Honorarium to end after 2.5years

MissAqua

I stepped up into a role and have been doing this for 2.5yrs and just found out that its not going to be extended again.

I do a vital role that no one else in the whole department does, and I have been very clear with my Manager that on 1/04/2014 I will no longer be doing it.

Any advise as to how I can protect myself if they ask me to continue this role as I know its going to cause MAJOR disruption when I refuse to do it....

I am not doing it out of spite but I have not exactly been treated well and have been dumped with more work than my job description covers after they got rid of a manager and gave his jobs to myself.. an admin... so do not want to do work that I will not be paid for.

I also belive that despite the length of time I have been in this role as its an Honorarium it can be with drawn at anytime unless anyone knows any different....

I am really going to have to tighten my belt now as this is going to be quite a shock to teh system

DigForVictory

Talk to your manager.

Be prepared to negotiate - if you want the money in the paypacket reliably, then it's time to negotiate. You're in a good position, but not bombproof, so stay calm but be absolutely clear about what you want.

Refusing to play as of 1 April is understandable but at such short notice it highlights that everyone should have known & planned a workaround this months - so while you could "withdraw your labour" they can terminate your contract.

Best of luck!

Southend1

They can't terminate OPs contract for her actual job because she refuses to continue to act up without the responsibility allowance. If I were OP I would be arranging to sit down with manager to discuss either extending the arrangement, making it permanent or handing back the additional responsibilties in an orderly fashion. OP can express a preference for one of the options but it's up to management how they decide to get the work done.

Tiddlywinks

Write to your line manager and politely summarise the issues you foresee.

Explain your disappointment that the role will no longer be yours and ask for details of how the handover will be managed.

This will show that you are not withdrawing your labour but are simply stepping back from the additional duties for which you will no longer have responsibility.

It is tricky though as the management team might have decided that the role has been downgraded and is now appropriate to your substantive position.

Do not just have a verbal discussion as things lose a lot in translation up the chain - you must put your concerns in writing.

MissAqua

Senior managers have known for sometime that this was happening and they are all aware and wish me to continue in my role which is why I found it such a shock this morning that they are not extended my contract in my senior role. I work for my Local Authrity and I believe the message is coming from higher up the ladder and from HR.

Tiddlywinks

Just came back after a quick ponder...

I'm interested in your description of the role as 'honorarium' - what do you mean by this? How did the company describe the situation?

Most organisations use the phrase 'temporary promotion' or 'temporary appointment'... 'Honorarium' suggests something slightly different.

Bantex_2

If contract says something like "any other duties as required" it will a basic matter of negotiation or walk away.

MissAqua

Thank you this is all really helpful.
Basically it was agreed that our department would host Admin Apprentices, myself and my colleague had a week to decide who would step up to a "Senior" admin role and supervise the apprentices. We agreed that I would do it although negotiations around the pay increase did not go that well for me at the time with only a slight increase but after about a year and a half a full job description and Pay Scale for the post of Senior Admin were agreed and I got an increase with a few months back pay but it was not made permanent and remained as an honorarium payment and has been constanly renewed every 6 months or so with a comment in teh letter to say that it can be withdrawn at anytime with a weeks notice.

Since Oct13 I have also taken on a financial role for the building as the Premises Manager retired and his post has not been recruited to so it was left to me to take over most of his duties which includes holding a Credit card, signing checks, petty cash, reconciliation etc..

Floss

MissAqua wrote: »

Thank you this is all really helpful.
Basically it was agreed that our department would host Admin Apprentices, myself and my colleague had a week to decide who would step up to a "Senior" admin role and supervise the apprentices. We agreed that I would do it although negotiations around the pay increase did not go that well for me at the time with only a slight increase but after about a year and a half a full job description and Pay Scale for the post of Senior Admin were agreed and I got an increase with a few months back pay but it was not made permanent and remained as an honorarium payment and has been constanly renewed every 6 months or so with a comment in teh letter to say that it can be withdrawn at anytime with a weeks notice.

Since Oct13 I have also taken on a financial role for the building as the Premises Manager retired and his post has not been recruited to so it was left to me to take over most of his duties which includes holding a Credit card, signing checks, petty cash, reconciliation etc..

Certainly in relation to the last part I would be asking for a review of my current job description with a view to a re-grade. Financial responsibility scores highly on the NJC pay review scale and you may not be at a level where you should have authority to hold a c/c.

However, local government belts are extremely tight, and I know that some are not continuing with temporary contracts, honoraria, acting-up allowance etc as a means to cut their wage bill. That is probably what has happened with your situation.

I would be asking for a meeting with your manager & HR advisor to discuss the implications of your returning to your historic job role. They may make it a permanent thing, they may second someone else, or they may recruit. Whichever way, you need to advise management that you will no longer be undertaking those tasks.