Am I being unfairly dismissed?: ask the expert

I am currently 16 weeks pregnant and told my boss about the pregnancy about a month ago. The company has seen a reduction in clients and two weeks ago I received a letter announcing that my job (Office Manager) is considered for redundancy and the main reason is that it is a non-client facing role. I wrote back saying that this has always been the case and asking who is going to do my job and I was told that other team members would. Also I have been told that no other people are being considered even though they are not dealing with any clients and this is purely a cost-cutting measure. I feel that this is related to my pregnancy as tasks have been taken away from me and furthermore a temp has been hired and is doing some of them. Also team members are also asking other people to do some of my tasks (arrange travel, hotels, deal with expenses) and even though they say that this is a cost-cutting measure the spending has continued and furthermore they have applied for a Green Card visa for one team member and paid for the application. They only answered my questions at the end of the consultation leaving me with no option. I would appreciate if you could advise if I can sue for unfair dismissal. I have been with the company for 1yr 9 months and the notice period finished exactly before the completion of my 2 years.…

Do I have a case for unfair dismissal? Ask the expert

I have worked for 5 1/2 years and returned from maternity leave to be advised a few months in that my job is to be made redundant due to closure of the clinic and they are to set a new partner service up where the nurses will be transferred to and they do not want a receptionist. This happened in January, but this clinic is still open and a nurse is running reception and doing my duties assisted by a member of the Customer Services team. Where do I stand for unfair dismissal? I am also trialling a job in the Customer Services team and have not received the same training as a new starter so have been told I have performance issues. They keep asking if I am staying after my trial and I am only 1 week in. They also ask if I am having any more children. I feel pressured into leaving at this time. I have saved everything on paper that they have given me, including emails and rosters for new job.…

Shift patterns keep changing: ask the expert

I have worked at my present workplace for almost three years. In that time, my shift pattern has been changed 10 times, from the original school hours I was offered to working weekends and out of school hours. I have never made an issue of this, despite being a lone parent and it causing me difficulties childcare wise. I've just coped. However, yesterday I went into work and noticed my shifts starting next week were completely changed, working different days and until 6pm. I went to discuss this with my manager as, due to there being no available childcare after 6pm I am unable to work past 5.30pm and having a commitment on one of the days I've been changed to, I am unable to work this shift pattern. I've been told that this is what the business requires and the only other alternative would be a temporary weekend job (I am permanent staff at present).  I've pointed out that this isn't the correct procedure for a proposed change of work pattern and after being responded to with 'if you want to go down the formal route then we can' I now have a 30-day notice of change of working pattern. My contract does have a clause about being reasonably flexible. I believe I am. On average I have worked beyond my contract over the three years, have covered for sickness and holidays at short notice and on the TEN previous occasions have changed my shift pattern without complaint. However, I now feel that this is getting ridiculous. I am unable to work the shift until 6pm full stop because of childcare issues, but also mine and my child's home life is constantly disrupted by the constant changes. What are my options here? I've been told that unless I agree to the hours I will be made redundant and offered hours on their terms. I'm stuck, because I really can't agree to them.…

Having to reapply for my job: ask the expert

I am due to return to work next week after taking 39 weeks' maternity leave. The company I was working for got taken over shortly before I left. I have not signed a new contract with the new company or anything yet. The role I left was a full time admin assistant role and I have had to reapply for that job as it was advertised internally and I've been told that if I don't get it then I do have a job on sales when I go back. Can they do that and advertise the job which I was doing, meaning I'm not guaranteed the job which I left doing when I go back?…

Employer wants to change shift patterns: ask the expert

I have worked for 24 years for my employer. The last 13 years have been flexible working, but on a fixed shift pattern of 5pm to 3am averaging 30 hrs per week to cover childcare. I have never had to ring in for an emergency day off and have always been there during the busiest times. Last year there was a major change within the resource management side who changed many of the full-time workers' shift patterns.

This has resulted in chaos; there are staff shortages for each shift, and loads of overtime being given & often forced. We still have the same number of staff, but the managers don’t appear to be managing. They have now said that my established shift doesn’t meet the work demand, which I dispute as they have recently changed some afternoon workers to my shift pattern to cover shortages. Can I tell them to leave me alone?