Trail Period after getting the job?

highfivenot

Hi

Hope someone can help, I went through being at risk of redundancy and applied for the position that was available, I was told verbaly I had the job and everyone else was made redundant. I got nothing in writing and no one even came to see me (I work away from the Head Office). After a month I said that I thought that they havent handled it well and would like something in writing and to clarify a few things, well on Friday they come to see me and tell me that I'm on a trial and that they might still make me redundant if they feel it isnt working out. Can they do this? As far as I was concerned I had the job, but there is a rumor that they want to bring someone else back instead. They also want to cut my hours a bit and I think they are going to make it really hard for me.

Any advice would be great!
Thanks

robpw2

if they make you redundant they cannot bring someone else back to that role ..

jazzyman01

You are not clear on whether the job that you applied for and were successful in obtaining was the same level, salary, tasks. If you are doing the same job then a trial would not apply as there are no new skills etc.

It is quite normal for companies going through redundancy situations to minimise the numbers of people affected by encouraging them to go for vacant positions elsewhere in the organisation. To ensure that you do not feel you have made a mistake, and for the company to ensure that you have the relevant skills, there is usually a trial period. This is also normally agreed at the time of the appointment. Basically either you or the company can decide that the new role is not for you and your redundancy terms will apply.

If you gave a bit more information on whether there were differences in the job roles (inc pay but you do not have to be specific just say more or less) and your length of service, you may get more specific advice.

highfivenot

Thanks for your replies.

The job I now have is a combination of two roles, its the same salary and when the other person was away I would cover for them so nothing new (I would also help them out if they were busy and I wasnt). I've been there 3 years and at my interview nor at any other point until a month after I had been in the role did they mention this trial period.

I hope that clarify's things.

Thanks again.

bendix

robpw2 wrote: »

if they make you redundant they cannot bring someone else back to that role ..

Yes they can. While your comment is correct in principle, in reality it can easily be argued that business conditions change even 5 minutes after a reduncancy takes effect which might mean that role is reinstated. This happens in sales companies a lot, when a big order comes in.

My firm made lawyers redundant last month. They are now rehiring lawyers, as business has picked up.

getmore4less

highfivenot wrote: »

Hi

Hope someone can help, I went through being at risk of redundancy and applied for the position that was available, I was told verbaly I had the job and everyone else was made redundant. I got nothing in writing and no one even came to see me (I work away from the Head Office). After a month I said that I thought that they havent handled it well and would like something in writing and to clarify a few things, well on Friday they come to see me and tell me that I'm on a trial and that they might still make me redundant if they feel it isnt working out. Can they do this? As far as I was concerned I had the job, but there is a rumor that they want to bring someone else back instead. They also want to cut my hours a bit and I think they are going to make it really hard for me.

Any advice would be great!
Thanks

There are a few things to consider here,
They have failed to follow process so you will have a potential claim anyway, they should tell you about trial periods at the time.

The time line is not clear since not everthing has been put in writing

You may or may not be entitled to a trial forthe role.

Did you get an at risk letter what dates were on that?
When were the orther people actualy made redundant?
Any other dates that might be relevent?

A trial period can be 4 weeks and if they have not told you before the 4 weeks are up that you had not been successfull then it is succesfull.

So what will be important is date the others got made redundant this will be an ovious date for a trial to start, other dates may be usable if there is any evidence of a change in roll before then, if you are now still doing the job and 4 weeks have gone then the trial is over and you have the job.

If they are going to try to get you out, then you may not want to work there anyway now I would get some legal advice there is a good chance they are going to mess this up if they try to use a failed trial period to make you redundant. You probably allready have enough for a claim of some sort.