Title issue

[HRHPrincessMegan]

I recently started a new role. Before joining I queried the title as it wasn’t specified in the contract. The HR response was that it’s a standard template but that the role is senior XXXXX Shortly after joining it became apparent that there is an internal hierarchy and that I don’t have the senior title. Again I queried this with HR who said that my pay scale was in the senior bracket etc but to check with my line manager. My line manager has since told me that I am not senior and that I shouldn’t have expected to be hired with that title as I have been on a career break. I’ve gone back to HR and quoted their email back to me but they just keep referring me back to my line manager. I wouldn’t have accepted this role if I’d known. Where do I stand legally?

I would contact Acas for advice:

m.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3977

Thanks. I will do tomorrow. I had a quick look at their website but couldn’t find anything.

Not a lot you can do really. It’s not on your contract and even if you could argue it’s contractual through correspondence st this early stage they can change it anyway, especially as you have incurred no financial loss. What did the job ad say?

There was no add, it was through a recruiter.

The recruiter had no information about the job title?

Either way, there’s not a lot you can do about it. You could argue that the email from HR constitutes part of your contract, but all they’d have to do is write again varying your contract ‘back’ from that.

At every stage of discussions it was described as a senior role and they continue to do so but without wanting to give me the title formally. I have as much experience as the others on the team with the title. They are all male.

Ultimately it’s just one of many red flags about the organisation that have cropped up since joining all of 3 weeks ago.

Find a different role somewhere else!

It is very concerning that you have a similar amount of experience to the men in the team but this is not acknowledged, do you have similar responsibilities? Have you queried this?

It might be a good idea to look for something else.

It sounds like you did the right thing in querying this with HR when you received your contract and you should have been able to rely on their response. I'd consider putting in a formal grievance about this - that way they can't keep batting you between HR and your line manager, they'll have to make a formal decision. It sounds like you may have a potential sex discrimination case here.

Do you want to stay working for this company - how easy would it be to find something else at the senior level?

Is it just the title of the job that isn’t as described ?
Or is the pay and the content/responsibilities less also ?

I ask because this happened to me - i set my email footer up one I started with XXXX title and was informed that I wasn’t, I was yyyy.
Felt like a twit and was annoyed with recruiting agency as that was what they had sold the job to me as.
However the job itself and the salary were exactly what was agreed so it made no difference anyway. Stayed in the job and loved my time there while learning loads.

Does it make a big difference to you ?

Quick update. So there seems to be a climb down by HR and the head of the team. HR is being very sheepish but it was clearly a miscommunication on their part.

I have stuck to my guns and said that I would not have accepted the role without the senior title. The title puts me on an equal footing to the men on the team who have a similar amount of experience. And we will be doing the same job. So yes the title matters to me.

I have now been told that it is being taken care and I have a meeting on Monday when I should be told formally. We’ll see.

I’ve found it a thoroughly crap start and my trust levels are low. I’m keeping my options open and reopened discussions that I was having with other firms before accepting this role.

Thank you all for your input

@HRHPrincessMegan
Thanks for updating and glad you got it sorted. Fingers crossed for something even better.

As long as you are getting the salary, does it really matter what your title is?

I hope this is resolved in your favour OP.

I can see why this is important and I think you're absolutely right to push the issue.

I'm glad you pushed. Titles give status, and accepting a lower title means that you're accepting a publicly lower status. Salaries generally aren't public, so titles are all that the world has to go on. Why on earth should OP look inferior when she isn't?