Change of location + broken promises

ses6jwg

Hello everyone, I am just after some advice/ views on the below situation.

Large UK employer. I started in March 2010, I applied for the job because although it was lower pay than my old job it was a permanent contract and only 2 minutes walk from my house so cut down on fuel costs and spend more time with my son who I see evey other weekend.

Fast forward 2 years to 3 weeks ago. Regional manager visited our branch, I was taken into back office with branch manager and told a position had come up in anothermuch bigger and busier branch which is 19 miles away. Based on my good performance regional management had requested me to move to that branch until the end of April.

I said that it was a big decision to make and requested I have the weekend to think about it. She said that really they needed to know that day - as I was under pressure I stupidly said "Yes I'll give it a go and see how I get on provided my fuel costs get covered".

So off I go to the new branch. I then find out:
- The move is permanent.
- My fuel costs will be met for 1 year, then 50% year 2, then 25% year 3, then no extra.
- A new trainee is being brought into my old branch to replace me

What has irked me is:
- I wasn't told it was permanent until after I had moved and I felt pressured into everything. My manager told me that the company could move me anywhere they wanted within 30 miles. I checked my original contract (how do I know if this still stands when HR policies have been aligned since we were taken over?) and my original contract states:
" Although your regular place of work is stipulated above, you may be required to change your base location to another branch that is within reasonable distance. You will be given a minimum of 4 weeks notice in writing of such a change and where possible any changes will be by mutual agreement and due consideration will be given to personal circumstances"

- When I asked the regional management about fuel costs, they told me "that I will not be out of pocket"
I've sat down and calculated that I will be using an extra £160 of fuel or thereabouts each month which is 15% of my net pay. So in affect I will be getting a real terms "pay cut" each year for the next 3 years. I dont know how my fuel allowance will be worked out and plan to call HR ASAP

I realise now after 3 weeks that I have been very naive. I am only 23 and I am eager to keep people happy and now I have realised that in this instance I have probably done that but at my own expense/

I have joined the union now just in case I need their help but can anyone give me any advice or views?

yvonne13_2

OP I'm sorry you feel that way but do you think that the end of April deadline was for you to see how you feel in the new role as in most perm jobs the first 3 months is usually a probation period?

Good luck anyway and I hope it all works out for you in the end.

ses6jwg

yvonne13 wrote: »

OP I'm sorry you feel that way but do you think that the end of April deadline was for you to see how you feel in the new role as in most perm jobs the first 3 months is usually a probation period?

Good luck anyway and I hope it all works out for you in the end.

I'm doing the same job, for the same money (excluding normal annual pay rise) just in a different place with expenses for fuel costs.

System

ses6jwg wrote: »

- My fuel costs will be met for 1 year, then 50% year 2, then 25% year 3, then no extra.

ses6jwg wrote: »

I've sat down and calculated that I will be using an extra £160 of fuel or thereabouts each month which is 15% of my net pay. So in affect I will be getting a real terms "pay cut" each year for the next 3 years. I dont know how my fuel allowance will be worked out and plan to call HR ASAP

If they are going to cover your fuel costs for 100% for the first year then you are not going to lose any money. Unless you get really poor MPG then any payment over 20p per mile will cover your fuel costs

Regardless of anything elese, 19 miles is very reasonable, it's normally up to 30 miles

ses6jwg

!!!!!! wrote: »

If they are going to cover your fuel costs for 100% for the first year then you are not going to lose any money. Unless you get really poor MPG then any payment over 20p per mile will cover your fuel costs

Regardless of anything elese, 19 miles is very reasonable, it's normally up to 30 miles

No you're right in the first year I won't be but what about year 2 and year 3?

There are 2 branches of where I work in my old location, and 2 people who do my current role, one was me who started in April 2010 and another was a girl who started in June 2011.

Now I've been sent to work 19 miles away, despite being "first in", in the name of "better opportunities" (which smells like bullsh!t to me) and now in 12 months times I will actually be worse off not only in money terms but in time spent with my son as well not to mention an extra hour out of my day travelling.

System

Sorry, it's the real world out there. Most people would jump at a move with the travel perks you have been given. TBH they didn't have to give you any mileage costs at all.

hcb42

you need to look at the positives, you are protected for at least a year with the fuel being covered. You were extremely lucky in the old lcation, but that could not last for ever unless you never planned to move. Anything could happen in a year or two! Meanwhile, investigate car sharing,t here are websites yuo can register with to see if anyone works similar hours to same destination in your village/town.