Have 48 hours to decide - WWYD?

[workproblems]

I have name changed for this as it could be identifying if anyone from work is on mumsnet.

I will try and keep this as brief as possible, but basically I am faced with a situation at work of having to choose between two roles.

I started my current role about a year ago (have been with the company over 5 years so this was just a change of role). It started off without any line management responsibilities, but then in the summer I was given one person to manage, and then two. I am doing a professional qualification and was under the impression that I was getting a kind of 'introduction' to line management as part of my development etc. Anyway, due to various issues including understaffing, high workload etc, the team have not been meeting deadlines which has reflected badly on me.

My work decided to do an investigation meeting about my performance and went through some random examples and I responded. I had just found out I am pregnant after two miscarriages, and did not need this stress so told my manager and HR that I was pregnant. HR were supportive initially and said the investigation was overkill and unnecessary, but then they spoke to my manager, and then came back with a proposal for me to do a more junior role as a way of reducing stress at this time of my life I.e while I am pregnant.

The junior role they offered is paid £5k less than my current salary and does not include line management. My current job description does not actually include line management either, but they made it clear that if I choose to stick with this role I will immediately have full responsibility for the team (currently 2 people but they have agreed to recruit another as they are ridiculously overworked). I have a feeling they will be watching me very closely and trying to find things to pull me up on in order to do more performance management.

So do I go for the junior role, take a pay cut and do mundane tasks i can do with my eyes closed, and accept the humiliation of the whole company knowing I have essentially been demoted and have a new manager come in to replace me, but at least be safe in my job while waiting to go on mat leave (if I don't have another miscarriage that is!)

Or do I keep my current role, step up and make an effort with line management now I have had more exposure to it and been given some feedback, and use it as a chance to turn things around? I will then get to go on mat leave in September so if I can keep things going until then, I will then have a think about my long term options once I am due to return. I will finish my professional qualification in July 2020 so I can leave after that if need be, but would rather not leave before as it is a pain to get a new employer to agree to pay for it etc.

Thank you for reading - I am told I have to make the decision on Monday so don't have long to think about it!

Contact ACAS tel no: 0300 123 1150

Contact Acas tel no: 0300 123 1150

Acas website[ www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2042]

[http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2042]

Is your current employer paying for your qualification and will you have to pay it back if you leave within a certain time? Re the actual question, only you know what you’re capable of. It sounds like you might have to put in some extra hours to manage the workload. Does your work have a mentoring programme?

Sorry repetition; the first message didn't appear.

Acas can help guide you more clearly on this. You've been there over 5years so you have rights. Look over your contract and see what it says about the change of contract, Confidentiality.
Ask ACAS about the time around responses and if the time they have given you is fair!? After all, is a big decision to make. [http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461]

Do you enjoy your current role?

@mimibunz no there isn't a mentoring programme, it is quite a small company.
Yes I would have to pay them back part of the qualification on a sliding scale if I leave within 18 months of completing it, but then I would most likely get a job local to me rather than in London so would save on paying for the season ticket, and the qualification will boost my salary.

I work quite long hours at the moment (around 11-12 hours a day) so would have to continue that in the manager role but could probably reduce it in the junior role. Lots to think about.

@perci08 thank you, I have tried looking at acas but I don't really know what my question is as it is quite specific. I don't think my employer is necessarily doing anything wrong, they are just offering me an option that will get me out of performance management I guess.

@YeOldeTrout yes I enjoy the work, although I do find it stressful because we have been understaffed for so long that we have had to cut corners which I hate doing. I am nervous about having full responsibility for the team because I don't really know 'how' to manage if that makes sense, so I will need to focus mainly on that aspect. I also have a lot of my own work to do as well as managing, and juggling my own deadlines with trying to motivate others, train them etc is what I find stressful.

I would consider very carefully before taking such a big pay cut, especially when you are going to go on maternity leave and it would presumably affect your maternity pay. It sounds as though the main problem is lack of staff which they are going to address anyway. What does your contract say about working hours? Are you obliged to do 11-12 hours?

@Coronapop yes the pay cut does concern me and would not be good for our household finances as I am also the higher earner. My contract says my normal hours of work are 9 - 5:30 Monday- Friday with an hour lunch so 7.5 hours per day, but it also says you agree work working time may exceed 48 hours per week which is to do with the Eu working time directive I think.

But if I complain about the hours my manager just says deadlines have to be met, you must not be working efficiently enough (even though I am), this type of role will always be long hours, etc.

Most men people would fight to keep the job they like better.

My gut would be to stick where you are. Ask for more support with this new manager aspect of your role as it wasn't part of the role when you started. We've had similar issues at our workplace and unfortunately I was one of the ones under a totally unprepared, overwhelmed new manager. If senior management had some for sight they could have made the transition much easier for everyone!

Congratulations on the pregnancy btw!

This is outrageous behaviour by your employer!

I am doing a professional qualification and was under the impression that I was getting a kind of 'introduction' to line management as part of my development etc. Anyway, due to various issues including understaffing, high workload etc, the team have not been meeting deadlines which has reflected badly on me

Firstly they didn't formally state they are expanding your existing responsibilities to line management, it's just an "impression" you got.

Then whatever targets that team were set, become your direct accountability by default, which sounds like weren't in your personal Objectives?

Then as a direct consequence of you announcing you're pg, they immediately propose a demotion with a pay cut?

Really? Under what circumstances would a male employee be subjected to that humiliation, loss of income, and reduction in status.

I have tried looking at acas but I don't really know what my question is as it is quite specific

First things first, pull together a factual written grievance stating the chronological order of everything in this situation, the timescales and refer to discrimination under the Equality Act. If the company has a discrimination/equality policy, refer to the wording in there.

Contact ACAS, give them an outline of the facts and ask them to comment on whether it is discrimination.

By putting this in writing to your employer, they will see the warning signs of a Tribunal case that you can lodge in the next 3 months.

I am told I have to make the decision on Monday so don't have long to think about it!

They are putting you under unfair duress, they are deliberately not giving you reasonable time to consider your options. Great, it just strengthens your case further - add this to your grievance document!

Send a firm but polite email on Monday morning:
-----
Dear HR

Further to our meeting/conversation of [date]

I am currently considering the information you have provided and I will contact you again in 7 working days for a further discussion on the matter"

----

Get ACAS to validate that it's direct discrimination due to pg and then create the grievance document and submit by email to HR.

Their deadline is meaningless, what are they going to do, sack you?!

So do I go for the junior role, take a pay cut and do mundane tasks i can do with my eyes closed, and accept the humiliation of the whole company knowing I have essentially been demoted and have a new manager come in to replace me

Include this scenario in your grievance.

You should not have to fear for your job security due to pg.
You should not have to suffer a humiliating loss of status due to pg.
You should not have to be demoted to mundane tasks when you have already shown your capabilities at a more senior level.

I would recommend staying with the role you are in. Another person will be recruited so the work burden will be shared. There is light at the end of the tunnel as you will be going on maternity leave.

Don't doubt yourself and accept the junior role with a £5k salary reduction. It is not easy to climb back up the ladder especially after maternity leave so I would recommend staying in your current role, remain positive (I know it's not always easy) but I've been there.

The greatest piece of advice I was given when I was being performance managed (as a way of getting me to quit) was to go in every day with a smile on my face, and to carry on working in a professional manner while challenging their allegations . I did this even though I was dying inside and eventually the PM was quashed.

I stayed there for over 15 years after this as my team were absolutely lovely.

This was a very well known international law firm with some absolute twats n senior roles and HR.

Good luck and do come back with an update .

Thank you all for the advice. I have decided definitely not to go with the junior role and am going to request they give me more time so I can speak to ACAS etc. I will update about the outcome when it happens.