Quick HR question - is this fair or right?
Quick HR question - is this fair or right?
Author
Discussion

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Hi all

I work for a University on a leadership programme, 0.8FTE. Have done so for 5+ years. I have a new collegue doing the same job (delivering leadership training, Masterclasses etc), who started 10 months ago on 0.5FTE and was only recently increased to full time.

We are EU funded, and recently found out the good news that we are to have the project extended for 3 years from the end of our current contracts next June.

We all had one on one meetings about the new arrangements today. I was very suprised to hear that my post will be reduced down from 1/7/18 to 0.5FTE. Reason given - tight budget. My collegue (who I get on with really well) has had no such reduction - she is staying full time.

So I'm feeling pretty annoyed. I don't massively get on with my manager, she's not massively competent - but there have been no real overt issues and I have an exemplary HR record.

At worst this seems unfair, but is there anything I should do/ involve HR? Could this be seen as effective redundancy? I can't afford to be on a 2.5 day contract....views? It is very tempting to get very cross very quickly!

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
What does the contract say about working time?

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
It would be a new contract. I've had 5 years of contract extensions!

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Absent evidence that gender or any other protected characteristic is the reason for the decision, it's take it or leave it.

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Sadly I'm not pregnant laugh
I thought as much! It just feels unfair, but hey, that's life. Kick up the a*** to look for something where I respect the boss!

Sheepshanks

40,901 posts

148 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
tombar said:
It would be a new contract. I've had 5 years of contract extensions!
Don't you automatically become a permanent employee after two years, so if you refuse to accept the new contract then presumably they'd have to make you redundant.


Is it really correct that one employee can have their hours reduced without going through any kind of process that involves the other employee doing exactly the same work? If so, that does seem unfair.

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Thanks. That's just about my view too. I thought I might have stronger rights after 5.5 years; it would be good to get some confirmation on your first paragraph, Sheepshanks.
What makes me sick is that we were carrying a 0.5 fte vacant post doing what we do, for a few months. This got offered to my colleague, bringing her up to full time, just over a month ago ,(when they fully knew what was being put into the funding bid in terms of posts). Why didn't they just drop the vacant post, if they wanted to save money? Crazy.

Countdown

49,249 posts

225 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
tombar said:
So I'm feeling pretty annoyed. I don't massively get on with my manager, she's not massively competent - but there have been no real overt issues and I have an exemplary HR record.
I'd guess that ^^^ is the reason you're hours are being reduced and your colelague's aren't. You don't like your boss, she's clearly aware of it and so, when she's had to make a choice as to who she'd rather work with, she's opted for your colleague.

Bosses prefer people who make their life as stress-free as possible.

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

241 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
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tombar said:
We are EU funded...
No you're not.

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
CaptainSlow said:
tombar said:
We are EU funded...
No you're not.
Eh? ESF/ ERDF


Hughesie

12,790 posts

311 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
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tombar said:
It would be a new contract. I've had 5 years of contract extensions!
IR35 Compliant ?

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
I'm PAYE so should hope so!

55palfers

6,360 posts

193 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Are you both on the same hourly rate?

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Same salary grade, yes.

Chozza

808 posts

181 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
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Is your colleague better than you?
Or gets better feedback on course delivery?

This is likely to be the deciding factor

Dr Slotter

408 posts

175 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
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Has your institution got a well organised FTC employee redeployment process? Might be worth talking to them, even though you are not out of contract in the way of their usual audience, to see if anyone else in the University has got 0.3-0.5 FTE roles that suit.

Edited by Dr Slotter on Tuesday 28th November 20:57

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Chozza said:
Is your colleague better than you?
Or gets better feedback on course delivery?

This is likely to be the deciding factor
She's pretty good, yes. I came to this from a redeployment position where I was managing a social enterprise project at the Uni, a very different job and one I greatly prefer!

Nevertheless I've learned and developed myself into the role and I certainly get good feedback.

I can't do multiple quotes but in response to Dr Slotter's comment - that's what I'm hanging on for. My previous project (that I loved!) is hopefully being resurrected in the Spring and I've been told I'm wanted to run it, although there are lots of variables that might get in the way of that with the vagaries of EU funding.

Lucky me, I guess, perhaps I should just shut up and take the long view, my nose is just put out of joint a bit and I wanted to know if I should cause a bit of fuss about it.

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
On reflection, you might have a redundancy beef, but you would need to provide more information about your current contract to permit sensible advice on that.

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
Have you spoken to your manager and asked why?

tombar

Original Poster:

497 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th November 2017
quotequote all
That's tomorrow's fun and games 😉 will just ask in a non confrontational way what the rationale was....