Secondment or leave and rejoin?

HouseTargaryen

I have a really good relationship with my company and bosses. They know I'm over qualified for my role and do a good job but the next role up has two staff members who are 2 years off retirement. I've been told I can have their job when it comes up and they've been really generous to me to encourage me to stay on. I like the company as they are financially solid and offer great perks like very good pension contributions.

There's a 6 month contract position that has came up that is similar to the job I've been promised in 2 years. It's not with a competitor but with a public body. I have mutual contacts with the boss who would be interviewing me and I can almost guarantee an interview due to the contacts. 

To me, it's a win-win as I can get experience for 6 months and grow more. My company can get someone on a 6 month contract to do my role easily enough. I think my company may consider it if I'm successful.

But how would this work legally? I want to put it as a proposition to senior management if I'm offered the 6 month contract, so want to know how it would work, contract-wise. Is it a form of secondment, a case of their word that they will rehire me, or some form of addition to my contract to agree on a pause? 

Thanks

74jax

You have no idea you will get the job in 2 years time. 
You have no idea they will take you on again in 6 months. 
If you want to leave for a 6 month temp job then do so. But do not plan on going back to your current job. 

Marcon

HouseTargaryen said:

I have a really good relationship with my company and bosses. They know I'm over qualified for my role and do a good job but the next role up has two staff members who are 2 years off retirement. I've been told I can have their job when it comes up and they've been really generous to me to encourage me to stay on. I like the company as they are financially solid and offer great perks like very good pension contributions.

You mean you'd be replacing two people?

HouseTargaryen said:

But how would this work legally? I want to put it as a proposition to senior management if I'm offered the 6 month contract, so want to know how it would work, contract-wise. Is it a form of secondment, a case of their word that they will rehire me, or some form of addition to my contract to agree on a pause? 

Probably none of these happy options. The most likely outcome is that you'd resign if you got this 6 month contract and then have to re-apply to your current employer once the contract ends. Whether they'd want you if your temporary replacement had done a great job at a lower cost can only be a moot point at this stage.

Savvy_Sue

Is your job the kind where they may be formal secondments? Or is this something you'd be trying to 'sell' to them as something novel? 

k12479

HouseTargaryen said:

To me, it's a win-win as I can get experience for 6 months and grow more. My company can get someone on a 6 month contract to do my role easily enough.

I can't really see how it's much of a 'win' for your employer. Hiring a replacement costs time and money, getting them set up and productive takes time and effort. If this public body has some sort of power in your industry, like a regulatory body, then what you can/are allowed to do on only a 6-month contract may be quite limited, on the other hand if it's more like a trade association, then the value of your experience there for your employer is probably quite limited. Finally, if your role can be filled 'easily enough' then that should perhaps ring alarm bells.

AskAsk

if you leave you risk losing your job and can't come back.  i can't see this being any more complex than that and i am a bit confused as to where the secondment comes into it unless there is a relationship between the two companies?

Diamandis

What do you think the 6 month experience in this role is going to do for you long term? If your plan is to take a role at your current company in 2 years is the experience going to directly help in that role?

I can't see many companies wanting to agree to something like this unless it directly benefits them.

Sandtree

What’s your company’s careers break or extended leave policy.

Most I’ve worked with have two tiers, the lower you are guaranteed your old job back, the longer they attempt to help you return but no guarantees. The policy is normally intended for travel, education or compassionate grounds rather than taking a job elsewhere. Have a conversation by all means but don’t expect them to agree its a good idea.

Marcon

Sandtree said:

What’s your company’s careers break or extended leave policy.

Looking at another of OP's threads, I wouldn't have much confidence in their HR function: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6234005/being-given-too-many-holidays#latest

HouseTargaryen

Marcon said:

Sandtree said:

What’s your company’s careers break or extended leave policy.

Looking at another of OP's threads, I wouldn't have much confidence in their HR function: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6234005/being-given-too-many-holidays#latest

You are right that HR isn't strong, hence why I would have to propose a way to make it happen as they would be unlikely to understand how it can legally happen. 
Anyway, to answer some other questions. The benefit to them would be I get trained up in the job I'll be doing when I get promoted.
O well, I thought there would be some mechanism that allows for such career breaks. 

Emmia

If the proposed secondment oppertunity is at a public body, then there may be a selection process to go through - it may not just be a case of "who you know".

Also which employer would cover your salary and pension contributions?