Civil Service : relocation

[Usernamechanged24]

I am returning to work after a long absence. My post no longer exists and I have been offered a new one in a different location (the North). I live and work in London . I am single with no children but I do have my own flat. They want me to start in February. Initially for 6-8 weeks to work from home with the intention that in the ‘longer term’ (not defined) that the north would be my location hub.

I am originally from the north and am not against moving but I have been living in London for over twenty years (continuously working for my employer: the civil service). I can’t up and move my life in weeks. They have made no mention of detailed timeframes, salary (would I retain my existing salary), transport or accommodation allowances . I am slightly terrified (I suffer with depression and anxiety so not sure if I am unreasonable to be concerned). I don’t want to accept the post and then in a few weeks be left high and dry ? Selling my home could take ages and will cost a lot : I can’t afford to pay for two places at the same time.

Unfortunately HR have said that I can’t have IT access until I am back in work (or the earliest a week before I start) so I can’t look up policies to see what may be possible. They claim no one is allowed IT access if they are away for over a month which I’m not sure is right but difficult to argue against. I have approached my union for advice but no response.

I wondered if anyone else had been in a similar position, whether I am being unreasonably worried and/or if it anyone had any thoughts on what I should ask about prior to accepting? Apologies for asking am just feeling very alone / worried about it all and conscious that with all the stress may not be thinking straight. Thank you.

As regards the 60%, my organisation has had this lowered to

<<Sorry got interrupted and posted too soon>>
My organisation has argued that they can no longer accommodate 60% attendance and it has been reduced to 40%, from April.
Also those with disabilities and other issues are being given special support^.
You reallly do need to get Inion support. I would also talk to your GP, occupational health and your Employee Support package about how this is affecting your mental health.
To be honest your HR sounds crap and doesn't really seem to be managing your return to work well. I have known someone manage to be retired on mental health grounds in similar circumstances.
I also would look for another job, as even within the Civil Service there are far more caring departments.^

OP don't let yourself be pushed into this. They're rushing you into something that is completely going to turn your life upside down without giving you all the info that would allow you to make an informed decision.

Imperative you get hold of your union - this is not a standard procedure when people have been off sick quite the opposite. It sounds like you're vulnerable at the moment and you need someone to advocate for you.

Of course people will have been covering your work while you were off, and they're probably annoyed at the extra workload (not your problem by the way), it doesn't mean your role isn't needed.

What HR are describing is vaguely similar to what happens when you've been on a career break (aside from the relocation aspect), they'll find you something if they can but it's not guaranteed and they don't generally hold your original role open for you. Sick leave is not a career break though.

I expect they may also start talking in terms of you're not redundant (too expensive....) you're being redeployed and if you don't take the role they've earmarked for you you're effectively resigning. Do not be swayed by this.

Seems bizarre that they can offer you a position without telling you what the salary would be.

To be completely frank OP, I don’t think you’re telling us the accurate story because this doesn’t add up. That could be because you have been given the wrong information, or that you have misinterpreted what they said because you’re stressed and overwhelmed/overthinking

Firstly, how long were you off sick for? It seems like a long time if your job no longer is open for you. It is CS policy that IT access is restricted after 1 month as it turns into a long term absence. Not all managers follow through, but it is in my department’s guidance. It seems like you’re being treated as if you’re on a career break.

Secondly, why they would randomly suggest a job that is based close to your hometown? Have you ever told them that you’re looking to move location or that you’re interested in jobs in that location? Did you say you feel stressed about London or are wanting to leave London? Why can’t you remain based at London in this role, plenty of teams are geographically dispersed?

if everything is as you say, you should contact the union for support

Yes your disability makes a HUGE difference. It makes you unsuitable to be relocated outside your current area.

I too feel like if you move it makes their lives easier as they don't have to deal with the bully.

civil service salaries are public information, so it’s more likely a job was offered at a certain grade. the salary can be accurately inferred, as eg all HEOs at Y department earn £X.

Ah, OK. But OP doesn’t seem to realise this?

I don’t understand the view that this is being done to remove you from your manager.

Civil service offices host large amounts of staff, and are usually operating a hybrid working pattern. This means that you don’t run into your team every single day - there might be hot desking involved etc. you could remain with your current manager and not physically be in same room as them due to this set up. You could also easily be moved to a different manager, and not physically run into your previous manager due to this set up. Therefore I don’t see an urgent need to ship you off to the north to protect your manager because you can get enough professional distance in London

I'm also wondering if it's legal to give your job to others permanently when you are off sick. I'm not finding much out on this by searching but again perhaps your union have an opinion

depends how long a “long absence” is.

@Usernamechanged24 this is so wrong.

Write to your HR and CC in your Data protection officer.

1. Invoke FOI to request a copy of the staff handbook, relocation policy and redundancy policy plus all information sent to staff about the restructure. Also ask for the grievance policy and specifically the section about not being penalised for raising a grievance.
2. Ask for time once you have received the policies to review them before making a decision.
3. Ask for details of vacancies that have been filled in your location at your grade in the last 3 month. Plus any currently being advertised.
4. Ask why you were not told about the restructure at the same time as other staff - ACAS can advise on this. Remember the KIT policy should have seen you receive this info.
5. Under the restructure you had a legal right to be considered first for posts - ask why you were not offered one of the posts when the work was split between. Point out that it was a post(s) that disappeared not you.

Talk to your TU rep, ACAS and Pregnant then screwed https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

Remember this is CS and pointing out where they failed to follow policies and procedures will see them reconsider as they know they would be fucked at an ET.

Invoke FOI

She doesn’t need to invoke FOI to get copies of policies that relate to her employment with them!

The OP hasn’t mentioned anything about being pregnant. Why would you suggest pregnant then screwed?!

they would be fucked at an ET.

there is absolutely no way you can determine that from the OP’s posts. We have nothing like the whole story here.

I know that but I also know getting the DPO involved and mentioning FOI will shake them up.

I may be retired CS HR but I know what gets results

You obviously work in a different department to me but we get access to the intranet when off for long periods so we can see policies, vacancies etc. It seems very odd to me that you don’t get the same.

What I actually said was pointing out where they failed to follow policies and procedures will see them reconsider as they know they would be fucked at an ET.

CS know they can’t win at ET if they haven’t followed policies and procedures.

Sorry I quoted the wrong poster this was a reply to @OneMoreTime23

Your right I saw long absence and had mat leave in mind.

@Usernamechanged24 sorry, forget the bits about mat leave but this still strikes me as forcing you out because of the grievance.

The OP doesn’t know what the policies are and hasn’t sought any advice from the union yet.

There are many unanswered questions and holes in the story so advising to go hard now is a but extreme. (It wasn’t like that when I left CS HR in 2011. WTF happened?!)

It isn’t going in hard it’s making it clear you want to make sure of your rights.

I’d let the union do that bit though!

It does vary between depts. For example, in ours, when you go on mat leave, you have to hand back your laptop and phone and your account is "suspended" (not sure of technical term but basically you cant log in), so there would be no actual way of accessing the policies on the intranet. We are told before going on ML to switch our CS jobs account to a personal email and have it validated to still receive internal vacancies. Maybe OP dept does something similar for other types of long term absences.

I would say happy to do role but if not available in London would want to become a contractual home worker which I would argue is the reasonable adjustment needed. Ask for another OH specifically to talk about reasonable adjustments. I think OH would think asking you to move home is not reasonable for someone with the disability depression.

Push your union they should support you..

Agree about ACAS especially if union are not responding.

Thank you for your responses: I am grateful. I’m going to meet with a friend (a Director in another government department) to discuss my situation . Will also consider all the points that you have raised.

I will speak to the Union and Acas on Monday. I have a laptop but they have suspended my IT account as is Departmental policy after one month so I can’t access policies/ procedures . Hopefully the Union or friends/colleagues will help.

The work I did was high profile so i understand that it had to be given to others in my absence.

The investigation report recommended a new manager (the previous one had “significant failings’) and the new one that I have is predominantly based in the north so I assume that is why I have been asked to go there? My previous manager was a well known bully so I had assumed they wanted to keep me away from him but that might be an incorrect assumption on my behalf?

How long have you been away from work, OP?