Redeployed to Temp role due to Coronavirus

jordan88

Hi, I do not know if I am in the right forum- but here goes. I work on the front line in social care- due to some services that I generally work in being suspended due to the corona virus crisis there is a team of us that have been redeployed into the community to support hospital discharges- we are coming on 3 months in this role, it feels like now we are not in the role due to the crisis but just providing a general service, which is all good and well, but,  due to this not being the job I applied for, no one telling us how long we will be in this role for, and there being quiet different aspects of the role, working from a different location, using personal car to travel around on calls, community assessment work etc- How long can our employer expect us to carry on doing this role?! Does anyone have any guidance on this please, much appreciate any advice, thank you! 

[Deleted User]

It entirely depends on your employment contract, most include a redeployment clause so you need to check what yours says.

If you are expected to use a personal car to travel travel to appointments (not to commute to a single point of work) are you claiming mileage? 

jordan88

Yes, I do claim milage. Due to driving multipy locations daily is not a role I would apply to do if I had the choice- I do understand it states in contract that we can be asked to work at other "establishments"- just thought there may be some guideline as to how long they can expect us to do a role that we didn't apply for. 

sharpe106

Unless it is in the contract then as long as the reason for the redeployed is there basically. What is happening in your orginal role? is it being done or has it stopped fully?

jordan88

Some services are resuming but not where I used to work. I am just worried that we will be kept working in this new service created due to corona virus- a role in which I would not do by choice. I understand work places had to change to meet needs and was happy to meet these needs by doing what was necessary, and have been 100% flexible- it just seems to be taking it's toll now. 

Grumpy_chap

From my understanding, all parts of front line social care are ordinarily over-stretched and under-resourced.  If that applies to your 'normal' role, why do you not think the normal role will return when the service is re-instated?  Failing that, I assume you are earning your normal money while in the temporary role, so carry on and keep the wolves from the door, until you can find another job that is more suitable.

sharpe106

Unless your contract says otherwise they can pretty much keep you doing the new job as long as they want. But the reality is at some point they are not going to want you to do the job you are currently doing anyway as the normal team doing it will be able to cope. Especially if they have had people off due to the virus they will be coming back soon by the sounds of it.

Thrugelmir

Questions better directed to your line management. Covid related issues were never going to disappear in a matter of weeks, despite what many appear to think. Until services return to normal. Redeployment of resources will continue. 

Nebulous2

Social care is going to take a long time to return to normal, and it is likely to be phased gradually. Services I know don’t expect to be fully back to normal this year.

Ask your management what their plans are to return to normal and how and when they are going to communicate that to their staff. Is there a union involved? 

jordan88

Thanks all, I'm under no illusion that things should just go back to normal, I was just wondering if there was any guidance as to how long one can be expected to be in temp roles for.... Anyway, I've got this far working on the front line with Corona virus, I'll hang in there and keep probing management for answers and guidance. We can only do our best. There are unions but currently not involved. 
Thanks again  

lincroft1710

jordan88 said:

I was just wondering if there was any guidance as to how long one can be expected to be in temp roles for. I'll hang in there and keep probing management for answers and guidance. 

The simple answer is : as long as there is a need for you to perform that role, which would be the answer an honest management should give, with perhaps a slight hint as to how many weeks/months they envisage the role continuing