HELP PLEASE: job re-evaluated and massive pay drop ensues

[stuffedlikeaturkey]

can anyone help PLEASE.
dh works for a local authority and has been seconded for last few months into a higher position, filling in whilst they recruit a new person foe that post (he does not want that job and has not applied for it0. He is due to return to his old job in 3-4 months.

He found out yesterday (by accident, chatting to another manager) that in his absence his job has been re-evaluated and the salary adjusted downwards, very substantially. His deputy is 'acting up' to his post so this has not been an issue as his 'acting up' salary is higher than his normal salary.

He was not told of the re-evaluation, nor invited to contribute to the assessment ( a case of out of sight, out of mind I think).

My questions are:

1. Can a job be re-evaluated and the salary reduced like this? This is a London Local Authority for whom my dh has worked for many years.

1. When seconded, is there not a legal obligation to be allowed to return to your original post on original terms?

Can anyone offer advise, please.

OK - update: he's made arrangements to talk with HR.

His line manager (useless git) has washed his hands off it, saying he knows nothing about it. He is only his line manager in this 'seconded' job anyway so wants nothing to do with an issue in DH's 'real' job. Probelm is he does not really ahve a line manager in his original job as it is like a council 'quango', set up for one project, albeit a ten year project.

It definately is not the Single thingymabob, but sounds like the previous writers 'salary and benefits review'.

How did your day go, sobernoel?

what a nasty trick. I would be straight on to my union for some of their free legal advice. And if there is nowt to be done, Id be job hunting.

oopps

sorry about name disguise.

Just to say, a friend of mine has experienc eof using Managers In Partnership ( as suggested by Edam earlier) and they were very good and she "won"...and that was about a pay review ( NHS "Agenda for Change") and cock ups in the communication and following the protocol by "management"

Hmm.

I suspect it really is single status, but under a different name. All LAs have to implement single status by April 2007 and lots of LAs have called it something else - it is incredibly unpopular.

It all began because historically traditionally "male" jobs like binmen were paid substantially more than "female" jobs like cleaners, dinner ladies. Single status was an attempt to provide equal pay for equal value.

Single status comprises a pay review, conducted via an agreed job evaluation scheme, in which various job factors are assigned points. Quite simply, points then equate to a position on the pay scale.

Some LAs did this earlier than others and there has been lots of staff movement between LAs as people "escape" from LAs where it has been carried out to LAs where it hasn't.

There has been massive communication of the exercise at my LA and all senior managers and less senior managers have been key in this communication. HR, unions, staff and managers are part of the project team. Hundreds of people have attended briefing sessions and many more have been assessed. Quite simply, anyone who has missed this at work really isn't paying attention.

I'm saying all this because our LA has learnt lots from the failures of others and if your DH has not had any communication from his former line manager regarding the terms of his original contract then this is a pretty major cock-up. He does need to contact HR, no matter how useless he perceives them to be.

For what it's worth - HR people get a pretty bad press generally because frequently they are only called upon by some managers to deliver the bad news the managers do not wish to deliver. Many managers choose to blame HR for their own failures. Perhaps this has happened here.

I'd be very surprised if this isn't single status. I have a good working knowledge of the scheme and I'm happy to talk more via CAT if you wish.

Thanks Philomena. DH is at work today and hoping to talk with HR.
Unfortunately HR really is poor: he just got his letter yesterday confirming a payrise that happened months ago. Ironic timing, eh!

The Single thing is also happening at teh Council, but this is distinct from that process, apparently. Although I agree with you that it seems to be doing the same thing.

Given that everyone on here has said teh same thing - that his salary cannot be just reduced without even talking with him, and there seems to be a consensus that there will be a 2 year period of protection, this has caused MUCH relief. He is looking to move out in teh next year anyway and so long as his salary is safe until then, we are OK. At least mortgage wise!

Thank you all so much for taking teh time to help me, especially as you all seem to be going through the same thing.

Glad the shock has subsided! At our LA, yesterday was the last day for accapting the new terms - so the vast majority waited until 4.59pm and then stormed the post room with their letters, many of which were signed with the words 'under extreme protest' added!