Job transfer to M'chester - you don't get bonus

alice's_mum

Hi guys recently posted on here about OH's job being transferred to Scunthorpe(he's been going over 2/3 nights each week since April) anyway job is going there premanently. he is not going - lots of reasons, anyway they offered him a job in Manchester Depot - ok bit stressed how get there no spare to buy car etc.

But today find out that he is expected to go to Manchester for the same money - its a much bigger depot with more staff responsiblity, reason being " your the highest paid Quality Manager we have so you can't have any more money" to which OH replied "I'm the best qualified F******g QM that's why". (obviously he was more polite than that).

BUT THEN THEY SAID - YOU GO TO MANCHESTER ON THE SAME MONEY AND YOU WON'T GET YOUR COST OF LIVING BONUS THIS YEAR. This is the decision of the MD and it's not negotiable.


To say OH was furious is an understatement, after all the stuff he's done in Scunthorpe setting up a completely new site, away from home for weeks sometimes and the B>>>>>>>>>D (I can't get the angry face to work!!!) is now saying he can't get his bonus - he was only gonna get the annual inflation thing anyway about £600 pyear nothing exrtra for all his hard work.

Now we really feel this is unfair and want to make a fuss, however, as it's the MD's decision if he makes a fuss he may just loose the job completely (they may just say he can't have it) and goodbye. we couldn't manage if that happened. Is there anything we can do. We're stuck now, we;ve got to find money (anyone got any spare lol) to buy a car, tax, insure and MOT the thing and then there's fuel (they have said they'd pay petrol for first 3 months as a gesture of good will). he's only been theire 4 years so redundancy wouldn't we worth much, but they are willing to pay him to leave but not willing to pay him more to keep him.

Also the Co. has recently been bought out by a big European concern, but that doesn't come thru till 23rd June. So OH wondered about waiting till they took over coz then MD's decision wouldn't count, but has been told it is only a umbrella company and his co. will still be run by the MD who makes all the decisions. (can this be right)

If any of you experts have any ideas on what we can do, they will be gratefully received.

Many many thanks for reading this far .

Ali's mum

alice's_mum

anyone?

or have we just got to take the "no cost of living bonus" which we accept is discretionary - but usually people only don't get it if they've done somthing "wrong" which is definately not the case with OH.

Prudent

Maybe the company needs to cut costs? If your oh on more than others doing the same job, perhaps they just see that as one way of cutting back?

Emmzi

what does his contract say about annual pay review and bonus?

Little_John

"BUT THEN THEY SAID - YOU GO TO MANCHESTER ON THE SAME MONEY AND YOU WON'T GET YOUR COST OF LIVING BONUS THIS YEAR. This is the decision of the MD and it's not negotiable."

This bit seems very strange, If he goes to manchester which is what they want him to do they will not give him the bonus. it just doesnt work out.

I see you have yourself located in Liverpool by the sea hmm southport maybe. how does he get to Scunthorpe at the moment? its alot further that it is to Manchester, is the living bonus that he receives there as somthing to cover the extra costs that he has for traveling and staying in hotels I expect it it and was only given to him when he started working in Scunthorpe I know alot of comapnies that do this it is s your not out of pocket. I dont know how much extra he received but surley most of it was eaten up by expences?

Working closer to home he wont have so many expenses Where did he work prior to the Scunthorp job? Liverpool I asume so getting there was easy. Moving to the manchester depot seems to be the only option he needs to decide wether he wants the job or to find another job, if he is so good at the job he does I am sure he should be able to get another job.

Efectivly his job has been made redundant in Scunthorp and rather then loose him they are offering him a transfer I am not sure but I think the the existing contract should be retained and everything should just continue they cant make any changes to it. What is happening seems to be very much like constructive dismissal they are makeing an unworkable change in an attemtp that he will leave the company on his own rather than them giving him the boot. this type of thing can result in your OH taking them to court.

I would contact acas regarding this and see what they have to say

Emmzi

what are the 'lots of reasons' he isnt going to scunthorpe? His choice or theirs?

This could affect any potential 'constructive dismissal' discussions...

alice's_mum

Thanks for the replies guys

Little john - no this cost of living bonus is like their annual pay increase after their appraisals, it's given to every member of the company at a basic % rate. Onlyl people who've acheived really well get more than the basic and people who have "failed" at something don't get anything at all. It he took the job in Scunny they'd give him his yearly bonus!!!!!

When he's been going to Scunthorpe now, he has a company credit card and puts all costs for that on the card and the company pay it. It doesn't come from his wages and he got no extra for going. he has access to a Pool Car for the trips to scunthorpe and is scrupulous about only using it if he's going to Scunthorpe or to visit a client for the company otherwise he's on the train. We live in Crosby North Liverpool (not Southport they'd never have put Liverpool in the address!!!) and work is based in Garston (south Liverpool) but on a direct train line.

This bit seems very strange, If he goes to manchester which is what they want him to do they will not give him the bonus. it just doesnt work out.

This is the bit that's got us. He was told by the Regional Director of Manchester on Friday you can have this QM Depot Job on the same salary, but you can not have your yearly bonus - this is "SH - the MD's decision and it is not negotiable". To give the Regional guy his due - he checked all OH's qualifications again and went back on the phones to try and get this sorted but... the MD has the final say, and "the computer says NO!!!!!!!" We're currently searching for his contract to check the Terms and Conditions but I have a feeling that as it's discretionary it won't be mentioned. Would that effect ACAS - I mean it's "custom and Practice" doesn't that count for something.

Emmzi - the "lots of reasons" are two kids in school, my job, my mum (74) living on own, currently round the corner. We are both from Liverpool so all friends etc here. And we only moved here 3 years ago for this same company after a move from MANCHESTER!!!!!! and it was a nightmare - not prepared to do it again.

As you say Little John as he is so good at job he will get another, it's just the interim having find the money to buy a car, tax, insure Mot the thing. And the seeming injustice of the No bonus - even though if he hadn't worked in Scunthorpe all these months that site would not have got it's ISO 9001 status or passed several audits from "BIG CUSTOMERS" who are now purchasing stuff from the company and making the MD millions. And he can't be a******d to pay OH £600 per year extra!:mad:

Many thanks for all help . Will get on to ACAS as suggested.

Anyone else got anything to add.

L

Little_John

The contract is the key if the bonus is part of it and it is just an office move then they cant really make any changes. usually large office moves come with a relocation fee to cover expenses you incure while changing offices but he proberbly doesnt qualify for these as he has the company CC to cover those.
If he is going to Manchester to do a different job then im not too sure I think they can make changes to bring his pay in line with other people doing the same job I'm not 100% on that.

It doesnt actually seem to be a bonus as such, it is a rise in line with inflation therefore the cost of living. Pretty much every company gives their employers an annual rise and it is normally 2-4 percent or whatever inflation is. The only reason that I can see them not giving him his annual rise is due to them not continuing his employment as a single stint making his last 4 years worthless he would be better to take redundancy and start fresh at the new place but this could annoy people.

Let us know what acas say