Looking for advice on change of job title

[CurlyTop1980]

Hi,

I have recently found out that my job wants to change my job title. The job is a statutory role that only people who have my qualification can do. IT is a required and protected role in my place of employment. My employer has told me they want to change the job title. Is this legal?

They can change your job title. No law states thry can't.

Unless your contract specifically gives them the right to change your job title, they cannot do so without your consent. Are they changing your role or just your job title?

If it’s something like Data Protection Officer it’s less about the name and more about the function, I would ask them to clarify you are still the statutory function (because roles statutory roles like DPO often have protections for the incumbent, it’s important you’re covered, if this is a way of sidling you out of it, or the role entirely, that’s the legal hook I would focus on).

>>The job is a statutory role that only people who have my qualification can do.

I think it's going to be difficult for people to advise you without knowing what the job is and what the statute says about it.

Regulated professions use certain titles that are restricted but people in those regulated roles can also hold other titles.

A medical Dr can only be called a dr if they are qualified and registered with the General Medical Council. A dr can be the (job title) Clinical Director of the Hospital.

If the hospital said, from now on we are going to call all the Drs, Policeman (another regulated a job) that would be unlawful. If they said, we are going to rename the Clinical Director of the Hospital as the Chief Vizard of the Hospital l, if they aren't changing the job content and there is nothing in the contract protecting the title, they can call it what they like.

They have to consult you.

But that doesn’t stop them imposing it after they’ve consulted you.

even if you don’t agree.

Another point to add is that it is theoretically possible that a change in job title could amount to constructive dismissal but it's probably unlikely - if your job title is Head of the Quidditch Department and they tell you your new title will be Sub-Deputy- Under-Warden Assistant in the Quidditch Department, it is arguably a demotion but this isn't very likely your situation I am guessing.

Mine changed recently, no difference in my role…just a job title change really. Still doing the same job so I’m not bothered tbh…