Debt Free by 40 Debt Diary

oakdale_minx

deep breath..............here goes........

My meeting was at 11.

At 10.30 I had a letter hand delivered from Cruella. It said that she had scheduled a meeting with her, a member of staff from HR and trade union if I wanted as she had concerns about the way I was working. It was not a disciplinary but an 'exploratory' meeting to talk about my work. My colleagues were stunned. I didn't get upset. I sat quietly. And I got furious. But focused and furious. I have worked in my profession for 16 years and I have never had anyone take issue with how I work. Until now.

The union rep arrived and was disgusted. He said he I had grounds to call off the meeting as it was wrong to deliberately deliver a letter like this so close to the meeting. I took a deep breath and with the backing of two colleagues, I told him about what Cruella has been doing to me. And that I wanted re-deployment. He was very shocked and said whatever the outcome there was support and legislation to help me.

We went into the meeting. He started by lodging a protest about the letter and the timing. Cruella shuffled and looked down. The HR manager stuttered that he noted this. And that was it. She had dropped a clanger, and put me in control.

Cruella told me that my options were:

- be offered one of the new jobs, on a trial for 3 months as it was felt it was 'substantially different' to my current job. This was excellent news as it was the card I wanted to play. At the end of the trial either side could say it was/was not working. The job ISN'T substantially different, 50% has been taken away, but the rest remains the same. But this obviously was just what Iwanted to hear from Cruella.

- The job is full time and full time on site. Now, I have a recognised disability with my back and I work at home for 1.5 to 2 hours a day on a laptop. I said that as this had worked for nearly 6 years I felt it was workable and that I had made plenty of lifestyle changes to accommodate my problem even to changing to an automatic car this week. I said I did not ever want to be as ill as I originally was (I ended up as a neuro patient as I have spinal cord damage). The HR manager gulped (Disability Act ringing in his head I hope) and he said that if I took the trial, this would be something that could be discussed with Cruella

- I then asked to be told - in detail - about the redeployment policy and the redundancy policy.

- The HR manager tried to throw something in. He said 'just a thought - if O_M takes the trial and she feels it isn't working, and Cruella thinks it is - then she is making herself unemployable as she is turning down appropriate employment. She could then be in a situation where she would to told she did not qualify for any redundancy. The union rep sat up and stared - hard.

- the HR manager then stuttered. I'm sure though Cruella, if O_M thinks it isn't working, then you wouldn't say it was just to make sure she didn't get redundancy? Of course not Cruella said

- Can I have that in writing said the union rep.......

I went for it. So, I said, I am having the choice taken away. I accept a trial, doing basically my own job for Cruella. If I feel it isn't working, I accept the option for re-deployment and Cruella says it was working, I could lose my redundancy?

- Yes, said the HR manager. You would have to go to court.

- Right I thought - so, what if I don't accept the trial???????

Much shuffling went on with HR and Cruella. I would stay in my current job until 1 April, then be put forward for re-deployment. If nothing was found in 3 months, I would be made redundant. I checked - but I would definitely get redundancy??

Yes..........

- one month tax free per year as I had rad in the union magazine recently??

- another gulp from HR............Yes........

I have as much time as I want to think about it.......I reckon 31 March might be a good time to tell them I don't want the trial.......

I've asked all the options to be put in writing to me. The union rep. asked for a copy. He thought I did really well. He said I was in control, focused and asked lots of good things. He said he could hear little digs as she was speaking to me, trying to subtley bully me even in the meeting.

I've got her..........I bet she thinks she was going to upset me by what I was offered - I've got news for her........that letter she delivered was probably the best thing she's ever done.......the worm turned after reading it.......

slowlyfading

Absolutely fantastic, you held your ground and it paid off and they could see what she is really like. -hug- You should be really proud of yourself.
Nicola x

medman

WOW:j

I'm an avid reader of your thread and followed the twists and turns with increasing enthusiasm. What is amazing is the clear correlation between reducing debt and increasing confidence. You can actually see you translating financial control into control of your life.

I've said this before but; you really must write a book, it would be inspirational, amusing and a real page turner. Each time I look in, the story line takes another sudden turn, you really should think about it.

Go O_M!!!:T

polki

medman wrote:

WOW:j

I've said this before but; you really must write a book,

I would buy it!

Verbatim

Oh really well done O-M. Great that you stood your ground and faced the bully down.

I'm sure you'll feel stronger for knowing you took her on and succeeded.

happyformonths

I'm so pleased that things are really turning a corner for you this year, O_M.

Hang on, it's not that "things are turning", it's that you're MAKING them turn!

100% congratulations to you; you deserve the best and I've been delighted to read your recent good news and courageous moves.

HFM

slowlyfading

polki wrote:

I would buy it!

me too! It would be a great read!

BoingBoing_2

Well done OM, you've probably shocked cruella to the core hehe x

Bewitched2761

way to go Om I think 2007 is definitely your year! Bank charges, back pay and now bearding the lion in her den!
well done you !!

medman

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oakdale_minx

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I rest my case, that book would just fly off the shelves.

MM