Can they do this?

CED60

I am a  Department Manager at a warehouse company and report directly to a director of the company.  I was today informed that I would now report to the Goods Inward Manager rather than a director and therefore he will be in control of the function of my department.
I was told that this is to streamline things and should not be seen as demotion but whereas before I had some control within my department it would appear that this will no longer be the case.
Is this something that they can do without any consultation ?

LinLui

Yes. How they structure their business is their choice. You continue in the same job,  same pay,  same terms - you may see it as a demotion, but they are correct in that it isn't. 

CED60

Thanks LinLui I thought that may well be the case - I will keep quiet and cashing my pay cheque !

tacpot12

As well as cashing your pay cheque, you should try to create the best relationship you can with the Goods Inward Manager so that they can see you know how to do your job.

The best employment advice I ever received was to make sure I was not the biggest problem that my manager had to deal with.  

El_Torro

I know people who have been in a similar situation and successfully claimed constructive dismissal. This resulted in them leaving the company with a pay out. 

If you don’t want to leave then there’s no point in going down this route. Also if you did claim for constructive dismissal there’s no guarantee you’ll win.

TELLIT01

I held a single role in a company and at various times reported directly to the MD, the FD, the Business Development Manager and Admin Manager.  It didn't make any difference to me.

MeteredOut

El_Torro said:

I know people who have been in a similar situation and successfully claimed constructive dismissal. This resulted in them leaving the company with a pay out. 

If you don’t want to leave then there’s no point in going down this route. Also if you did claim for constructive dismissal there’s no guarantee you’ll win.

Can you share on what basis their claim was accepted? I can't see how a simple restructure is means for constructive dismissal.

OP, are your job duties actually changing? You suggest you'll be losing some level of control.

LinLui

El_Torro said:

I know people who have been in a similar situation and successfully claimed constructive dismissal. This resulted in them leaving the company with a pay out. 

If you don’t want to leave then there’s no point in going down this route. Also if you did claim for constructive dismissal there’s no guarantee you’ll win.

It is almost impossible to claim constructive unfair dismissal,  and a little harder than that to actually win one.  Given the OPs information provided,  and based only on that,  they have a cat in hells chance. And I'm confused a to how they managed to leave the company with a pay out when they'd have to have already left to make such a claim. 

OP - the only "pay out" you'll get is a wage if you continue working.  Don't even think of trying this unless having no wage is an attractive proposition. 

Marcon

El_Torro said:

I know people who have been in a similar situation and successfully claimed constructive dismissal. This resulted in them leaving the company with a pay out. 

Really? Have you any idea how hard it is to win a constructive dismissal case? You refer to 'people' rather than just one person, so I think there's more than one individual who's been having you on.

EnPointe

CED60 said:

I am a  Department Manager at a warehouse company and report directly to a director of the company.  I was today informed that I would now report to the Goods Inward Manager rather than a director and therefore he will be in control of the function of my department.
I was told that this is to streamline things and should not be seen as demotion but whereas before I had some control within my department it would appear that this will no longer be the case.
Is this something that they can do without any consultation ?

yes they can do that  

the rest of  your  comments are  currently without basis  

even in graded structures  there are always  individuals  who despite their title are seen as of  de facto are more senior 

EnPointe

El_Torro said:

I know people who have been in a similar situation and successfully claimed constructive dismissal. This resulted in them leaving the company with a pay out. 

If you don’t want to leave then there’s no point in going down this route. Also if you did claim for constructive dismissal there’s no guarantee you’ll win.

I find this somewhat  hard to  beleive especially as  there is no actual demotion   going on and the  TaCoS of the OPs engagement  appear  unchanged  except  for whom he reports to on a daily basis. 

Departmental ?first Line?  managers reporting directly a Director  is an exception  in all but the smallest businesses where   there is no middle managment  just ' the bosses'  and the shop floor  workers ,