Denied chance of promotion following merger

[rockpile]

Hello everyone, and thanks in advance for any advice.

 

I work in an organisation (ok, the NHS), at a large general hospital. Over the last 5 years, we have been merged with 2 other, similar sized hospitals, each 30-40 miles from us. This has produced 1 very large organisation to replace the three previous bodies. We are in the process of standardising pay, structure and conditions across the board.

 

This has led to the creation of 3 new junior management jobs in each of the three areas, in my specialism. I work as a supervisor, so these new jobs would be the natural next step for me to take.

 

My problem is this. These jobs require a qualification higher than I (or anyone else in my part of the organisation) hold. The custom has always been, to apply for the job, and if successful, be awarded the job on condition of obtaining the qualification as soon as possible.

 

I assume this was to save money on training/educating people further, who then may never seek promotion, or even leave the organisation with their expensively provided qualification.

 

So I applied for the jobs, only, to my surprise, to receive a letter at home from my boss, saying he regretted he couldn't offer me an interview.

 

It turns out that one of the other organisations HAD been sending their employees to college routinely, and many of them, even on the shop floor, were qualified already. Their boss insisted, apparently, that no-one should be interviewed without this qualification. As we are 'harmonising', that meant that this rule had to be applied across the board.

 

As a consequence, only people from from one area of the organisation are allowed to apply for any management jobs. These jobs in my area have now been awarded to people from that area, while we are prevented from applying. The posts will not be filled for two more weeks though.

 

It seems very unfair that, due to operating under different protocols for the last 15 years, we are disadvantaged in this way. It feels that the goalposts have been moved at the last minute, and all the knowledge and experience gained here over the years count for nothing now, through no failing of our own.

 

I am a union member, but they have been no help so far (too busy, seemingly).

 

Ideally, I would like the appointments to be postponed, and the interviews re-run including those of us who were unfairly (to our minds) excluded last time.

 

Does anyone have any ideas how I might go about achieving this?

 

Sorry for the long post, but it is a complicated situation, and the disappointment is crushing.

 

Thanks for your patience, if you have read this far!

[Emmzzi]

Any reason you didn't fund the education yourself? Many people pay for their own, as it helps their career.

 

I think you have no grounds unless it's discriminatory on basis of a protected characteristic eg only white people or non disabled people were given study funding.

[rebel11]

Hi rock

 

For your manager / NHS it makes sense. But I can see your point. Depending on how strongly you feel, raise an informal grievance. If you don't get a satisfactory resolution. Send a Formal Grievance setting out your Grievances, e.g. promotion, qualifications, unfairness etc to your manager, send it Recorded Delivery. Send a copy to Human Resources again Recorded Delivery.

 

A concession on their part might be that they will allow you gain that qualification, ready for future opportunities.

 

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1670

[rockpile]

Hi Emmzzi and rebel, thanks for the replies.

 

With hindsight, I should have started an OU degree years ago, but I didn't foresee getting blind-sided in this way.

 

It has come as a shock to us all, including our manager, who now looks as though he was unprepared for succession planning, compared to his counterpart at the other organisation.

 

The culture in our department had always been start job and study afterwards. Promotion was based on past, observed performance in current role. No-one had any idea what was happening at other hospitals, as although the NHS is a huge organisation, at our level it is very parochial.

 

I feel, in the interest of natural justice, that a 2-year hiatus should be put on this new rule, long enough for us to obtain the qualification After that, then everyone who wishes to be qualified will be qualified, and the new rule could be introduced fairly.

 

Rebell11, thanks for the advice and the link. That was what I was hoping my union rep would be able to advise me on. Maybe they could talk to HR or our Director. Maybe they have, but I can't get hold of them to find out.

 

I realise this is a very 'first world' problem compared to many on here, (and that I, too, have had at times in the past), but injustice is injustice. These jobs are like hen's teeth, and have only appeared through the re-organisation. It might be 10-15 years before another appears, which is why I am in a rush to prevent a fait-accompli.

 

Thanks again to everyone for reading.

[ericsbrother]

So I hope that your superiors will take kindly to your application for study time/expenses and likewise from the others at your establishment in the same boat.