union affiliation?

Have just been looking at the ACAS website, will rng their helpline tomorrow I think. Just for advice, I'm interested to know if what they've done about the job offer is legal or not.

I don't know if there is a policy on secondment. Probably, will have to find out. The person who used to be the big boss (and is still there but now moved sideways) has been verbally telling me for a year that they'll make me permanent. Said they'd probably have to advertise it internally, but not to worry as it would be a formality and that Id get the job. This was prior to the new big boss.

If it were me the same situation I would cut my losses. Its seems that although you may have the right to fight it may not benefit you at all and may damage any prospects of continuing to work in the company at all ultimately .

I also would go for the less stress/fewer hours/same money option. Remove yourself from this Boss and regroup once you are on firmer ground. It may well be that he manages himself out of a job if he continues to act in the same haphazard way. If he goes maybe you could apply for the job (or similar) again in a year or so?

Yes, I don't think he will stay long term, maybe 2 or 3 years so there would be a possibility of moving up again once he's gone. I'm thought highly of by my colleagues and also be less senior managers than the big boss.

I agree with KillmeNow - entirely because of your new boss, you are on a hiding to nothing. Return to your old job and immediately start looking for a new one, with the huge benefit that you can then give your old? manager as a reference rather than the new one.

Make sure you thank your new boss for everything you've learned and enjoyed in the new job as you leave, and follow it up with similar in writing. Then you've got a paper trail of how much of a team player you are.

Then get the hell out of Dodge. I would also look at your employers' policies re online info/social media use and see if it says anything about theoretically private exchanges such as email or closed groups. Just in case that comes back to bite you.

Contact your union. They can help you through this.
The reaon bullies get away with this is because people are afraid to challenge them.

Step one: go to gp, get signed off to give you space to recover.
Step two: contact union.
Step three: look at all your options and make a decision.

Before you do anything you need to decide what it is you want no point launching a grievance without knowing that otherwise what are you fighting for ?

Then do your research regarding secondment it could be that the job was yours anyway after a certain period of time and as you are more expensive then the replacement this could be constructive bullying to get you off the budget sheet for this department

Acas are brilliant can't speak highly enough about them

In the situation you're in I don't think you have any other option than to buff up your CV and get out of there completely.

I don't think you did anything wrong by your fb post in a closed group. Your treatment at work is unfair but if you go through your union to complain, be aware that it will be a hard and psychologically demanding fight that you won't come out as a winner in. I speak as someone who is in year two of a conflict with a bullying boss. It seems to be sorting itself out now, but the strain on me has been enormous. Much more than the principle is worth, tbh.

If I were you, I'd go back to my old job and start looking for job openings in other companies. It sounds like it is time for a move.

But then I get permanently itchy feet and wouldn't last five seconds with an antagonistic manager. I second the idea of getting advice from someone like ACAS who knows their way around this stuff.

I've not breached the social networking policy, have just double checked. Policy talks about if you're identified with the organisation or discuss it you must not be unprofessional, not be defamatory about the organisation, etc when making public comments.

There is no secondment policy. Just looked.

So if I'm not breaking the social networking policy am I allowed to be told off for social networking? Big boss very kindly told me he wouldn't be taking it any further, it wouldn't be a file note, etc.

I suspect because he knows he's on a hiding to nothing with it been a private conversation and that I wasn't being defamatory.

All the departments come out the same budget so I don't think its financial reasons. I suspect im being taught a lesson.

Secondments that go on this long with unclear or changing job descriptions don't seem good HR practice. Nor is having a secondee being in a deputy senior role, other than very temporarily.

in your shoes I would seek to establish whether there is any prospect at all of a permanent role where you are (seems unlikely). If not, would seek a good reference / appraisal and head back to my permanent employer.

It does seem as though they have treated you unfairly, although I disagree that not letting you deputise and giving the sick leave (permanent) returner a role you wanted was necessarily unfair. They have a responsibility to others too, eg the person off sick might have needed a specific role as an adjustment under the Disability Discrimination Act.