Work wankers

[Saffy118]

I was offered a new position/promotion a few months ago (informally) by my boss and just found out through the grapevine, not even first hand, that actually they have hired someone new to do the position as they want to keep me as a minion.

Based on the offer of the promotion I stated I would increase my working days from 2-4, however after the disappointment of being the last to find out this would not be happening, I decided not to increase my days as it would be stressful to work extra when I have small children and without the promotion, not really worth my while. I informed my boss by email that based on the situation changing I had charged my mind about increasing my working days and received a veiled threat back that if I didn’t increase my days as I said it would cause a huge problem for the office and I would have problems progressing with any promotions in the future.

What should I say/do?

They fucked around and found out. Unless you really want the additional hours or future promotion, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

What problems could it cause worse than the current problem of having an offer withdrawn and kept down in a lower position?

i’d to my guns and go back to two days while I looked for a new job

They don't get to have everything they want lol, if they won't do anything for you then why should you for them? I'd do two days a week and look for a job elsewhere. YANBU!

I'd be looking for a new job

Respond saying "noted, i'm happy to forsake any further promotions" and copy HR in.

Do you think there is the potential to leave and make a claim for constructive dismissal? Based on the fact that as far as I am aware, I should not be treated any differently from a full time worker, especially being a woman dealing with the lions share of the child care? Being part time should not mean I should be threatened that I will never progress

Tread carefully as I assume you want to keep this job in the short term, but stand your ground on the hours while looking for another job. Jumping between informal chats and formal emails laying out your red lines isn't an ideal way to deal with the situation.

I speak to my boss ahead of any significant changes, and generally push back anything I'm not willing to do in a face to face/Teams conversation. I've never sent them an email over anything substantial where they didn't know the content already. If I did, it'd be to ask for a chat about whatever. Appreciate that's not always possible, but it works for me.

I can’t see this is enough for constructive dismissal and honestly, it’s a hard route to go down. I did a lot of research when going through issues in my work place a couple of years ago.

They’ve been dicks and shown you’re not in line for promotion anyway so I’d respond just like the poster suggested above.

hi boss
Thank you for your clarity, that’s noted. I hope you find a solution.
Best wishes
me

Then I’d look for another job.

This

Then can you find another job?

Playing devils advocate here but:

1. What does your contract say
2. Is it written anywhere that you can lower your hours to 2 days a week, is this agreed with the company or just something that's kind of accepted and never discussed with anyone.
3. If the threat is insinuated it's a bit more difficult to prove anything.

Whilst I think getting HR involved for a discussion maybe necessary, be wary because they are there to protect the interests of the company not you.

This kind of smells a bit like they offered the potential of a promotion and saw you offer to come back, and their argument is if you can do it for a promotion, you can do it for your current job - i kind of see their point.

Ultimately, you're unlikely to get a promotion if you're only working 2 days a week because it's "not worth your while". I'm on your side but I also see where they are coming from as well.

I'm a manager and i've had situations where people want it both ways, they want to be up for promotion and payrises, but they also want to barely be around and it just doesn't work that way. They shouldn't have offered the promotion to someone who is only there two days a week imho - that's ridiculous and dishonest of them.

Are you 109% sure you're not getting the promotion job? Did your email make it clear that in light of it not being given to you that's why you're not increasing your hours?

If that's the case I'd be emailing HR to explain that due to increased childcare costs to work the four days you won't be proceeding with that option unless you get the promoted post as the extra money would cover your childcare etc.

I was offered the promotion firstly as I am qualified for it and secondly as I have been working five days a week for a year and and a half even though my contract is for two days a week. I have been working overtime as a favour to plug gaps from staff that left. As a favour for half killing myself to do this around small children, I recently found out that they have been underpaying me as if you work regular overtime this is supposed to be included in you holiday pay. When I raised this they were very cross, I then decided to cut back to two days as I had really had enough. At that point they offered the promotion to keep me there plugging the gaps.

My contract is for two days a week.

I have been working five days regularly for a year and a half and despite asking at a few points during this to put me on contract for the other days they refused.

I realised recently that when I take holiday they only pay me for two days. By law they should pay me holiday for all five as it is regular enough to be considered my hours.

When I raised this, all of a sudden they wanted me on contract for as many days as I would offer and offered the promotion as a carrot on a stick.

Ok cool this is helpful.

I think you really need to get all these facts listed down - not the way you've explained them to me but really emotionless and based on fact:

Eg: My contract only states two days per week
I asked for other days to be contracted on x date
The response was x or "I did not get a response" etc etc.

Then I would seek some guidance with these facts, then approach your employer/HR with them. No emotions, just facts.

Also sorry it’s not worth my while because I am studying and they know this and once qualified fully I can get that position anywhere. It’s better to cut to two days and finish my studies quicker if no promotion. With promotion I would be closer to where I want to be.

hope that makes sense

Total sense. My overall opinion is "you can do better than this shitty employer" and i have no doubt you eventually will.

Honestly fuck 'em OP, get your qualification done on 2 days and then get out of there.

I would be telling them you will do the role you are employed to do as per your previously agreed contract hours (2days). You worked longer hours based on the promotion you were verbally offered, now this promotion no longer exists you will be working 2 days from this date. No more explanation needed.

Well, you already have problems progressing there.

So my advice is stay on 2 days a week and look for a new job and in the mean time, look up "constructive dismissal"

I don’t like their style, paying you two days holiday when you’ve regularly been doing 5. I’d go back to the two days and finish your studies and see what happens after that. I’d give that as the reason for not being available 5 days a week.

Give Acas a call.

Surely you only said you’d increase your hours on the basis of getting the promotion? You haven’t got the promotion so why would you therefore increase your hours? They haven’t got a leg to stand on. Are you a member of a union?

This. Keep to the facts.

I'd say thanks for clarifying, and study your butt off to get out of there asap, they don't deserve you

I would look for another job.