New job - AIBU?

[forrasee]

I have been offered a new role and will start wfh in the middle of lockdown . It's the same area I currently work in in the public sector, but a new organisation and a higher level.

I want to take with me my position on certain networks and groups, as well as speaking engagements in my calendar. But my current employer wants to keep them and have someone fill in for me (there is no obvious candidate). They say this is normal as the invitations all came into me at that company and so are not 'mine'.

I have offered to introduce a colleague onto the groups so that my organisation will still have representation while I stay on them from my new position but can't do that for speaking engagements.

AIBU to want to keep them?

I guess it kind of depends on what it is you do. But it almost sounds like you're poaching clients from one company to take to another. Which isn't really on.

There is often a clause in your contract which means you cannot take contacts and clients or continue business established through the company you are leaving if you move to a similar organisation.

If you are changing jobs then yes you are being unreasonable. You don't work for the company where you got those engagements and obviously they will want who works for them representing the company.

Why would you expect to still have speaking engagements when you’re changing job?

I guess it kind of depends on what it is you do. But it almost sounds like you're poaching clients from one company to take to another. Which isn't really on.

It's not clients at all, it's speaking engagements and sitting on steering groups and panels as an expert.

I work in policy in the public sector.

There is nothing in my contract about it.

Why would you expect to still have speaking engagements when you’re changing job?

Because I was invited as an expert, not as a representative of my organisation.

YABU. You gained them at that company, so they stay at that company.

Your current employer is right to keep them.

Can't you contact the organisers directly and ask them to cancel the invite and resend to your personal account?

I don't think it is up to either you or your employer. I would think the network or group would have to be informed of your departure and it would be up to them if they want your current employer to appoint someone else or for you to be re-appointed in your new role.

I would expect you to reach out to each one and ask. If it is something like equality and diversity rep each org has thier own rep and by trying to keep your place you are displacing the person who is already it.

If the speaking engagements are really about your expertise and not your position the i would expect the invite to be for you personally and not you as rep of former org.

If you were appointed because of your position as employee of your old firm then you may have to step down, but if you were appointed because of your own personal expertise you should expect to be able to stay.

I actually think it depends on the people who issued the invitation. It's up to them to decide whether they wanted you as you, or you as representative of your previous role. That may be different in different cases.

I would expect to be contacting each of them, with someone from your old job copied in, to explain the situation and asking them to confirm who should now take up the invitation.

This is what I want to do - ask the organisations who run the conferences and groups but my employer is saying that's not on.

It's nothing to do with representing the employer at something like diversity. It's more like, I'm a niche tax expert working for ACAS and I'm moving to Treasury and want to still sit on groups where we discuss and influence tax policy, and speak at big tax conferences.

Perhaps ask your employer to clarify in writing exactly which part of your contract that violates and if they cant then go ahead.

I totally understand OP as I have a similar role, but no, you cannot usually take such engagements or positions with you.

You may well have been invited as the ACAS expert on X and they still want someone from ACAS ( I appreciate this is an example)

If I were you, I would choose one position or engagement that means the most to you, or that you can defend most easily, but you will have to let the others go.

I would send an email to the relevant chairs explaining that you are moving to The Treasury and will be keen to stay part of the network/continue your valued association with them.

Good luck in the new job.

If your contract says nothing then it probably depends, in practical terms, who is ‘bigger’ in terms of reputational expertise - you or your employer. For example if you were say TUC national officer for health and safety, and you moved to a different organisation as a national health and safety officer, you would expect the steering committee role/speaking engagement to be taken by your TUC replacement, because the TUC is bigger than you.

So as I understand it you were Invited as Forrasee from Department/ Company XYZ.
So your old employer believes you were invited because you are working for XYZ and not because you are Forrasee. To add to this, the organisers may want you to talk about your findings/ experience gained while at XYZ, even if it's only related to giving you time off.
2 things, you need to let organisers know- they will have to sort this out.

But more importantly, is there a intellectual property clause in your contract? If so, than your old employer may well be acting within their rights.

Yeah, your current employers can't just unilaterally decide to send someone else to the groups/speaking engagements.

It depends on which basis you were considered an expert. You as a person regardless of your role, or your role, regardless of the person doing it.

I sit on similar groups OP the invitation is to whoever holds my role within that part of the public sector, when I move on my successor will represent my department there. I mean this kindly but it isn't about you, it's about the correct department being represented. This is particularly relevant when they cover funding decisions etc, you have no weight in that discussion anymore. If you think your new role ought to be represented at these groups you approach the chair and suggest it.

I mean this kindly but it isn't about you, it's about the correct department being represented

Completely get what you're saying and that is the grey area. Work think the roles are for them and I just happen to be in post. I think I have the roles because I went out, networked and got invited (they weren't there when I started the role months ago - I have been with the org for 4 years so know this).

But 100% of people think I am being unreasonable so will have to accept that .

I will take the approach of giving up the speaking engagements (though there is no-one in my org who can fill them) and will recommend a my replacement have the positions I hold once they're in place, but will also suggest I maintain the positions from my new role, as there aren't limited places.

If you’ve been invited for expertise not because who you work for then YANBU.
Because in that case, surely they don’t give a bugger who you work for, it’s you they want.
I’d get in touch with the committees/ engagement organisers. They might not be too pleased if X who works at your old company turns up instead of you.