Hi All
Haven’t been on for a while as I’ve been ‘licking my wounds’!
Well they did it - the university has made me redundant The official reason is that there is no funding for my post and there is no other job for redeployment
The real reason is of course my 4 months sick leave - they know it and I know it !!!
I’m devastated xxx
xxxjenxxx
Oh Jen thats terrible news,Have they any idea how hard you pushed yourself to get back to work.
My heart goes out to you chuck.
They have all the rules and regs about what employers can and cant do but us on the recieving end know the reality is they do what they want.
I hope they have given you a bloody good pay off.
Dare I ask what its doing to your health?
Pip
Hi Jen,
If you are sure that is the reason they gave you the sack contact http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ who will take them to tribunal.
George
Hi Jen
I thought it wasn’t good news when we hadn’t heard from you in a while. My heart really does go out to you - its the last thing you need when you have your health issues to contend with. I wish there was some advice I could give you that could help but all I have is a genuine hug asthis isn’t an area I have much knowledge on. But to me it really sounds like they’ve used something else as an excuse to sack you - it’s just not right.
How are you feeling otherwise Jen. Any further with the health issues? Know that we’re all here for you.
Reemz
(hugs)
jen I know this is awful and I really feel for you but I hope that as one door closes another one will open.
You’ve been off work around the same time as me I think (roughly) and now I’m starting to get stronger I am making an effort to try hobbies and pastimes that I have the strength for and some things don’t appeal to me but I really enjoy things I would have laughed at you if you’d suggested to me a year ago.
Pause (I’m still determined to go zorb balling at some point when I feel better)
I hope financially it’s not too big a blow and that you can now concentrate 100% on getting stronger.
It’s sad when this kind of manipulation in the workplace happens, but let’s face it we all know that it does and that makes me sad.
Lots of love Gillian
Thats terrible!!
Are you in a union? is speak to them asap for advice
xxx
I am very sorry to hear this, Jen.
Alison
x
Hi Guys! Thanksx
It’s been a big blow! If it was as simple as money running out I would accept it - but it’s not! There’s so much rubbish going on around it!
When I went back on phased return I was assessed & yhe officer told Head of Personnel that as I’m going to be working from home more often I should have my home workstation assessed too. He told him to stall as my contract is coming to an end in September so they won’t have to ‘bother’ with me any further! I was told this by a senior member of staff who was there when he said it
For the last year my boss has been putting money away in a pot for me to deliver a new project but ‘top boss’ has blocked it and actually said to her directly in a meeting "Would you employ someone who has been off for 5 months? She said in my case absolutely yes she would as I worked the whole time I was off and that she is going to find it really hard without me. She has sent him 3 letters begging him to reconsider and he still said no.
My other boss tried to help but was told to ‘keep out of it’ - but despite that she also went up yesterday & told the head of personnel that she has a job for me too!!
Despite all this yesterday afternoon the Head of Personnel literally lied directly to my face saying ‘sorry but there is no work for you’ ! I just walked out. They have made their minds up and are just blocking anybody’s attempts to keep me on!
Trouble is I have nothing in writing - I don’t know if my bosses would be willing to be witnesses - they are in an awlward position - and the Union guy is not very helpful as he’s employed there too - also I haven’t been in the union long enough for any legal support.
I’ve contacted ACAS & Disability Legal Advice peeps but to be honest I don’t know if I have the strength to fight!
I’ve only been there 7 years so redundancy pay is not going to last long - and who is going to employ me now with my sick record? I guess I’ll have to sell my home & rent somewhere
As for my health - I’m better than I was a few months ago but still struggling! I saw the neurosurgeon again on Monday - Ithe one I saw him November - he was one of the first to mention demyelation and referred me ‘urgently’ to a neurologist - he was really shocked when he found out how long I waited to see the neurologist (July) and that nothing further had been done for me - he said my reflexes had deteriorated significantly & were abnormal as was muscle tone etc - he said he would speak to the neurologist personally that afternoon and lo & behold I got an appointment letter from the neurologist this morning - seeing him again on the 17th Oct! Also the neurosurgeon has referred me for a full spine MRI and nerve conduction tests - appointment came for that this morning! Fast work eh!
Jen xxxx
Hello, I am very sorry this has happened to you. I was made redundant last year from a college, it was a big set up from the start. I was frightened and financially speaking it isn’t good but both me and my partner were relieved as everyday was a struggle. I understand how upset you must be but you are more important. You especially don’t need to work for an organisation that do this. Love and hugs Sam xx
Oh Jen I really dont know what to say to you that can be of any help at all.
Yes you have grounds to fight your job loss but I know how much energy and stress that will involve and understand that now is the worst time possible for you to be trying to take them on.
I hope someone can help you though as this all seems so unfair on you.
Pip
I guess there’ll be a paper, or electronic paper trail from what you say, but I dont imagine a tribunal has the power to order its disclosure.
What a horrible situation. Sounds as though HR is the villain, but I am also hopping mad on your behalf at your gutless bosses who are happy to tell tales out of school to you and give you false hope so that they can feel good about themselves, but don’t (or might not) have the guts to put themselves on the line and back you up when the going gets tough. That’s just despicably poor. Bastards, the lot of them. I am really, really sorry.
Alison
x
This is awful! I am so sorry Jen 
I do hope you can find the strength to fight - this sounds like a cut and dried case of disability discrimination.
(((((hugs)))))
Karen x
I think so Karen!!! - it’s so underhand! The public face is of a ‘caring’ institution that has just got the Investors in People Award! Whilst the reality is underhanded ‘behind closed doors’ discrimination! Shame on them xxxxx
I’m so sorry Jen (((big hugs)))
xx
Hi Jen,
I work for a university and while its awful i’m not shocked to be honest, as its all carey sharey in public view, and push push push for funding and politics behind closed doors. It worries me as i only have a year left on my current contract.
Although saying that they don’t appear to have followed the correct protocol, making someone redundant due to the end of funding should not be done without placing them on the redeployment register first - and this should be done 6 month before the end of the contract - and i don’t care if you were on sick, you should of recieved a letter at your home address!
I hope you have the energy to take them to tribunal , just in case get on your work email now and print off every email you have now!
Massive hug and hope you feel better soon,
Sara
I am sorry Jen. I hope you can fight this and get what you are due. Teresa xx
Thanks all xxxxx
Sara you are sooo right! I have printed everything off and been advised by the Equalities peeps and ACAS on what to do nextx
To cap it all though they have told me I’m entitled to 1 week salary for every year served - yet when I went on the university intranet - in the finance section they have the Finance & Administration Policies and Procedures 2008 doc - and that clearly says that the University pays ‘over and above what is the statutary requirement’ and that they will pay 1 MONTH’s salary for every year served!!!
I’m wondering how they are going to squirm out of that one!!
I think they wil probably try to say that it is out of date or a mistake or something!! I’m hoping that they can’t get out of it as 1 Month insted of the statutory 1 Week will make a hige difference to me while I try to find another job!
I have got 3 independant people to witness this document being downloaded - just in case they try to take it off and say it’s a mistake or that I’m lying or doctored the document or something!!
xxjenxxx
Good on you Jen. It really isn’t right what they’re trying to do and though its a lot of effort it’ll be worth it in the end for the peace of mine that next time they’ll think twice about doing the same and hopefully you’ll get the money you deserve which as you say will help you in the long run.
Keep us updated on how you get on. Will be rooting for you
Reemz
X
Hi Jen,
Good for you!
I’ve checked on the university of manchesters website and for voluntary redundancy its 1 months salary per year worked for the first six years worked, and after that a years salary, you might get more out of them by making a fuss I can’t find anything for normal redundancy, but i’m sure it was one month per year anyway - as i know people who’ve looked into it here.
The only caveat to all this that i know about is that if you take redundancy from the uni you can’t apply for a job with them for 3 years, although it does sound as if you wouldn’t want to
Take care,
Sara