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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if it is illegal for an employer...

20 replies

Jenpip · 08/12/2015 15:32

To make me take on the work of a director who left (as well as my own work) when she left without a change to my title or salary increase? The new work is not anything I did previously and my manager is not only just looking into it after 18 months!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jenpip · 08/12/2015 15:33

And I should add that I had to raise it with them.

OP posts:
icanteven · 08/12/2015 15:34

Nope.

It is your fault for just taking it lying down for 18 months though. Why didn't you flag this up 2 weeks in? Your manager must be absolutely stunned at her good fortune for pulling this off for so long.

Seeyounearertime · 08/12/2015 15:36

It's not illegal for your employer to give you work and you accpet that work and do it without word of complaint for 18 months no.

Hat you should have done is say, no, that's a directors job and I'm not a director but say it when they handed you the work to do 18 months ago.

icanteven · 08/12/2015 15:36

Although, to be honest, it looks like they are well rid of the director, if a junior member of staff (junior to the director level, I don't mean that you are junior yourself) was able to absorb her workload so smoothly. Has the company struggled significantly under the current set up? Was the director made redundant/squeezed out?

HermioneWeasley · 08/12/2015 15:38

Nothing illegal about it if you've agreed to do the work without negotiating additional pay.

There might be a tenuous equal pay claim in there, but I think you need to woman up, demonstrate how much you've saved them by absorbing the work and ask for what you're worth

Original poster
Jenpip · 08/12/2015 15:38

Thanks. I did at the time but have been continually fobbed off! No time, I'll get round to it, blah blah. It is only now "being looked into" since I complained to the vp. I'm awaiting the decision now. I'm just preparing myself for them coming back and saying an increase isn't going to happen. HR have been useless and my manager in question is based in Hong Kong so limited contact (not for want of trying however)

OP posts:
TheBunnyOfDoom · 08/12/2015 15:41

If you agreed to do it, it's not illegal, especially after 18 months of you doing it without complaint!

Why on earth didn't you say anything sooner?!

Original poster
Jenpip · 08/12/2015 15:41

You're right, I do need to be firmer here and I have reached that point. The workload is huge. I work late, at home etc. I worked very closely with the director previously so I was able to do her work v well if that makes sense. The company isn't struggling, but they're huge (global) and issues are easily ignored when you have an incompetent manager like mine.

OP posts:
icanteven · 08/12/2015 15:42

Have you posted about this a few times before?

If you are being underpaid for the high level workload you have, you are in an excellent position to look elsewhere for a job that will pay and respect you properly, and then, if you feel like it, when you have an excellent offer, you can give your current employers the opportunity to exceed it.

Original poster
Jenpip · 08/12/2015 15:43

There never really was much room to negotiate. The lady who offered it to me explained that they may backfill the position and I'd be doing this in the meantime. Then she left and it's been a comedy of errors since. I've learned a valuable lesson but I feel that's beside the point as I've been chasing for months.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jenpip · 08/12/2015 15:44

No not posted before. I've read similar things but nothing which relates directly to my situation hence the post. I haven't received a pay increase since last year which (although not too bad at 4%) was just automatic in line with everyone else.

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Original poster
Jenpip · 08/12/2015 15:46

I could jump ship but I'm 10 weeks pregnant and not keen to change jobs at this stage.

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 08/12/2015 16:40

I could jump ship but I'm 10 weeks pregnant and not keen to change jobs at this stage.

Several things -
At least leverage a change in job title if not salary to reflect your role. It will make it easier to jump ship after maternity leave if you haven't been pushed already
Do not say a word about your pregnancy, you owe them nothing
Don't leave - you won't get enhanced maternity pay elsewhere now.
Start saying NO. You can't do the work of two people and certainly shouldn't without some level of reward and recognition.
Write your own performance appraisal, award yourself the top grade and be prepared to fight your corner.

Finally, do not kid yourself that they will give a sh*t about how hard you are working or ever put them first above the health of you or your baby.

Radiatorvalves · 08/12/2015 16:44

Wise words from Tread.

DyslexicScientist · 08/12/2015 16:49

Nope, that's all part of modern working conditions.

Work the level or two or ten above what you are paid for in order to progress.

It sucks. I'm self employed these days.

Cardboxed · 08/12/2015 17:53

If you play your cards and wisely from now on then there's every opportunity for you to leverage this. As mentioned above don't jump ship now your pregnant but do force this through. You seem to have kept afloat carrying two loads for nearly two years. Something to be proud of but stop being taken advantage of!

AyeAmarok · 08/12/2015 18:58

"Nope, that's all part of modern working conditions.

Work the level or two or ten above what you are paid for in order to progress."

True.

DyslexicScientist · 09/12/2015 09:18

And a very sad situation we find ourselves in, declining working conditions.

Stormtreader · 10/12/2015 12:04

Is there any scope for you pushing to officially be promoted to that position? You have been doing the job for 1 1/2 years after all.

Stormtreader · 10/12/2015 12:05

In fact, you have scope now to be applying for that job in other firms since you have the working experience

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