union reps position

weezle_2

Hi please could somone advise me i feel v confused and think this is unfair.

I am currently on Mat Leave until jan 11, my position initially was fulltime and i have requested PT on return, they have a girl covering me who will remain FT, there are 2 of us on the desk and 1 has 2 days a week working for another department. Now i think this is what they plan for me on my return.

I have completed the flexi return request form they sent me proposing that the lady who currently works the other dept continues to do so and i will fill void on the desk, making sure that side of things is fully manned on those days, she has worked this division for 4 yrs and i the other desk for 5 yrs so i am the most up to speed and have trained all current staff members and 6 prior to that.
Anyway they have offered me a meeting to discuss next week, and have said i can take a staff member to act as union rep so i selected my direct manager, and emailed him my propositon, he however has been told to not discuss my return that this is only the job of HR, so whats the point in taking him in with me i feel v v isolated and confused.

Thank you:(

Googlewhacker

The company do not have to let you go on flexible working, they only have to offer you your old job back but they are doing things by the book and allowing someone to come into the meeting. This is most likely so there is an witness on both sides and there to take notes so that nothing is said that is illegal etc.

C_Mababejive

Are you a member of a Trade Union..?

SarEl

They haven't refused you anything - but you are assuming rights that you do not have. Flexible working requests must be considered, but they do not have to agree them; and you certainly don't get the right to tell them how to deploy their staff for your convenience! And you have the right to be accompanied to the meeting - but the person you want can refuse, and in this case has done so. I do not think it at all appropriate (or even sensible) to select your own manager as a companaion as they have an integral interest in your request and a formal role in deciding the outcome of it. If they are "on your side" that means you are more likely to get what you want; if they are opposed to what you are suggesting, what kind of companion will they make??!!

weezle_2

No im not a member, they just asked me to choose a collegue but then told him under no circumstances to discuss with me the case it is for HR and the meeting to decide, so he doesnt need to know anything about my plans (he is my line manager) he doesnt get to argue my case too?

Thank you

weezle_2

SarEl wrote: »

They haven't refused you anything - but you are assuming rights that you do not have. Flexible working requests must be considered, but they do not have to agree them; and you certainly don't get the right to tell them how to deploy their staff for your convenience! And you have the right to be accompanied to the meeting - but the person you want can refuse, and in this case has done so. I do not think it at all appropriate (or even sensible) to select your own manager as a companaion as they have an integral interest in your request and a formal role in deciding the outcome of it. If they are "on your side" that means you are more likely to get what you want; if they are opposed to what you are suggesting, what kind of companion will they make??!!

i have not told them how to deploy the staff at all the document asked me to note impact / benefits to me coming back under a new contract i was mearly offering what i see as a benefit to the team as they wont be 1 person down and i havent worked the other department.

honeypop

weezle wrote: »

they just asked me to choose a collegue but then told him under no circumstances to discuss with me the case it is for HR and the meeting to decide, so he doesnt need to know anything about my plans (he is my line manager) he doesnt get to argue my case too?

As I understand it - No he doesn't get to argue your case, the person you take in with you is for the purpose of witness mostly, to listen to what is said, the person you take cannot comment on anything going on in the meeting and has no input to the situation. So if you choose your manager, he will go in and just sit there and listen as a witness, he cannot make any comments in the meeting.

Therefore it doens't matter that he isn't allowed to discuss your situation with you, as he can't use that information in the meeting anyway.

Sambucus_Nigra

I personally wouldn't take my manager into a meeting like this as he will be brought into the decision anyway [prior to the meeting probably] - so take a colleague rather than your manager.

weezle_2

Thank you all for your help, hope it goes okay as there arnt jobs around to be choosing from x