Manager wants to reduce my wages, Help!!

doug3101

Hi,
I have been working for the same company for ten years and am on a very good wage because of this (Our company has banded hourly rates)

A few months ago a relatively new member of our company became a team leader for our section and recently chose to speak to me in a very unprofessional and rude manner in front of another staff member and a courier who was delivering items to us!

I felt I should not be spoken to like this and e-mailed my line manager telling him I would like to be removed from this team and the reason why.

In my recent annual appraisal I was told by my manager that it was obvious that I had a problem with this new staff members promotion, and, as I have 'voluntarily' left the team then my pay band might be downgraded as I am on a high pay band job and a similar position elsewhere may not be available.

I do not feel this is acceptable, I have spoken to the member of staff who overheard the incident and he has indicated that he would support my version of events if needs be.

I know some other people at work have had pay bands downgraded but (with no disrespect to them) I do not feel they were fully switched on when it came to knowing or finding out their rights, but then again neither am I.

I have a few things that I need to be clear on-

1) Can he do this? My contract is ten years old and the only proof I have of pay rises is on my wageslips. To the best of my knowledge there is nothing in my contract about pay rises or reductions although it does state my starting pay rate (they used to give out adendums stating your new hourly rate after pay rises but these stopped being given out quite a few years ago). Also I have not had a pay rise for this specific job, all my pay rises were for previous acheivements.

2) Is it worth making an official complaint about the incident with the team leader? All I have done is e-mail my line manager. I'm sure nothing would be done and to be honest I'm not that bothered if the responsible staff member is disciplined or not, maybe it's worth having something logged just in case.

3) I have read on the internet about consultation and agreement. Basically, if I say I am not willing to accept a pay cut can I be sacked (and If I am, can I take action?)

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks

whitewing

Speak to ACAS.

Do not rely on your colleague to support you. Even if he means it, most don't when it comes to the crunch.

I think you need to be careful about putting in a complaint. Newly promoted people are often inexperienced in certain matters until they have their corners knocked off. He was presumably promted on potential to grow into the job. Moan too much and you'll look jealous and you also will potentially be undermining the person that promoted him.

SarEl

If you have asked to be moved to another psoition then if there is not a position available at your current pay band, you either accept the pay cut or you stay where you are. The employer is not under any obligation to find you another job at a pay rate that suits you when it is you that is demanbding a change to your job. They are not making you move, they are not dismissing you, they are not making your position redundant, and they don't have to consult with you - they are doing what you asked them to.

If a member of staff spoke to you inappropriately then yes, you can complain about that, but I think you need to be cautious. To be honest, based on what you have said here, you are sounding a bit like a prima donna. No, someone shouldn't have spoken to you unprofessionally, but it was one incident, everyone has off days, and demanding to be moved to another job based on one incident appears to be something of an over-reaction on your part. If you felt that what was done was wrong, you should have complained then, or asked your line manager to resolve the matter so that it didn't happen again - not start demanding that you are moved to another job. Having done so, then you have opened the door to them saying that there is no job at your grade. The employer hasn't done anything wrong - this was all at your request.

Hammyman

doug3101 wrote: »

Hi,

A few months ago a relatively new member of our company became a team leader for our section and recently chose to speak to me in a very unprofessional and rude manner in front of another staff member and a courier who was delivering items to us!

I felt I should not be spoken to like this and e-mailed my line manager telling him I would like to be removed from this team and the reason why.

Grow up. You're supposed to be an adult. Stop acting like a petulant child. "Wah wah wah, nasty man said something to me I didn't like so I don't want to play with him anymore waaaaaaahh" is exactly what that sounds like.

Jarndyce

Hammyman wrote: »

Grow up. You're supposed to be an adult. Stop acting like a petulant child. "Wah wah wah, nasty man said something to me I didn't like so I don't want to play with him anymore waaaaaaahh" is exactly what that sounds like.

Harsh but fair!!:)

Any

You asked for change of job.
They don't have to find you a job at the same payscale as it is your call for new job.

Look at it this way - if you quit your job (as other people do when they are not happy with their current one) you will have ot find a job that suits you, not expect someone to come to you and offer you the same you had before. It doesn't work like that.

You should have complained at the time and/or try to find resolution, not spit your dummy out.

Now you want new job, they don't need to move you, you find the new job.