David v Goliath

loopyloo1965

Hi - I've worked in the public sector for many years, I recently applied for a job in a different department purely to improve my skillbase. I was successful and, although it was a hard decision as I loved my previous post, I decided to accept the job. On arrival on my first day it immediately became obvious the new job was not remotely what I'd applied for - when I questioned this I was told there had been an 'administration restructure' post interview & the job I expected no longer existed. The job I was expected to do bore no resemblance to the job description I had. Various other things happened and after a week I broke down and have been off sick since with stress and depression - neither of which I suffered in my previous post.

I've challenged the situation and it has been accepted that this situation should never have been allowed to happen & apologies have been made by new manager and HR. I can't go back to my old post as someone has been seconded in to that role. I have offered to take any role within the organisation (my skills and experience are easily transferable) but cannot return to the new department due to the subsequent depression I am suffering as a direct result of having being misled, I'm on a variety of medication. I am desparate to return to work, and devastated by what has happened - however I am being led to believe that I have to remain in the new department or lose my job.......even though 'they' agree the whole situation has been caused by bad management. This seems incredibly unfair, it is a massive organisation and surely they have a moral, if not legal, obligation to put this situation right. I am being entirely flexible about working anywhere else - please, please can anyone help me?

Googlewhacker

why can't you do the job that you moved to untill you can find another job.

Unfortunately whether it is the private or the public sector people mislead/misread job positions and once in there there is little they can do except offer you a position if it comes available but they will be reluctant if you have been of sick long term.

Sambucus_Nigra

What's the old job?
What's the new job?

If your skills are easily transferable - can you not DO that job?

Why not sit with HR; work out which jobs you could do and then approach all the managers that have those jobs to try and find out if anyone is leaving soon/retiring/off on long term sick and see if you can go across to them?

loopyloo1965

Thanks both for the replies, I have tried approaching HR for a transfer but in my organisation they are actively trying to get people to leave and there is nothing at my payband available.

My old job was a semi-managerial position in a busy department and that's what I applied for with the new post albeit in a different department...........only to get there and find they had changed my new post to a typist, sitting alone in a converted bathroom. Thus the impact on my CV is substantial, I am devastated I gave up a perfectly good job, I'm angry that I have been lied to and cheated by new boss who got me there by false pretences. I do not think it is right that big corporations can or should be allowed to behave like this. It's not that I can't type but that is not the job I applied for, typing was not even in the job description.

Surely there must be some code of conduct, breach of contract or promise, negligence or something similar to protect employees against being coerced in to roles they did not and would not have applied for? It is now with HR & the union - but it seems all they have to do is say 'oops - very sorry - but tough'. It just seems so very, very wrong to me.

anamenottaken

If your old job is being done by someone on secondment, when is their secondment due to end?

firesidemaid

i was thinking that too. if they are only on secondment, then let them second back again?

Hammyman

loopyloo1965 wrote: »

cannot return to the new department due to the subsequent depression I am suffering as a direct result of having being misled, I'm on a variety of medication.

I bet if the typical public sector safety blanket of virtually indefinite full pay while off sick was removed you'd suddenly find the ability.

I think you're over-reacting somewhat. What difference does it make to your CV? How is an interviewer to know you'd worked in a converted bathroom and anyway, as it'll now be an office I fail to see the problem with that either. Somehow I doubt the toilet is still there.

Judging by your comments about getting people to leave it looks like the reality of it is either suck it up or hand in your notice.

Emmzi

I am really struggling with you being in your new job a *week* and going off with sickness and depression - that screams "swinging the lead" to me. Apologies if I am wrong but it really doesn't seem like you've given it a reasonable crack. And other than the job role changing there's no suggestion that the people are evil.

Unless there is an extreme reason why you cannot work with these people that you haven't told us, it's time to get yourself back in. If the office is unsafe then get a survey done, otherwise get a coffee cup and a radio and get on with it while you look for something else.

purplepardalis

Hammyman wrote: »

I bet if the typical public sector safety blanket of virtually indefinite full pay while off sick was removed you'd suddenly find the ability.

I think you're over-reacting somewhat. What difference does it make to your CV? How is an interviewer to know you'd worked in a converted bathroom and anyway, as it'll now be an office I fail to see the problem with that either. Somehow I doubt the toilet is still there.

Judging by your comments about getting people to leave it looks like the reality of it is either suck it up or hand in your notice.

Still not getting any?

purplepardalis

Dear OP,

I too would be annoyed beyond belief if the same thing had happened to me. I wouldn't put up with it either. But I think that given they are trying to reduce the workforce in the first place, no one is going to make a big effort to sort you out. You are going to have to put a lot of energy into finding yourself another job or getting yourself back into your old one. And perhaps typing in the bathroom in the meantime. If you were in a semi managerial position you've got the skills to get yourself a new position either within your current organisation or outside of it. Focus your energy on what you want to achieve. And ignore the character assassination attempts on here - I'm sure these people wouldn't say these things to your face - they need their anonymity and and internet connection to hide behind.

I wish you all the best - pick yourself up and get yourself a new job!

sharpy2010

loopyloo1965 wrote: »

My old job was a semi-managerial position in a busy department and that's what I applied for with the new post albeit in a different department...........only to get there and find they had changed my new post to a typist, sitting alone in a converted bathroom.

Try laying bricks on a building site on the side of a mountain in the depths of January then.

There are far worse jobs than what you are describing.