RightSolicitor Legal Discussion & Legal Advice

[shaonagh]

Hi I was wondering if anybody is able to give me some advice on a situation that has arisen at my work for my work colleague and I. Be prepared though it is a long rant! We have been for the past 5 months been doing a job share as managers with our work. It adds up to the total amount of hours required of a full time manager by the company we work for and we have been very successful in the work that we have been doing improving the trade and profit of the shop which we have been located in. We have been in serious discussion with out line manager who gave us the go ahead and he was going to arrange an official secondment into the position. He spoke to his boss our area manager who was in talks with HR and have decided that the secondment will not be allowed due to the fact that there are several more in our region that haven't been too successful (scotland). The reason is that when one of us decided we want to drop out of it they are left with finding a replacement however we said that we would both sign an agreement stating that if one of us quits the other will stand down to solve it. Work says that this would have no standing whatsoever. We have been told that even if we applied for the shop and gave the best interview possible they would not consider it and are discouraging us from even trying and have told us that we would be best staying in the shop as deputies working under a new manager. The replacement is going to be someone who has worked for the company for a year and a half. My co worker and I have been with the company for a combined period of 16 years and have the experience that they require and have proven through figures that we are capable also I was a manager for the company until after I had my child so they know we are capable. We're not moaning about unfairness but we strongly feel that we have been taken advantage of after giving 5 months hard worth in order to prove ourselves - I even managed to go to work while my daughter was in hospital with appendicitis as my co worker was on holiday! I have been in contact with my union which isn't recognised by our company and they say that it is discrimination but before I raise a grievance I would like some more specific advice on the legalities of it. Also when I went part time after having my child I was demoted to a deputy manager after being told the company does not allow part time managers even though I have since found out that there are several in one city let alone the whole of the country. I don't want to come across as poor victim me however I would like to know my rights as an employee to further my career and if what they are doing is correct.