Can work do this?

[SunsetBeauregarde]

I've nc'd for obvious reasons - pom bears, zoflora, penis beaker etc etc.

A few weeks ago I was promoted at work. I have been working there for 5 years, the promotion had been planned since July 2022 and I'd been made aware of the role at that time. I was then actively coached into the role, supported to pick up the skills I needed and then formally promoted during the April review cycle. I had my confirmation letter with my new pay (12.5% raise), confirmation that my start date was 3rd April 23. All fine.

Then, in the second week of March my boss left very suddenly. We were told he would not be coming back and would be retiring. I of course contacted him and said how sorry I was etc and he said he'd been made redundant but not to worry, his was a very specific redundancy and the business was in good health.

A week ago our new line manager was installed and our MD pulled me aside the same day and said 'Sunset I know you'd been having discussions about a promotion but that's off the table now, New Boss will want to restructure the teams'. I was stunned but asked what that meant and he just said 'it means you'll be stepping back down to your old role for now'

I'm devastated, but now I'm over the shock I'm wondering if this is even legal? I have a confirmed start date as 3rd April, and had the above conversation on 18th April. I'm due my first paycheck at my new rate tomorrow, but will that now be at my old wage since they've effectively withdrawn the promotion?

When i asked 'so are you demoting me again?' he said 'No no the offer of the role is being withdrawn' but surely seeing as I'd started, it's too late for that??

Is the reorg the responsibility of this new boss ( not the MD ) ?
And does your new role report directly to the new boss?

Trying to get you back into your old role suggests the new boss might be bringing in someone they’ve worked with before to take the new version of your new role.

Odd that your old boss said he was made redundant but they then replaced him anyway. I’m guessing the new boss’ role has a subtlety different title?

New boss is more senior than old boss and has been elsewhere in the business for a while. Old boss’s role is gone, so now we all report in to this more senior person. He’s straddling his new role and his old role, so his title hasn’t changed.

@SunsetBeauregardeone thing you will have achieved is your manager and new boss (not sure if they are the same) will hopefully stop and check before they start changing other employees contracts and breaching their employment rights.

Ok. Sounds like the reorg has been in the planning a while and your old boss didn’t fit , and they’ve offered him redundancy sooner rather than later.

Also sounds like your new position either doesn’t exist or more worryingly, they don’t have you in it but someone else.

I think your course of action to start looking for a new job is wise.
At the start, had they taken you aside, asked for your agreement in staying quiet and told you about the reorg, their requirement to have your new role disappear but rest assured you’ll be ok, can’t say too much etc, you might have at least felt as if you’re ‘in’ with them, that they have plans for you but it doesn’t seem as though you are on the ‘safe’ side of the reorg.

How is the business generally?

You are dealing with this shitty situation so well!

best wishes for a satisfactory resolution

Ive had a chat with HR and my boss. They are leaving me in my current role with my current salary until the end of August when the restructure is apparently happening on the condition that I sign an NDA and specifically don’t speak to the anyone on the team about what has happened either in relation to my role or the restructure. I have given my word that I won’t discuss it but declined to sign an NDA and they’ve accepted this.

They have also given me assurances that they want me to pick up more responsibility in the restructure than my current role and ‘hope I see their meeting me on my terms as a sign of their commitment to me’ - I’m taking that with an enormous pinch of salt.

I was going to try and get out of my old boss why he was made redundant but I suspect he might also be under NDA and I don’t want him getting in trouble. Is it still worth digging?

That's a fantastic result OP! You could definitely ask him - the worst he says is he signed an NDA? I would be optimistic about the point about the commitment to you - I think they could have just said yes and then made you redundant/restructured your role down a grade etc. They didn't need to say it, which makes it seem more likely it is true.

Doesn't remove the question of what their initial approach to this says about what they're like to work for though.

Excellent. They need to make a payment to you to top up what you were paid then, and put what's been agreed in writing.

Well done OP, tough day, you must be pretty proud of yourself :)

@SunsetBeauregarde that is a really good outcome.

They’re hit and miss to work for. On lots of things they are brilliant, but there’s pockets of really poor managers across the business that really let it down. HR are a bit useless at keeping the company safe from these renegade managers (the managers are an intimidating old boys club basically), there’s been a few incidents of them getting away with stuff that should never have happened.

I am I bit proud, yes

If I’d not said anything I’d be back in my
old role and down a fair bit of cash so I’m very glad I didn’t have to fight that hard. I just pointed out I wasn’t happy with it and wanted clarity and they folded really quickly.

Handled brilliantly from start to finish well done OP

Doesn't sound right at all. Have you formally (provable) accepted the role with a start date? If you have tough.
It sounds odd too that they've said your former boss has taken retirement when in fact they've been made redundant...though of of course it could be that they've taken voluntary redundancy and a lump sum. Ensure from now everything is in written (ie provable) even if it's a case of following up a conversation with 'X, Following our conversation today can I just confirm that ....'
I might also be looking elsewhere and checking companies house or similar to see what sort of financial state the companies in.

@JudgeRudy try reading the OPs updates - all sorted

I’m going to reject this and counter offer my full new wage to be backdated to 3rd April, whether or not they want me to stop doing my new role or not.

You are my hero!! This is awesome stuff and I am so pleased to read that it worked!

You're nails and I'm going to remember to channel SunsetBeauregarde next time I'm negotiating!!

Well done for sticking up to your rights xxx

Well fine OP - I’m in awe of your coolness and negotiating proficiency!

You handled this so brilliantly. Well done for standing up for yourself.

Wow! Just read all this and seriously impressed op!

Did you also sign an NDA or did your DH break his by telling you?!

So happy for you OP! I wouldn't trust them about the upcoming restructure though, at least you're forewarned and I'd start looking for new employment!

There's no way they can do that. You have a paper trail. Tell them you're seeking legal advice, if they've half a brain cell between them they'll back down.

If your contract is signed, it's legit and they cannot do this.

Talk to ACAS what a tw@tty thing to do.

@EscapeRoomToTheSun @Dibbydoos this was all resolved satisfactorily. See OPs update.

Amazing outcome. How satisfying!