Urgent: merger/reorganisation/restructuring new job role advice

AcerSpades

I'm after some urgent advice please as I have a meeting in the morning and am hoping someone here could help enlighten me.

The small company I work for (henceforth "small company") is owned by a much larger, parent company (henceforth "parent company"). The parent company bought another large company recently, who happen to be our competitors (henceforth " new company").

Parent company has decided small company is to merge with new company and we're all taking new company's name and way of doing things. I've been told this is not strictly a merger though so those rules don't apply. We were first told it would take over a year and nothing to worry about but suddenly they decided it was all happening in the space of a few weeks. In these past few weeks, here's a summary of what happened:

1) they sent a few job descriptions and told us all to pick what we prefer and they'd take our preferences into account (none of the jobs are the same as what we do now although some are similar)
2) some people immediately knew and stated their preferences but those of us, including me, who didn't, were told there was no rush and nothing concrete
3) I didn't want any of them (all seem like a step backwards in my career, not to mention mindlessly boring yet also very stressful) but eventually picked the one I hated least
4) they withdrew the one I had chosen and I do not want any of the others
5) I suggested some roles in the other part of new company's business (they have two halves) that I would like to do, and some roles which would straddle both, but which were not given in the original job descriptions we were handed (I got the info on the other jobs from new company's careers site and mentions of them in company manuals etc)
6) they told me they'd like to keep me on the side we're mainly merging with but would consider it
7) the meetings since would suggest they've already decided which job I'm going into - one of the original job descriptions which is like a dumbed down version of what I did years ago - and do not seem interested in even discussing the roles I suggested

We've just been told today we all have final individual meetings tomorrow to discuss our finalised job roles. So it seems there wasn't plenty of time after all. They must be putting me in this one I don't want as there would have to be a lot more than one meeting to discuss the other job roles with me. Where do I stand if I say no? Would they have to consider the other roles for me or will I be making myself redundant by saying no? I'm one of their best employees and they want to make me happy generally but I'm not sure they're going to let me join the other part of the company, probably for simplicity more than anything else! I just don't know now if I have to agree to keep my job or if I should stand my ground and say no, if that could lead to them looking at other options. In any case, although I would never let on to them, I cannot afford to leave/be made redundant (which I think would be a paltry statutory payment anyway even if that was an option).

Any advice gratefully received!

sangie595

AcerSpades wrote: »

I'm after some urgent advice please as I have a meeting in the morning and am hoping someone here could help enlighten me.

The small company I work for (henceforth "small company") is owned by a much larger, parent company (henceforth "parent company"). The parent company bought another large company recently, who happen to be our competitors (henceforth " new company").

Parent company has decided small company is to merge with new company and we're all taking new company's name and way of doing things. I've been told this is not strictly a merger though so those rules don't apply. We were first told it would take over a year and nothing to worry about but suddenly they decided it was all happening in the space of a few weeks. In these past few weeks, here's a summary of what happened:

1) they sent a few job descriptions and told us all to pick what we prefer and they'd take our preferences into account (none of the jobs are the same as what we do now although some are similar)
2) some people immediately knew and stated their preferences but those of us, including me, who didn't, were told there was no rush and nothing concrete
3) I didn't want any of them (all seem like a step backwards in my career, not to mention mindlessly boring yet also very stressful) but eventually picked the one I hated least
4) they withdrew the one I had chosen and I do not want any of the others
5) I suggested some roles in the other part of new company's business (they have two halves) that I would like to do, and some roles which would straddle both, but which were not given in the original job descriptions we were handed (I got the info on the other jobs from new company's careers site and mentions of them in company manuals etc)
6) they told me they'd like to keep me on the side we're mainly merging with but would consider it
7) the meetings since would suggest they've already decided which job I'm going into - one of the original job descriptions which is like a dumbed down version of what I did years ago - and do not seem interested in even discussing the roles I suggested

We've just been told today we all have final individual meetings tomorrow to discuss our finalised job roles. So it seems there wasn't plenty of time after all. They must be putting me in this one I don't want as there would have to be a lot more than one meeting to discuss the other job roles with me. Where do I stand if I say no? Would they have to consider the other roles for me or will I be making myself redundant by saying no? I'm one of their best employees and they want to make me happy generally but I'm not sure they're going to let me join the other part of the company, probably for simplicity more than anything else! I just don't know now if I have to agree to keep my job or if I should stand my ground and say no, if that could lead to them looking at other options. In any case, although I would never let on to them, I cannot afford to leave/be made redundant (which I think would be a paltry statutory payment anyway even if that was an option).

Any advice gratefully received!

There isn't an answer with an outcome you want to hear. You can say no and see what happens - but on your part it is a bluff, and what happens may be precisely what you can't afford. They may consider you for other roles, they may not. One thing I would advise - don't depend on them being willing to back down because you are a good employee and they want to keep you. If that were the case (them caring about it) then you wouldn't be in this position.

So it is a gamble on your part and on that basis, by all means ask for advice, but make up your own mind. Don't depend on an answer from here - the only people who can tell you how big a risk it is is your employer. But in your shoes I would play my cards quite close to my chest - don't absolutely refuse something but don't feign any enthusiasm either. Try not to be pushed into an immediate decision.

One observation - reorganisations in haste often mean there is another one down the line when they realise how much has been screwed up. So if you intend to stay - even if it is only as long as it takes to find another job - don't burn any boats because there may be other opportunities arising that are more to your liking.