Changes in T&C's - I'm worse off again!

[Welshbird]

This follows on from a precious post / rant here:
thread654-1274756.

We've now all moved into our new office. The dress code is business smart, and my two days a week to work from home (which were verbally agreed) seemed to have morphed into 1 (or maybe 2) days a month.

I'm dressed appropriately though, and of course, am in the office not at home.

I've just been told that the company is about to change it's mobile phone policy. At present it pays half the line rental plus the cost of any calls made on my personal phone. Apparently I no longer qualify for a mobile allowance, as (yep - you guessed!) I'm based in the office!!

So, that's £25.43 a month, which is about £300 annually.

Coupled with my delivery-bonus, which is 3% paid quarterly in arrears which I have never received (and now totals £600) I'm a bit peeved.

It's made more difficult in that my boss happens to be quite a good friend. I have been able to go to her in the past and say "Look, this isn't a personal rant - its a 'boss' rant...", but it feels more difficult because of that. And she has some other stresses both at work and at home right now, so I feel bad about wingeing to her.

I'm not sure what I should do. I suspect that as the new office is so close to my home (3 miles) the next thing to go will be my car allowance (of £5k annually).

My instinct says that I should start looking for a company that will keep its promises, but then I come back to the real world where I am quite specialised in what I do, so moving would involve a certain amount of re-training (not a bad thing though - extra knowledge and all that).

What shoudl I do? Any advice guys? I'd appreciate it.



Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[onoski]

This is a minor there are people out there without a job. Come on don't mean to sound rude but heck! this is really not an issue.

 

[Welshbird]

Ok. I do appreciate that I am really lucky to have a job at all, but -

No more music in the office,
No more working at home,
No more casual dress,
and now
No commission and no mobile phone allowance. Almost £1K a year in total.

Am just waiting for no more car allowance, then I'll be £6K less well off.

How much change in my T&C is ok? I din't choose any of it - I got TUPE'd over to a new company after a take-over.

Would you think it an issue your salary stayed the same and your take-home reduced by 15%? Seems like an issue to me.



Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[LadySlinger]

Have you sat down with your boss, not to rant, but to ask Why?

Just say that you were given a promise when you started and you don't understand why all of this is suddenly changing. Find out too if this is something temporary or long term.

Plus if you don't have the original agreement in writing then it may be difficult to argue any of the changes. If you do have it in writing, then bring it to your boss and whoever else's attention.

Otherwise wait until your next review (if its coming up in the next 4-5 months). If it is, see what sort of raise/compensation you receive. If its nothing more than the standard that everyone else in the office is getting, then maybe its time to move one.

IMO, though it sounds like they're trying to cut costs. Perhaps people higher than immediate management is forcing them to take a look at what costs to cut. Then the managers came back and said "Well we pay for phone lines in the office anyways, we may as well make them come to the office rather than trying to track down how much we're actually spending versus what they're doing at home".

 

[Welshbird]

Thanks LadySlinger. I'll try and make her find time to talk to me.

My review must be due soon - I'm the one person still waiting for my review due last January!

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[NickFerrar]

All the little perks are the first thing you usually lose after being TUPE'd, it sucks but at least you do still have the job.

If your job sucks then I'd certainly start looking elsewhere but if you like your job but just resent having your total package reduced without your involvement it's kinda just a fact of life these days and you need to get over it

I hate each year I get a less than inflationary pay 'rise' but at the end of the day it's better than nothing and it's up to me to do something about it (quit) if it mattered that much to me.

 

[sha76]

Why not polish up the CV & start looking around? Looking doesn't involve making any commitment to leave but at least it would give you a good idea of what's out there. As you say, more training's never a bad thing.

"Your rock is eroding wrong." -Dogbert

 

[Welshbird]

I think you are right Sha. I'll start working on it later this evening I think!

It's a shame - cos I like my job and I like the people that I work with, but I remember my Dad telling (on many occasions!) that if I didn't value myself, then neither would anyone else.

And the fact that the company keeps taking things away from me without offering anything else in their place show me that they don't value me at all really.

I don't want to hold them to ransom - well, strictly speaking I guess I do - But if I'm going to tell them I'm prepared to jump I'd best have somethng to jump towards.

Cheers guys.

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[MDXer]

No cell allowance? easy don't take calls from the office on your cell. When some says something express to them that you can't afford to waste your personal cell time. but they are more than welcome to contact you on your land line.

Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!
- Daffy Duck

 

[Welshbird]

My mobile phone allowance has certainly been a perk. My bill allows for 800 minutes of calls a month. And up until now the company have paid for half of those - whatever I use them for! So in losing the allowance I would lose the money - quite literally. La... CV looking better already!

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[aarenot]

change the mobile number, and do not say anything. if asked, you do not have the funds for a mobile in your budget since the reimbursement has been eliminated.

The issue is financial, put together the numbers for your next review. Clothes$, mobile$ if they want you to have one, car allowance if they cut it, etc. raise it in your review during the pay talk.

I assume you gathered some resources for home office when you worked at home. Scatter them again, sell them or just stop using them for business. I am not saying be spiteful, this is business, and if you do not get paid to work from home any longer, then do not have a home office set up any more. use your home space for your home, and ditch the office area you probably had set up.

I used to work from home, saved the commute time, etc. that has changed, and so the wife now wants me to give up the space for other uses. I can not see having an office area, tech lab area, high speed internet, printer which I only used for work from home, electronic testing equipment, and components. When I no longer work from home officially, I am not going to be able to stave her off much longer.

I plan to offer the equipment for sale to my employer since I will not have it set up for home use any longer once spring cleaning starts by my wife.

I know they are going to say, I thought you used that stuff at home. I will just tell them, when I used to work from home I did, now that I no longer work from home the boss{wife} says I do not need it, and she is going to take over the space for a sewing/crafts room. So, I have no place to keep it, am selling it, and wondered if the company wanted to buy it. My office is going to be her office now, as she is going into independent real estate sales affiliate.

 

[Welshbird]

I see your point, but I've had this mobile number for 6 years or more, so changing it would be a real issue for my personally.

It's not so much about the money, although that makes a difference - its the principle of not keeping thier part of the bargain.



Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[Ed2020]

If you're in the UK you may want to look up the enmployment laws relating to Custom & Practice. They may apply in this case....

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....

 

[Welshbird]

thanks Ed - I'll look into that.

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[IT4EVR]

Much worse things have happened to unluckier souls than thee, but it seems the worst crime they've committed is not living up to their word.

The one "bonus" you have is the seemingly great relationship you have with your boss. That really accounts for much more than we realize. Of course if they keep taking away stuff you once had, it may be the only thing you have left.

Think about how many people hate their boss. It's an amazingly high percentage.

I wouldn't entertain thoughts of leaving just yet. It might be worth it to wade it out for a while and see what happens.

 

[lgarner]

If you don't like your current position, there's absolutely nothing wrong with looking for a change. But... none of this sounds like any breach of contract. Companies routinely change policies, including reimbursement, telecommuting, insurance benefits, and even your pay level if you're promoted or demoted. You have to decide if the change impacts you so negatively that it's no longer worthwhile to stay. If you factored these perks into your decision to accept the job, then perhaps the change is material enough to leave it.

 

[aarenot]

verbal, written, both are contracts. One is enforcable, the other much more difficult to enforce. Policies change, and that is life, but companies always seem to include these types of policies in negotiations, yet change them at their whim. Dishonest to say the least, unless they state these are policies, and subject to change.

document everything, but I would not pursue the arrears until you have another position accepted. You might address the arreas with your boss, and ask her to inquire about these, only if you have documentation of the due funds. This will probably brand you a troublemaker, and create a hostile environment.

 

[GriffMG]

Fee,

That's all very interesting, it is beginning to sound like you might have a case for constructive dismisal - the erosion of benefits contributing to your inability to continue working for your employer.

The removal of the mobile phone perk is probably perfectly reasonable, but I *think* your employer would have more dificulty removing your car allowance - doing so without consultation (across the company) would very likely constitute victimisation and would clearly be seen by a tribunal as unfair or at best heavy handed.

I think I would be tempted to get a pay-as-you-go tariff for you phone, and put in expense claims from time for top-ups/cards - this is pretty common practise in the construction industry now, where employers don't want to have to 'manage the assets'.

I think, as I'm a bit mischevious - and I'm not at any risk, I'd as for an upgrade to my car allowance, when was it last reviewed/increased?


Bon chance

B-)


Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[Welshbird]

Good Idea Griff!

I think that it would be fair to re-negotiate my car allowance as it never has been re-visited, and maybe we can add things on to that to make up for the other things I have lost....

I'll give it a go and let you know how I get on.

(But not this week... boss is VERY stressed by other colleagues, and I can't wilfully make that worse!)

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[GriffMG]

Careful Fee,

I was talking TIC

B-)

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing