Can a Store Manager block an employee from an internal position.

shortcrust

Rorkhill wrote: »

@sangie595 The only reason he wants me to continue in my current position is because I am the only person willing to work the hours (16:00-00:00) on the department and if i left he would need to train a member of staff from another department. The store is over its hours so he can't employ any new staff. However, the department i wish to move to is paid through head office and not included in the store hours so he would not lose money by me switching roles. It seems the only reason he doesn't want me to move is because it will give him a headache.
I will be talking to HR tomorrow about the situation so hopefully we can come to an arrangement that way.

That seems like reason enough to me.

Ozzuk

Sadly this is very common, sure it is good for a manager to try and help their employees, its the best way to get a happy, motivated employee. However, there is also what is right for the business. If you moving creates issues that in their mind outweighs the benefit of you moving then why would they support it?

It sucks, I lost out on a job in Canada becuase the UK sites wouldn't release me. I always try and accomodate my staff, but it is always balanced against business need, that is after all the reason why we are employed.

sangie595

Rorkhill wrote: »

@sangie595 why would he replace me in both jobs now and give himself 2 headaches, that's ridiculous. I have not already involved HR, i said i will. And i will contact my HR manager to discuss if there are other possibilities. Thanks for the uplifting reply though, really appreciated

You appear to be rather unrealistic about work. Your manager has, for his own convenience (according to you), blocked your taking up another job in the store, which he is legally entitled to do. So he's going to take terribly well to you going over his head and dumping him in it with HR / his own manager? Isn't he? He'll be absolutely fine about you attempting to underline his authority, whether or not you get what you want, won't he? Yep....

There are other and better ways to try to handle this before escalating it. If escalating it is actually the best answer.

Managers have time on their side when it comes to being someone back for going up against them. They only need a modicum of patience. Which is why it's never a good idea to stay a battle until you have exhausted other possibilities. You haven't even tried other possibilities...

Takeaway_Addict

scd3scd4 wrote: »

What a nice decent manager............holding back a person for he's own gain. Man, the Union where I work would eat him alive.

Of course they would....


and its not for his gain, its for the companies gain.

System

scd3scd4 wrote: »

What a nice decent manager............holding back a person for he's own gain. Man, the Union where I work would eat him alive.

My old manager was like this...in fact when I moved up, he said I really want someone who doesn't have any ambition because I don't want to lose anyone else. Insist on employing young graduates though, you are going to get this...

Undervalued

scd3scd4 wrote: »

What a nice decent manager............holding back a person for he's own gain. Man, the Union where I work would eat him alive.

Well it is no better and no worse than giving somebody you consider useless a good reference just to get rid of them!

In a way a manager has split loyalties here. His job is to run his department well and to do that he needs reliable staff. There is an obvious temptation to hang on to good staff as that is easier and safer that recruiting and training somebody new.

In an ideal world it wouldn't happen but let's not pretend it doesn't.

Rorkhill

Thank you everyone for your replies. A few points about the situation. The manager of HR is below the store manager so the store manager does get final say and I only went to HR for advice, as that is their job in these situations. The issue with a replacement for my current role is that the store needs to lose hours so they cannot afford to employ, they would need to advertise an internal position. People are interested in the job so a replacement would be found, it would just stress the department for a while. In reply to how does my department cope when im on holiday etc: they don't. We have to just make do, as they cant afford overtime.

After speaking to HR today they have informed me that I am allowed to apply and the store manager is not allowed to block my application as it is company policy to allow any employee fair access to internal vacancies and to support and encourage development. Which in this case is important as I would be getting more hours and valuable qualifications in the new role. Whether i get the job is yet to be seen but much less frustrated now i know it is being dealt with professionally.

sangie595

So, actually, the department manager isn't "happy to give you the job" as you originally stated because there hasn't even been an interview? This was all a theory?

Rorkhill wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your replies. A few points about the situation. The manager of HR is below the store manager so the store manager does get final say and I only went to HR for advice, as that is their job in these situations. HR's job is to look after the employers interests , not yours. Looking after your interests is what a union is for. HR will only protect your position if it is in their inquests to do so. Given that they report to the Store Manager, I can tell you right now whose interests they will be looking after!The issue with a replacement for my current role is that the store needs to lose hours so they cannot afford to employ, they would need to advertise an internal position. People are interested in the job so a replacement would be found, it would just stress the department for a while. In reply to how does my department cope when im on holiday etc: they don't. We have to just make do, as they cant afford overtime.

After speaking to HR today they have informed me that I am allowed to apply and the store manager is not allowed to block my application as it is company policy to allow any employee fair access to internal vacancies and to support and encourage development. Which in this case is important as I would be getting more hours and valuable qualifications in the new role. Whether i get the job is yet to be seen but much less frustrated now i know it is being dealt with professionally.

I don't think you've really heard what had been said. The store manager can very easily ensure that you don't get the job if that is what they want to do. And they can do it quite legally. There is a huge difference between what the pretty piece of paper says is policy, and what happens in real life.

I sincerely hope that you did not say anything about the store manager or that they were blocking the application, because if you did that had all been repeated to the store manager by now. HR are there to make sure that the manager can do what they want to run the business effectively and be seen to do so legally. If the store manager doesn't want you to get that job, then you aren't getting it.

I am somewhat confused as to why, if you don't even have the job yet, you are saying that the store manager has blocked you taking it.

getmore4less

Rorkhill wrote: »

@sangie595 The only reason he wants me to continue in my current position is because I am the only person willing to work the hours (16:00-00:00) on the department and if i left he would need to train a member of staff from another department. The store is over its hours so he can't employ any new staff. However, the department i wish to move to is paid through head office and not included in the store hours so he would not lose money by me switching roles. It seems the only reason he doesn't want me to move is because it will give him a headache.
I will be talking to HR tomorrow about the situation so hopefully we can come to an arrangement that way.

Rorkhill wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your replies. A few points about the situation. The manager of HR is below the store manager so the store manager does get final say and I only went to HR for advice, as that is their job in these situations. The issue with a replacement for my current role is that the store needs to lose hours so they cannot afford to employ, they would need to advertise an internal position. People are interested in the job so a replacement would be found, it would just stress the department for a while. In reply to how does my department cope when im on holiday etc: they don't. We have to just make do, as they cant afford overtime.

After speaking to HR today they have informed me that I am allowed to apply and the store manager is not allowed to block my application as it is company policy to allow any employee fair access to internal vacancies and to support and encourage development. Which in this case is important as I would be getting more hours and valuable qualifications in the new role. Whether i get the job is yet to be seen but much less frustrated now i know it is being dealt with professionally.

Wow that problem changed quickly.

Seems to me the store manager can get you off the store hours without cutting others hours so meets one of his goals, can shuffle those left to make do like thy have been doing.

Maybe the store manager needs to work on the store making more money.

TELLIT01

I think the OP is trying to indicate that the store manager has told him that even if he is offered the job he won't allow him to move. Therefore the OP is asking what he can do about the situation.
HR seem to have told him that the store manager can't stop him applying for the role, or being offered it. If offered it HR are saying the store manager can't stop his internal transfer either.
If that is the scenario, it would seem that the store manager has no direct involvement in hiring and firing. Even so, I suspect he could make life awkward for a department manager who took the OP on if a word had been said in their ear not to.