Can my new boss recruit my replacement and make me redundant?

[LIG1979]

Started back at work 3 months ago after 11 months maternity leave. A couple of months before I left my bosses boss (a vp) was replaced by a new external guy and my boss moved into a new position and the department was restructured. As part of this, my area was made into an official department and I was to report into the new vp. (An effective promotion and formal manager role and a formal department and budget although I had been a manager for a while but since I grew the area from just me it wasn't formally recognised. I didn't get a pay rise but did get on a 10% bonus scheme.)

Whilst I was off my maternity cover worked hard but didn't really achieve much business change that was needed.

Since I have been back my new boss has been threatening me with removing my department as we haven't achieved anything over the last year. Also when I started one of the objectives I was given was completely measured wrong - it took me a while to realise this since these numbers were being used across the business and been approved at vp level. After initially being told that was the way it was being done and I should stop being difficult, he is now saying that I have been back 3 months and we don't even have accurate numbers when I have been the one sorting out the mess from whilst I was away. My boss doesn't recognise anything good I do but just focuses on what else I could have done.

I have now seen a job my boss is advertising that sounds very similar to mine but with a more glamorous job title and higher pay and requiring 'senior management' experience which I don't have. Could my boss recruit this person and make me redundant?

If not, I would welcome a intermediate boss that could support me rather than constantly have a go at me but also a bit worried about being made redundant.

Any thoughts on what to do? I still love my job when my boss isn't having a go but I dread it when he is around and it is starting to impact my confidence.

[LIG1979]

Sorry it is so long.

[breatheslowly]

I don' think you can be made redundant, but that doesn't mean they won't try something on. Do you have a union to talk to?

[missingmumxox]

keep all the info you have found, if you are made redundant you can use it, if not then you can bin it in a few years, my mum had the same thing happen to her in the 70's but the advertisement wanted a single female, (nursing post) My mum won her unfair redundancy and sex discrimination case the year after the Act came in and she represented herself, so got costs as well.
any appraisals, any negative stuff, and you answer document, any good feed back document even if not from your boss, but other work mates, good luck :)
My Mum paid off a mortgage and brought a caravan on that :) these days a caravan would be your best bet.

[missingmumxox]

keep any appraisals etc

[LIG1979]

Thanks. Reassuring they can't easily make me redundant like that. No union unfortunately and not sure I can do anything yet as I am just speculating.

I have also been discussing it with a friend at work and she did point out that even if my boss wanted to do it HR probably wouldn't let it happen.

I will keep everything as evidence. Everyone else seems to think I am doing a good job and glad I am back it is just him!!!

[SirChenjin]

I can't offer anything in the way of employment advice, but I do know that your company doesn't have to have a Union in order for you to join one - see Trades Union Congress for their Union finder where they will match you to a Union supporting workers in your employment field.

[LIG1979]

Interesting - I did a course on employment law run internally and I know that our work do not recognise any unions but they are allowed to attend any employment tribunals but only in the same way that another person can attend with you.

[SirChenjin]

Have the formally derecognised the Union?

I would still suggest contact either ACAS or the TUC for more details. Hope you manage to resolve this, it sounds awful for you

[flowery]

"Reassuring they can't easily make me redundant like that"

Not nearly as clear cut as that. If they are recruiting another layer of management on top of you, then in a certain period of time decide that actually they don't need both, and consult on removing a layer, you could end up redundant in those circumstances.

If that happened almost immediately you'd have more of a case to suggest it wasn't a genuine redundancy than you would if it happened a way down the line.

Have you actually asked your boss about this new job and how it will fit?

Oh, and unions don't need to be formally "derecognised", they have to be formally recognised, otherwise they are not.

[SirChenjin]

This gives interesting information about Union recognition/derecognition

[SirChenjin]

Just realised I'm not making myself clear - did your company ever have a Union?

[LIG1979]

Thanks again...

Flowery - that is my concern that my boss hasn't even mentioned it to me. Will need to discuss it when I next see him.

Sir- will need to look into whether we ever had a union. Not sure what it would be. To be honest, it isn't that awful as I am fairly confident I could find another job within the company (my old boss is keen for me to join his new area and had a few people approach me about roles they are trying to fill) and if my boss is very against me I am not sure how long I want to stick around. However, as I grew the department from an idea, I have a few milestones I want to implement before I move on for completeness.

[SirChenjin]

Sounds hopeful then - fingers crossed you can resolve things