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Original poster

Discrimination

11 replies

Wizzelina · 01/12/2022 22:12

On 3 months notice but have verbally given 7 months notice of retirement. Am now being excluded from briefings attended by colleagues at similar senior level. On questioning was given a response which clearly indicated exclusion was deliberate in that it had been discussed. Could one of the employment lawyers/HR specialists please confirm is this is discriminatory as I feel that I am being written off!

OP posts:
Princessglittery · 02/12/2022 01:21

The one that comes to mind is age as you are planning to retire. It’s also likely to be incompatible with any D & I statements, including treating employees with dignity and respect. Deliberately excluding you from meetings could verge into bullying. Worth having a chat with ACAS.

Try to meet with HR pointing out that you have not handed in your notice but gave them a heads up as a courtesy to enable them to effectively succession plan. You are still an engaged employee and do not expect to be deliberately excluded from meetings just because you treated them fairly. This feels like you are being punished for exercising your right to retire and is not compatible with the organisations stance on treating employees with dignity and respect (use D & I wording to make more powerful). If appropriate drop in I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with my age.

If you chose to, you could use this as a lever to either get PILON or gardening leave for the next few months or reduce hours but retain FT salary. Personally I might start to slowly reduce the hours I work/intensity I work at and start adjusting my work life balance in preparation for retirement.

Quveas · 02/12/2022 08:49

I agree with the pp, but this thread made me smile wryly. I am also some months off retirement - 10 - with 3 months notice and I wish to God they would exclude me from the briefings, because I despise most of the most senior managers in them! They add nothing to my role so it means that I have to spend time in inteminable meetings where 90% of the senior managers are doing their "look at me I am so fantastic routine" about things I have absolutely no interest in!

To be fair, most of my colleagues think the same things but they aren't a close to escaping....

ErrolTheDragon · 02/12/2022 08:57

Are you in the sort of thing where you might do some consultancy after retirement and the briefing could have included sensitive confidential info? (I'm not sure that would make excluding you ok but at least might be rational)

Original poster
Wizzelina · 02/12/2022 18:44

@ErrolTheDragon I do have other opportunities open for discussion after retirement. However this briefing was not of that nature so I do feel I was excluded because of my circumstances. I also have strict confidentiality clauses in my contract. The responses have certainly given me some ammunition as my employer is very hot on D&I and has a strict anti-bullying policy. I’m formulating how I’m going to respond. Thanks all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wizzelina · 02/12/2022 18:46

@Quveas you did make me laugh - you could be me and I totally agree. However they cannot behave in this way just because I have a few months to go.

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 02/12/2022 18:59

Surely you are being excluded from the meetings because you are leaving, not because of your age? Why do you think it is age based?

Original poster
Wizzelina · 02/12/2022 19:16

@ChicCroissant then I would reasonably expect a discussion in advance - not just be not invited and have woolly responses when asking what is going on. Particularly because my direct report was invited. For the record, I have not given notice formally in writing. It was done in an underhand manner.

OP posts:
Aprilx · 02/12/2022 19:20

Wizzelina · 02/12/2022 19:16

@ChicCroissant then I would reasonably expect a discussion in advance - not just be not invited and have woolly responses when asking what is going on. Particularly because my direct report was invited. For the record, I have not given notice formally in writing. It was done in an underhand manner.

Well perhaps it is a little rude. But I cannot see any discrimination, as you have not been put at any kind of disadvantage or been deprived of anything (other than going to a meeting). I agree with previous poster, i would see it as a bonus. 😁

ErrolTheDragon · 02/12/2022 19:27

But I cannot see any discrimination, as you have not been put at any kind of disadvantage or been deprived of anything (other than going to a meeting).

If not attending the meeting affects her ability to do her job over the next 7 months then that's not true,

Princessglittery · 02/12/2022 19:54

@Wizzelina it could negatively impact the OPs performance with a potential knock on effect e.g. bonus, pay award, interesting work etc.

The OP hasn’t resigned just given a heads up and as a result she is being penalised with no conversation or explanation.

AnotherLogOnTheFire · 02/12/2022 21:50

I think you were daft to think that giving notice 7months ahead of when you were planning to leave would not have affected their business planning of your role. Anyone who submits notice or notice of notice in your case, causes business's to start planning around them. We start moving the employees from client accounts we don't include them in business planning and strategy...regardless of confidentiality clauses we still do not want them to leave with recent knowledge of what's going on.

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