At Risk

stephonice

I work out of town on a very loose fixed term contract that ended in May 2011 but has been allowed to run on month by month - the terms are a daily rate, travelling expenses and overnight accommodation when required.

Our HR department had advised me that because this so called agreement had run on for longer than a year I was entitled to all employee rights e.g. healthcare, notice period etc.

The former MD and Operations Director who were responsible for me being here have now both left the business in the last couple of months.

I am the only person in the business that carries out the role, the role is that of a relationship manager that is responsible for maintaining relationships with a supply chain that generates over £150K a year in rebate/commission. When I joined the business this figure was less than £50K.

Despite the Financial Director standing up in a meeting yesterday saying that part of next year's strategy was going to be rationalise the supply chain, squeeze them for better rebates and re-negotiate terms and conditions, I was placed at risk yesterday, 1 year and 11 months after joining the business.

They say they need to look at costs and feel they no longer need someone of my calibre to do this role and will be creating a new role of Supply Chain Co-ordinator - half the salary, no travelling expenses so therefore the person needs to be local and I am more than welcome to apply.

I have not yet got a job description for this new role but will be requesting one to see how this role differs from the one I do now.

I know I probably need to take advice on this but feel the people here are knowledgeable and take the time to read and reply so thought I would just put this on here to see what people think.

stephonice

Less than 24 hours of putting my role at risk, they have now advertised the new role.

Am I right in thinking that if the new role was a possible option for them if consultation proved that my role was redundant, they should not have advertised it until I was told I was redundant?