WWYD - go to office, work from home or call in sick?

[Unicorn34]

I already know that I have a case for HR and employment procedures etc but I need to decide what to do in my current situation, and have no-one to ask in rl.

Summary of situation:

• coming back from a year secondment, knowing from catch ups, rotas and meetings that I would be going back into my permanent role - until 2 days before when all that changed.
• Surgery last Weds under GA, recoup day Thurs. Get call Thurs lunch to tell me my job is staying with person who has been covering it. (I know it can't happen legally and am on the case - but was dozey at the time and didn't fight my corner on that call, just got upset.)
• Given the name of my new line manager to report to tomorrow.

So I've got HR looking into it and I wont take this laying down, but am not sure what to do tomorrow.

I don't know if the "New manager" will even be there. My existing manager (who obviously didn't have my back) is on a weeks annual leave and I have no clue what the Senior Manager, who wrongly made this decision, is doing - calendar empty and on annual leave Tues.

WWYD?

1. Put on big pants (I cry when angry and not sure how I'm going to react). Is anyone going to be there to talk to, sit with, support me? Who knows??
2. Work from home? I can contact everyone on Teams.
3. Call in sick - due to lack of recovery time and using Fridays leave to sort this shit out, I feel physically crap and mentally wobbly. However, if it wasn't for this situation I'd not be unwell enough to be off sick but would probably wfh.

I feel totally undermined, angry, alone (I've not worked in this office for a year) and just wonder what others would do in my position.

My kickass friend said to go in, tell them I wont be taking on any cases (work in the LA) and sit it out.

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks

I would assume that whether they can do this or not will depend on what your contract / job description says.

If it’s a generic job description for all SSCA’s then I think they can move you anywhere.

As opposed to a job description that says “SSCA duty team” for example.

If it was officially agreed in writing beforehand that you would go back to your original role once your secondment had ended, surely your work are in the wrong reneging on that?

I know that you've checked with your own LA policies but this also might be of help:

A guide to Secondment Law on the Local Government Association website

https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/workforce%20-%20Employers%27%20e-guide%20no.6%20–%20A%20guide%20to%20the%20law%20on%20secondments%20-%20April%202020.pdf

Do you have generic JDs? If so it may be the case as PPs have said that you can return to any post at your substantive hours and grade.

They can continue an acting up/ secondment for the person covering the job you were doing but to make them a substantive in the higher banding they would have to apply for it through the normal channels (unless been doing it for more than 2 years).

Assuming you will have mileage paid if travelling to different locations? You may be better off. Can you ask for some office based days? See if you can negotiate a bit with them.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your input.

Good luck today!

Thank you but I've chickened out (started feeling tearful before I'm even dressed) and have decided to wfh and get my ducks in a row so I'm more prepared tomorrow. I know its a cop out and I'm disappointed in myself, and I know if I was a little bit younger (soon to be 59) I'd have a bit more confidence in myself. I tend to have strength for others but crumble when I need it for myself - I hate it that one Senior person has done this to me after 8 years service.

Apart from the work situation, isn't this a bit early to be back after a GA?

I think you need to give yourself a break, you had a GA a few days ago, you will be all over the place and then the anticipation of going back into something you weren't expected. Speak to someone at ACAS, get your firm and fast facts and speak to HR about the way it has been handled.

So we have an outcome.

I had a Teams meeting with my Senior Team Manager and asked the Senior Admin to attend.

I expressed my upset and feelings around the way in which the change of team was communicated to me, and it was agreed that this was not acceptable and a meeting with the manager will go ahead when he returns from annual leave next week.

I have accepted the change of team as I found out earlier that its very likely my original team is to be disbanded - at least I wont have to go through the meetings for that, and I will continue to look out for non-frontline posts internally and look to move when I can. I also now know that my original manager doesn't have my back at all so best get a new one.

I received an apology from the TM and given an option of returning for this week to my original post or moving to the other one. I chose the other but with support and information around any relevant changes etc so I could do the role properly. To be expected to just "rock up" on Day 1 without this was not commended by the TM.

Thank you for your help during this time - let's hope some lessons have been learned on how to properly treat staff (especially post-menopausal ladies)!

Oh and I also asked for my day of annual leave on Friday to be credited back to me as I'd spent most of the day sorting this mess out - this was agreed.

Thanks for updating. Hope everything works out for you.

Sounds like a good outcome.
Thanks for updating us.

Thanks for updating & sounds like a good outcome.
Though you shouldn't have had to go through this in the first place.

I totally agree and am still very annoyed about it, but need to let go of that as its not great for my mental health.

Still waiting for HR to reply so will update them but will reiterate the distress caused.

Thank you everyone.