Can they do this to me during my notice period?

[Notcool1984]

After many years of toxic work atmosphere (Male toxic environment / workplace bullying etc) I managed to get a new job. Unfortunately there is a three month notice period in my current role. I handed my notice in one month ago. It has been awful since, with my hours being changed to be less flexible (I’m single parent) - my exact hours are not in my contract, lots of passive aggressive emails about my work (which has never been a problem - in fact I got highest rating in my personal development review) and lots of whispering / ignoring me etc and leaving me out of all meetings. Now I’ve just had a call from the boss to say for the remainder of my notice period they are going to get me to the most junior role in the workplace (I’m currently in middle management). I’m so upset, can they do this? I still have around seven weeks notice period to go.

No I don’t think they can demote you. They can put you on leave and tell you to stay at home.

What does your contract say about working during notice periods?

Do you have a union?

Can you take any holiday? Go off sick with stress?

You need to speak to HR about this OP. I don't think this is allowed no.

I wouldn’t have thought so but it depends on your contract. It sounds like your work environment could be making you ill with stress though.

I guess it depends on your contract and the type of role, e.g. if you have a customer-facing role, they could be protecting themselves from potentially losing their customers to your new employers if you decided to 'headhunt' them. Or from reputation damage if you started to bad-mouth them.
For the rest of your notice I'd just go along with it, do the minimum, keep your head down and count down the days. 35days? It'll soon pass and them you'll be free of them.

Good luck in the new job.

They can allocate as they see fit as long as ts and Cs remain same. Arguably if You're a line manager it's preferable to handover when still than after.

But tbh. If you have the other job confirmed and reference received, I'd suggest getting signed off sick. Last laugh.....

I am a member of a union. I have my job title in my contract but not working hours and tbh out exact job description wouldn’t be in the contract.
They are even telling me I need to move desks to sit with the trainee / junior level staff. They are ignoring me when I come in too: it’s so stressful

As long as they don’t change your job title or pay, yes they can do as they wish, in the Uk the job description is not like a contract, but could be challenged in court that they changed your responsibilities, depending on what your contract says, I’m guessing you don’t want to go to court.

The more junior role may be easier, just do it with a smile on your face until you get out of there. Call a few sickies, coast.

Go and speak to the union. I very much doubt that they can do this

Has someone else already taken over your role op, is that it, and that person will sit where you used to sit?

I'd be careful about going off sick. A friend of mine had a job offer pulled by her new employer because she went off sick in her notice period and her old employer included it in the reference

If you're in a union, use them. This is what they are there for.

Please speak to your union rep about this. It's bullying and they can't just give you a different job because they feel like it.

Just do it, go with the flow, they are dicks but it’s not worth the hassle to fight them.

Speak to the union. And if they ask you to do any of the work that is a higher level than the junior role you can say it’s not your duty anymore, and hand it over to whoever is doing your job.

I think as long as they are paying you the same, etc then they can ask you to do what work they want.

Offer to go on gardening leave

Speak to ACAS and your union, but I would just suck it up for a few weeks

as long as you are paid as you should, take the most junior role as a welcome break and congratulate yourself on leaving the place!

Just do it, go with the flow, they are dicks but it’s not worth the hassle to fight them.

That is terrible advice! What, so let these awful men think it's fine to let to bully, demean and demote any woman in the workplace? No way. Speak to your union rep and to HR, OP. Issue a formal complaint. If they don't want you in their presence to work out your notice, force the company to put you on gardening leave.

So long as they are still paying you, laugh and spend your notice period taking it easy!

Will you be paid the same OP? If so, I'd just enjoy the easy work for a few weeks and see it as a winding down period!

They can give you tasks that are beneath your pay scale and expect you to do them, but not above it.
It sounds more like they are bullying you, which is the angle I would Pursue, by going off with stress for the rest of my notice period.
Have they already given you your reference.

As long as they pay you the same money, who cares if they (people you don't like) demote you. They are the ones paying over the odds for a junior - you get the last laugh!

Have you learned your lesson and checked T&Cs in your new job?

If .. you have a Union then please USE THEM!, thats what they are for to represent the workforce when firms like this one as so piss poor managed!.

I have over time worked in many jobs and places and there have been a few where a Union was simply not needed as those firms were excellently managed, the others were "piss up in a brewery" grade mis managed!.

Hope the new job works out for you:)