To think my new employer is indirectly making an issue of my salary…

[Minnierose11]

Hello! ☺️

Looking for some advice maybe, but also just questioning if I’m reading into this wrong…

Im currently coming to the end of my Mat leave (2weeks left), during my maternity leave, the buisness I work for (hospitality) was sold, with new owners taking over. They’ve no plans to change the structure of the business and basically it was sold as seen.

Im manager of the business and have been with the business for 15 years (this will be the 3rd ownership change in that time)

Before I went on maternity leave, with the previous owners, I signed my return to work contract, with my new contracted hours (part time from full time) new salary, and return to work date. My contract also includes a car parking permit, which is split 50/50 with the business and my 50% comes out of my wage monthly over 12 months.

I’ve had on and off communication with the new employers since they took over, and on one occasion via message they brought up the High wage bill and VAT bills and recently during a KIT day, they asked to have a meeting with me to discuss the aspects of the parking permit etc (That’s fine, happy to help as its not something they’ve dealt with before).

However, when we sat down for the meeting, they had my contract there, and they’d circled my salary, and my contracted hours (and only those two things). And kept flipping back to that page, but didn’t actually say anything regarding it, but I felt like they were skirting over wanting to say something…. And during the meeting again, mentioned the High wage bill and VAT.

It made me feel uncomfortable, like they were trying to say, ‘you’re being paid too much and we’re not happy with it’ without directly saying it.
However, during my Mat leave and in the 6 months they’ve owned it they gave two other staff members a hourly pay rise when they requested one, it was actually within two months of them owning it.

My DH is concerned they’re going to try to change my salary, or push me out. Or, say they can not longer afford me. And it does have me concerned..

I love my job, I know it like the back of my hand. The hours are great especially now with a child, and thanks to my length of service I am paid well (even part time).

with the previous owners, they worked within the business, so they saw my work and knew my worth. These new owners don’t work within the buisness and just pop in for ‘updates’ occasionally.

They can't change your salary without agreement, if they do try and pressure you, and you feel like if you don't agree you'll be pushed out, that will be constructive dismissal.

They could however make a case for redundancy.

Join a union now. They can advise and help you through any work related stuff (but only after 3 months and if it is not ongoing when you join)

Your employer does not need to know you are a union member.

I think you need to just wait and see if they actually do / say anything… otherwise it’s just speculation.

Redundancy would be the way they would go if they were looking to push you out. They could probably make a business case to support it and possibly offer you an alternative role at a lower rate to counter it.

I would get your ducks in a row. Have a look and see how much redundancy pay you'd be entitled to and start looking around for another role. Get your CV in order just in case so you've got your exit as prepared as possible.

Unfortunately if the business can no longer afford your role then they do have steps they can take to reduce costs, as long as they follow them correctly.

I’d be speaking to ACAS or similar for advice. In my company you’re protected if on mat leave, so get your ducks in a line now, smash it at work when you return and don’t accept any conversations about pay reductions before seeking professional support

I'm wondering if they are unhappy about you going part time (agreed with former owners so you're absolutely entitled to do so) and if they're going to get value for money paying a pro rata manager salary but left with the headache of how they organise and fund another part time manager. It's their problem so tough shit, but it might explain the huffing and puffing while circling your salary and contracted hours. I

TLDR: Old owner agreed the business could accommodate you part time. New owner may feel differently.

Agree with the other posters. But also it may not be anything major to worry about. They may have circled those things as they are the parts of the contract unique to you, rather than the generic stuff that’s in everyone’s.

The only thing you can do is set out to smash it when you’re back.