Employment Greivance Query

Lucys_Da

I have worked for a family run business (I am a member of the wider family but not a direct descendent of the owners) for just over 10 years now and have a few serious frustrations about some of the decisions over the past while. I left a good job with a highly renowned multinational company to work for my 'family' business as it was always my aspiration and goal. I work hard, always go the extra mile, never complain, am passionate about the business and always do my best.


I had aspirations for a very senior/directorship role in the company but am finding it an increasingly difficult place to work and am very much stuck in a difficult predicament. The Directors are incredibly controlling, untrusting and very much see their staff as just a means to an end to get the business to where they want it to go.


I am a member of the senior management but as the managing Director implements a clear succession plan it is apparent I am (currently) not in his thoughts for directorship roles or seen as anything other than a senior member of staff.


Realistically I am not happy in my job and I ideally would love an out and have spoken to a couple of people and may have an opportunity to go elsewhere in the next 6 months or so.


That being said there are a number of things that have occurred recently that have only further alienated, frustrated and galvanised my desire to leave as per below.


Two very senior positions have been recruited (I do not believe in either instance the roles were advertised internally or externally). One of the roles which is at full Director level ultimately gives the individual accountability for a significant number of jobs/area of work that I was previously doing. The other role has the Director title (I have a 'manager' title) but doesn't have full Board Directorship responsibility. This role however, is in my view and nothing has been stated that it is not, is a direct like for like role and level of accountability to mine. It is in a different part of the UK but I ultimately had been charged with doing this role across the UK and it was my understanding that it sat under my accountability. I had previously been completing that role and have never been told I was not performing nor was there any clarity of expectations if I was not delivering what they expected.


I feel that this has significantly capped my potential to move forward in the organisation as I know from the managing Director that the business is focusing on this area for growth and much less so in the area I am now accountable for.


There was no discussion in advance, I was informed of the decision and there was absolutely no regard given or even mentioned about the impact this would have on me. Some of my colleagues when they heard were very surprised and shocked by it and very mindful of the impact on me.


I have kept my counsel on it for a few months and am in the process of looking at seeking legal advice. However, am I likely to be flogging a dead horse, or given the limited background I have given above do people feel that there is a case and a grievance to answer to here? According to the businesses HR manager, the business never got round to giving me an 'official' contract. At the start of my employment I signed a letter of employment which set out my terms and conditions (Probationary period, working hours, Salary, Benefits package, Disciplinary Rules and Procedures and Termination of Employment information). I wrongly assumed for a long time this was my contract, and once I was informed by the HR manager it wasn't I didn't push that hard to get one. I felt it may be in my interest to not do this as I was doing a role and it was clear where my areas of accountability and responsibility lie. The changes above have muddied that water and possibly not having a contract will not now help my situation, but surely I was doing the role and was the only person in the business doing that, then this would still question the legality of bringing someone else in to do what I was doing. There was no re-structuring process or consultation process of any kind - I was merely informed this person had been employed and was going to be taking on the role I was doing in that location.


I am hurt and really disappointed by this and feel very unsupported and totally undervalued. I know I am good at what I do and work very hard at it. I perform roles way beyond what I ever expected to and I have never said no to anything or anyone in this business. I have never been late, I have never had a day off sick in 10 years and I would literally sweat blood for the business but feel very let down and disgruntled.


So.....do you think there is a case to answer or should I just look for a new opportunity and move on?


Thanks for reading by the way...

Comms69

A case to answer?

If you don’t like it, leave. You’re not entitled to a directorship.

As for the rest of it, business needs change. You don’t mention losing pay, so basically tough.

gycraig_2

They aren’t legally required to promote you just because you happen to of been there a long time

There’s no bars on the doors.

Unless they give you a pay cut they can hire whoever they want to do whatever tasks they want them to do

Marcon

I can't see why you need legal advice. From what you say, you are indeed undervalued and under appreciated (neither of which is actionable in law), based on your assessment of your merits - so why not take them elsewhere and see how highly others value all you have to offer?

Staying put will get you nowhere, I fear, except more embittered and frustrated.

Lucys_Da

I absolutely appreciate I am not entitled to anything and never stated that I thought I was.


What I asked the question about was whether in essence given I was performing a role and ultimately that role was taken away from me and given to someone else with no warning or consultation if this is fair and just? As I have also stated this is where future growth is being focused and as a result of this my potential to grow and develop further in the business has been curtailed significantly by this decision.

Comms69

Lucys_Da wrote: »

I absolutely appreciate I am not entitled to anything and never stated that I thought I was.


What I asked the question about was whether in essence given I was performing a role and ultimately that role was taken away from me and given to someone else with no warning or consultation if this is fair and just? As I have also stated this is where future growth is being focused and as a result of this my potential to grow and develop further in the business has been curtailed significantly by this decision.

You’re an employee. You exchange time for money; unless that’s changed there is little you can do.

How the owners choose to run the business isn’t up to you and isn’t actionable.

smartpicture

Lucys_Da wrote: »

I absolutely appreciate I am not entitled to anything and never stated that I thought I was.


What I asked the question about was whether in essence given I was performing a role and ultimately that role was taken away from me and given to someone else with no warning or consultation if this is fair and just? As I have also stated this is where future growth is being focused and as a result of this my potential to grow and develop further in the business has been curtailed significantly by this decision.

You ask whether this is fair or just, and based on the information we have, I can certainly validate your feelings that it is not fair or just, and the way they have been treated you is morally wrong.

Unfortunately, this has no bearing on whether is a legally justifiable business decision, which it is, or a decision which they are perfectly entitled to make, which they are. Your only recourse in this situation is to look elsewhere for somewhere you are more valued and treated better.