Employer making life VERY difficult.

[Titslikepicassos]

Supposed to be returning from MAT leave in June, have childcare arranged and as a key worker they will still take my baby - excellent.

Had a team meeting with work this week to discuss going back and have been told that I have to relocate as my partner works on the same site as me - which has been known since I informed them we were in a relationship, however the policy changed in October (before I went on MAT leave). While we are on the same site, our jobs are separate and we are working in different buildings, have different managers and different hours. The different hours means I will need to do drop offs and pick ups to coincide with opening and closing hours.

So during the middle of a pandemic, with child care mostly closed I now have to find a new nursery, lose a significant term time deposit and start the settling in process all over again. Not only that, they have told me to find my own employment within the company - my head is exploding with all of this. AIBU to think this is an unnecessary ball ache!

I appreciate that this is a minor problem given the amount of people losing jobs!

@RandomMess - the union's solicitors are taking the case on - thankfully. I've got 2 weeks to put the ET1 form in for tribunal.

Should hear back today about whether they agree to my flexible working request not sure who they're agreeing it with though - seeing as I don't have a place to work...

It is just so unbelievably ridiculous...

It seems like this has gone past internal process and needs external legal input.

My DH tried to deal with an issue internally. As soon as he got external representation, they offered him a payoff.

Have you spoken to the union’s solicitors yourself? (I.e. not through your rep)? I think it’s time for you to get some unbiased, external views on how your company has been acting, and whether anything they’ve merely been unethical and immoral (and/or incompetent) or whether they’ve veered across the line into breaking any employment/ discrimination laws.

I think you need a lawyer.

God OP you have been through the mill - no advice just huge sympathy and very impressed at your resilience

Thanks all - I have spoken with the union’s solicitors but they haven’t discussed it with me, it’s mostly info gathering at the moment.

If I seek other legal advice, I will lose the support of the union and money is now an issue if I’m about to be unpaid.

I’m not sure if Maternity Action, Pregnant then screwed etc can offer any more help than they have given (phone advice).

I’m pulling my hair out quite frankly and I’m not sure if I can repeat the whole sorry saga to another legal bod!

bullet points
do a list using bullet points of what has happened
can i suggest you get a single appointment with a specialist solicitor via
solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/?Pro=False
basically many do a short single interview for a set cost you can outline what has happened
Make sure the solicitor is an acknowledged expert in field (read website it explains everything)

The problem is that unless there is a very switched on HR bot, these internal procedures take on a life of their own and it's like shoving toothpaste back into the tube.

My advice would be to try and get the union to negotiate your return which could run concurrently with the grievances. Most union reps are able to speak to high management, 'off the record,' in or at least have the ear of someone who is able to deal with this.

Update - they responded to my flexible working request by saying I didn’t hand it in to HR. I completed it and then just sent it to the grievance panel in August apparently.

I took pleasure in forwarding the email and attached request to HR along with HR’s confirmation of receipt from June, and then forwarding the several emails where I chased it up.

I am back at the beginning - back to March when this whole thing started. Their answer to my grievance has been to offer me a transfer and tell me my hours don’t work for my manager. JUST LIKE MARCH AND THE REASON I PUT THE GRIEVANCE IN.

I AM LOSING MY FUCKING MIND!

Thanks for all the advice

Thank you for the link @mumwon

Sorry for not acknowledging everyone individually, I appreciate the support and advice from each and every one of you

So still no valid business reasons as to why it doesn't suit despite you having previously worked them?

Couldn't make this shit up...

Thank goodness you were switched on enough to keep proof you did submit the FW request correctly.

Does that mean the union would fund a lawyer for you? You must be so angry. Is your DH still there? I lost track of whether he is still working there

Running into issues with the union solicitors who are snowed under with Covid employment issues and can’t help within the time frames - seriously it’s been a great few days!

I still have union support but it’s looking like there is no legal help at this stage.

I am raging but physical feelings of stress are really ramping up - I had to sit in the garden and try and remember how to breath after I received the email from HR earlier. Heart racing, shortness of breath type stuff that I’ve never experienced before.

I don’t know how to fix this - other than to hand my notice in and find another job... but then they win.

Holy fucking shit, @Titslikepicassos, they've just gone round in one fucking great circle! They're acting like the whole grievance never happened. And I suppose, in their eyes, it kind of hasn't, because they've stuck to their original decision, which means that on Planet Management, they haven't done anything wrong so things are entirely as they were before you started the grievance.

Do you know if your union use Thompsons for their legal stuff?
A lot of trade unions do.

Thank heavens the union are getting you all lawyered up.

Fuck, just seen your update.

Surely the union can instruct another firm? You've been paying your subs all this time, and you're entitled to representation imo.

Do you have any legal cover with your house insurance?

No legal cover with the house insurance.

Not sure who the union use, but I need to re-read the email they sent to double check what they’re suggesting, but it seems that they can help but not in the time frame I need.

I have 12 days to submit the ET1, will need to appeal my grievance and my flexible working request by next week. That’s a lot of work in between finding a new job and trying not to fall apart.

Can I suggest you call in sick with stress on your first day back?

You might find a firm of solicitors who will honour the terms of your union cover and not deduct anything from your damages. My firm does that, even though they don't get paid by the union.

You need to take a deep breath and concentrate on finding a solicitor. You've had the Law Society link so you can call round and explain the situation / urgency. A good lawyer will be able to see what's needed and help in the timeframe. Once you've done that you can look for another job.

You might find once you've lodged the ET1 and it goes to solicitors that it gets sorted quite quickly once the clusterfuck is apparent.

Good luck.

So, not sure what union you are a member of, but it's fairly typical at the moment to lodge the ET1 form yourself, mostly to stop the clock, and a fairly simple procedure.

You can ask your union rep if there are any admin bots who can help you with this, but I really wouldn't be shopping for another solicitor as you have union backing.

Could your full time rep speak to the manager who was dealing with this and maybe remind him that you would like to get back to work, also with the veiled threat that the company really really doesn't want a sex discrim case.

So, not sure what union you are a member of, but it's fairly typical at the moment to lodge the ET1 form yourself, mostly to stop the clock, and a fairly simple procedure

I was going to suggest this. We do it with benefit appeals when a case has come to us practically on the deadline. On the form, there's a section for "grounds for appeal" and we just put "to follow".

Might be worth ringing the tribunal people and asking them, OP.

The Tribunal systems are set up to cater for litigants in person. Strongly suggest you file the ET1 form yourself. You’ll then be in ACAS conciliation and hopefully the employer might decide it’s not worth hassle to fight. You really do need a lawyer assessment of your case. It’s sounds rubbish on the face of it but the question is whether it’s strayed into discrimination. They are also offering you a job, just not what you want I understand?

Just coming in to offer you more moral support and absolute OUTRAGE on your situation!!

Also speak to your dr regarding the stress they're putting you under, then its on record the effects that your work is having on you, and can be used as evidence if needed x

I should hear tomorrow or Tuesday what the outcome is. Had an email from HR saying they need to investigate some more evidence that has come to light in some of the emails I sent at the end of last week - not sure what I’ve said TBH.

I had a bit of a rage moment the other day and emailed the CEO I had a nice reply back saying he can’t get involved (didn’t ask him to) and he trusts the grievance will give me the outcome I’m after.

Its also come to light that there is a group grievance that has just been put it against my line manager and one other - I’m not aware of the details other than it’s health and safety related.

On Friday, my GP put me on beta blockers and referred me to CBT on the back of all of this. I’m hideously stressed out.