Friday, September 18, 2009

Shocked

I know I keep it well hidden, but I do like to make sure that I get a good deal on things and like to do my research to check I do things in the best way. Well, it’s been just over two years since I had my eyes tested and work will pay for me to get my eyes tested every two years. At the moment I am on a secondment to another organisation, so I contacted their HR to find out if I should claim through them or my “home” organisation. As it turned out the system at the seconded place is nowhere near as good as where I normally work, and so I would probably get nothing expect the cost of the eye test. My normal place of work would pay for the glasses as well.

So I contacted the HR department of where I used to work (and am due to return to in December) and they initially said I couldn’t claim through them. I explained my situation, that I had retained all of my terms and conditions, as though I was still working for them etc, so they asked me to send them an e-mail and they’d look into it more.

They were very helpful and kept me updated on how things were progressing and when I was likely to get an answer. Yesterday they replied. It was a nice e-mail and this is a slight paraphrase, but in essence in said:

“You left the organisation on 31 May 2009. You no longer work for us. We have shut down all of your records. You need to claim through them”

My jaw nearly hit the floor. What they, without realising it, were telling me was that on 1 December they are not expecting me back and so basically unless my secondment is extended I have no job. It was like being given a totally unexpected redundancy notice. I was utterly stunned and have gone back to them to ask them to sort this out, as I still plan to have a job of some description on 1 December.

14 comments:

Kahless said...

B.H.

And make sure you havent ended up with a break in service, for pension, later possible redundancy etc!

Random Reflections said...

Kahless - they now say they might have made a mistake. But I now need to check various things because I still can't access any of my personnel records online, which suggests they have shut down my records... I feel a bit more reassured, but only a bit...

DAB said...

Holy F*ck! My fingers and toes are crossed for you that it gets sorted quick:O TFxx

Random Reflections said...

TF - hello there! I need to make some phone calls on Monday and see if they can prove to me more that I am still on their records as an employee. I am feeling a bit better about it but am not very convinced that it is all sorted.

Anonymous said...

I am still waiting for my new contract since going part-time in July. HR - not so resourceful.

Random Reflections said...

LKSN - I hope they are still paying you! I bet they got your hours right and haven't overpaid you, even if they haven't come up with a contract.

Sarah said...

That's the sort of news you could do without. Better to have the chance to sort it out now though, rather than in December. Good luck!

jumpinginpuddles said...

uuughhh sounds like a huge mistake

Anonymous said...

You are correct - my wages have dropped. Ratbags.

Random Reflections said...

Sarah - I know! I could just imagine that I would not get paid at the end of December, just when I was at my poorest straight after Christmas. I need to make a couple of phone calls to check what the situation is.

JIP - Quite a scary mistake too!

LKSN - They can be efficient when they want to be. Ratbags is a very good word. I should use that more often!

Anonymous said...

It's one of my favourite words.

Random Reflections said...

LKSN - I didn't manage to use it today. I feel very disappointed in myself.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry. The time has to be right. You can't force it.

Random Reflections said...

LKSN - I'll have to wait until I am in the zone or the planets align in the correct way and then... when the moment feels just right... I will utter my first "ratbag". Life will never be the same again after that.