I am on too much money?

Agnes31

Hi, I am in a difficult situation atm and would be grateful for any advice.
I work for the same company almost 10years, (restaurant ) All this time my job was outstanding , have been promoted many times , awarded etc. Often I was doing a job which wasn't mine, never asked for anything back as I did love my job. My job was all my life...2 years ago I reached the highest level and become area manager.I have been one of the best people in the whole company but in the same time I was helping everyone else to do the job. never expect anything extra!
Job was good and really good pay but I also had my little boy and I did understand family is more important then money and decided to demoted myself ,came back to work in the kitchen on flexible hours.the place where the wanted me to work had already many chefs but they said its not a problem , there is many restaurant around I can work when needed.
So I become kitchen manager and they decide to put me on hourly pay.
Did not argue about the wage as I couldn't expect similar money knowing that this company is all about saving and saving.
As I am on the highest wage then everyone else working in the kitchen all my managers started to point this every single day which become very stressful for me.
Now there is not much work-we have too many chefs and not enough hours for them. Managers trying to save money and when is not busy they sending people home and always I am the first one to go as I am too expensive! Every day I hear -you r too expensive I cant give you more hours!
My chefs been told by manager there is not many hours for them because of me, because I am too expensive! I feel guilty coz I always look after my chefs and thinking that they want to get rid of me.I don't feel good at my workplace now, I do my job but stop doing everything extra for them .
Last week I had a conversation with my manager and she suggested me I should leave !!! She said I am too expensive !AGAIN! and she can see I am not happy here and if I am not happy everyone else is not happy.Did explain all to her but she doesn't really care! I am fed up , after all my hard 10 years work everyone around inc managers saying I am too expensive!
My hours been cut because of how much money I am on and they have been given to cheapest chef!
I don't know if there is something I can do or anything to shut their mouth?
(Company has a right to reduce the hours max 20% no more then six weeks.) Sorr its so long post but had to write all to explain the situation.
Thank you for any suggestions

tomtontom

How many hours are you contracted to work and are you getting those hours?

Agnes31

35 h, but after 12 weeks your contract can go to the bin coz they counting the average of 12 working weeks and that's your contract hours. If the reducing the hours they need to reduce for all not only for one, which I think they doing , all chefs have reduced hours but front of house no. so not sure.

Agnes31

Yes I am getting but -if they will keep reduce them my average will be less and less co my contract will change so my holiday pay etc. my average of working hours is going down every week

asajj

Well, your child is older now probably and you may need to decide whether you want to find another job or go back to your previous role or something similar. May be ask them to pay your severance package and go?

You can't really have it both ways I think - a family life and a job that pays you more than other people doing the same role. How would you act if you were one of these managers?

TELLIT01

Not giving you hours above the contracted minimum because of the cost is a solid business decision. If they can get the job done for less by somebody else then why wouldn't they take that route?
What is totally unacceptable is for managers to say to other staff that they can't get extra hours because you are paid so much.
From the way you describe the situation I think it has probably gone too far to be resolved effectively and you would be best served to seek alternative employment. It doesn't sound as if the company is doing too well anyway so it might be a case of jumping before you are pushed.

clairec79

So you changed your job role from area manager to kitchen manager (demoting yourself as you said) but kept the old salary? (just hourly rate instead of monthly but on the same rate?) because if so I can see why you are seen as too expensive.

To get area manager money you should be doing that job

If I have the wrong end of the stick and you are paid what they would pay any kitchen manager then I apologise

Agnes31

Thank all , just to clarify , I am not on salary anymore, I am on less and hourly paid now which I agreed.That was my decision and its all good with that.I am pretty much on the same money as every kitchen manager , well maybe 50 p more
My concern was mainly about managers saying things like I am expensive etc. in front of people and basically taking the p..ss about that.I am not about arguing about the hours - I work long enough to understand how this company works.

Agnes31

Also , I know if they cutting the hours they have to cut everyone hours not only for one person.
If they will cut because there is no job atm I will understand but saying things like they saying to me its wrong I think.
"Not giving you hours above the contracted minimum because of the cost is a solid business decision. If they can get the job done for less by somebody else then why wouldn't they take that route?"
My answer to this-its sound like saying-I will give u £10 per h coz u amazing in what u doing but start to looking for another job as you will be exoensive! They gave me this money , I did not argue about that.
And contract is a contract I don't think they can discriminate people because they on 50p more then everyone else. I am looking for another job. But did like my job so don't understand why I should leave ? As I said I did work hard and now how I look in front of the other people when everyone else blaming me for not having the hours? 10h a day need to listen this. Not good.
All I want is to find out is if there is anything legal I can do about manager.

Southend1

It's not illegal to discriminate against someone because they are paid more.

If you are only on 50p an hour more than the other kitchen managers I don't see how it could be an issue really. I think there's more to it than you are aware of. Perhaps colleagues resent working with you because of your previous position? You might be viewed with suspicion as a 'management spy'

Topcat1982

You could offer to work for 50p less so you get more hours I suppose.