I'm not in a union and have talked about my job on here before. (charity retail management; well known charity)
It's the company who (if you'd read before) - give me unpaid breaks, knowing I can't take them (i.e. no break but don't get paid a full day.. in theory should get a paid lunch hour but have no cover and been told never to leave the shop anyway). Made me take off sick days (i.e. hospitalisation) as holiday. Let my job share pay me cash in hand if I covered for her (e.g. if her child was sick or because she wanted another holiday but had used all hers up - this has happened several times). Who wanted me to use my own phone to ring mobile numbers (I politely refused)
What is the protocol for delivering important news? I was called to a meeting today at the branch manager's house, that I have had a week's notice of, to be with her, my job share and a trustee of the charity. They knew it was my day off - job share working today so at least got paid for it (and I wouldn't get paid for it including petrol - 20 miles each way) but stressed it was urgent. I agreed as didn't want it hanging over me.
Traffic was awful and took me an hour and forty five minutes to get there (probably didn't help the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge being in the area but no one had warned me of that!) although I guess that's not their fault..but as I said.. my day off. Wouldn't have minded if had been a constructive meeting.
Instead I was told that the shop wasn't working out with two managers (i.e. job shares) That my job share would now be sole manager but they could offer me something. Honestly thought would be a management position in another shop but what they proposed was that I become assistant manager i.e. demoted. Same hourly rate and more hours if wanted. Probably thought that would sweeten it 
That it wasn't personal but takings have been low (which we are all aware of ) and they thought takings could improve with one person solely in charge who had been there longer than me.
Here is the sting - I have nearly 30 years of retail experience and have been a manager (in various sorts of retail , charity and non) since I was 22. Now mid 40s. Without any problems. Job share had never been in retail but one of the trustees trained her to their liking (that was their exact words). I was never trained in this job so just had to get on with it,, at least had the experience. Being that I'm used to charity retail that wasn't really a problem or so I thought . I have or so I thought run the shop as they asked but obviously not good enough (as I said before, Trustee has not liked me from the start.. my face doesn't fit, i'm not from round there etc.. though I get on with everyone! They have glowing reports from volunteers and customers.. although that to me is a bit underhand.. asking for feedback from them about my character)
I love my volunteers and customers and many of the volunteers have said they wouldn't want to work with anyone else (I should point out that job share and I don't work together.. we have our own days)
Anyway they said I would be on the same hourly rate but could have more hours if wished..but I wouldn't have the authority I did have.I would answer to my job share only (i.e. no longer job share) That job share was never going to work any more weekends, which was her request because she has children (a bit unbelievable to me as whenever I was a full-time manager in the past I often did 6-7 days a week.. why would you take a retail manager job if didn't want weekends? It's like a bar manager saying he refuses to work evenings!)
So they said I could 'have' every Saturday, 'we thought you'd need the money'. They obviously thought I'd wring my hands in gratitude because I could keep my job and have more hours too. It doesn't work like that. I'm devastated especially as they've been so underhand.. yes I am skint but what about principles and self respect? I get demoted yet asked to work more hours inc every weekend instead of alternates? I lose my responsibility yet will cover for what she doesn't want to do? It's so insulting. They are choosing the person to be manager over me who will work less hours than me and is totally inflexible.. i already did more hours than her and would come in with no notice on days off and holidays . I don't have kids so I think they abused that. I;m not saying they should have chosen me but why couldn't they have kept us both same? The shop won't be cutting costs if kept us both on yet they think the shop would make more money :(
Have I made a huge mistake to resign? DP and I are pretty skint. Not huge debts but have mortgages, bills pets, cars, live middle of nowhere. Ok I was only on minimum wage as a manager but it all helped. In fact sometimes I'm the breadwinner. Have I done the right thing re principles?
I feel so low and shocked and can't stop crying, how am I meant to find another job in this state. DP can't support two of us and we've had an awful year with several bereavements and more very recent bad news . I can't think straight. The pressure is on me to get another job quickly when I feel this awful and stressed. Had just booked and paid for a holiday too.
So yes I was offered another position but I quit instead. I can't work where my morale would be so low because I was demoted.
Sorry long and rambling. can't stop crying and shaking. I gave up my day off and petrol for this which I've always done willingly because I care about the charity but come on!!!!! For this?!!!
Please tell me I've done the right thing to give a month's notice, with nothing to go to (in theory couldn't do another job for 6 weeks anyway as go away for first two weeks of October)