Job Description

junkie_ball

Hi,

I am just after some clarification to do with job description within the work place. I understand your employer is allowed to change your job description if your role within i company has changed over time and the old job description is obsolete.

My question is your employer allowed to change your job role without notice and at the same time employ an additional member of staff to do your old job without it being agreed? I have a situation where I have stumbled on plans to employ a new member of staff to do my current role and place me back into my old role which i am not happy about doing.

scheming_gypsy

From what you've said it sounds as though your company don't feel that you're capable of doing the job you're currently doing and want to replace you. In doing that they're giving you your old role back instead of a disciplinary for capability.

Jarndyce

The very fact that you are being placed back in a role which you have done before suggests that your contract will allow them to do that.

And how exactly did you 'stumble upon' the plans? If this was in any way dodgy then I would keep very quiet until they are made public otherwise you might end up with no job at all!

junkie_ball

It's not to do with the capability of the job its basically because of increased work load they are looking at placing me back to be in charge of contracts rather than design work which i currently do. They have a lead for a new employer that would be able to do the design work but not the contract work hence the plan in change (this employee also used to work for the company approx. 6 years ago).

I overheard the conversation as i walked by my managers office. As it's not official i would not mention it until something was said i have been in my current employment for 10 years and have run or been involved in most departments this is why i believe they are thinking of changing my role i believe although i have been in the design side for the last 5 years full-time and helped out from time-to-time prior to this.

Jarndyce

Sounds like a perfectly reasonable thing for them to do then, assuming you remain on the same terms and conditions. You might not like it, but that doesn't mean you have any right to refuse, sorry.

SarEl

You must have been walking by your managers office very slowly to hear so much of the conversation.

But regardless of what you heard, this is all entirely speculation until they make it formal and say exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it. There may be a million explanations, and some of them may be better (or more lawful) than others. It may indeed be that they think you can no longer deliver the goods on this developing role; or that you haven't been; or that this "mission creep" has resulted in the neglect of areas that should be your responsibility; etc etc.... You need to wait and see what happens - or ask your manager if you feel that you must.

junkie_ball

SarEl wrote: »

You must have been walking by your managers office very slowly to hear so much of the conversation.

But regardless of what you heard, this is all entirely speculation until they make it formal and say exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it.

It's just the way the office is laid out i need to obtain files from cabinets outside his office and need to spend long periods of time there. They forget how thin the walls are in the office (Old porta cabins.)

I agree it is all speculative and not trying to jump to any conclusions about my job role. I was just looking for an answer to whether they can change my role within a company and employ someone to do my old job without my agreement so i was informed IF and when i'm told.

I was on the understanding if a position was made redundant it couldn't be filled again for a period of time (im aware companies slightly change job roles just enough to overcome this though) isn't this the same sort of thing?

Jarndyce

junkie_ball wrote: »

I was on the understanding if a position was made redundant it couldn't be filled again for a period of time (im aware companies slightly change job roles just enough to overcome this though) isn't this the same sort of thing?

No. There is no redundancy and - if and when it happens - you are being moved to a role that you have done before therefore the employer is perfectly entitled to move you back there.

You can, of course, always take out a grievance against the decision when it is announced.

junkie_ball

Jarndyce wrote: »

No. There is no redundancy and - if and when it happens - you are being moved to a role that you have done before therefore the employer is perfectly entitled to move you back there.

You can, of course, always take out a grievance against the decision when it is announced.

Thanks for the clear and concise answer. This was the information i after. Hopefully won't be an issue but worth knowing.