What to Do If Your Job Is Being Advertised
It can be alarming when you are going through a job website and realize that a particular role being advertised fits perfectly to the job role you are presently occupying. At that moment a lot of questions will be running through your mind. Why is my job being advertised?, Am I not doing a good job? Will I lose my job soon?
It is very important that you remain calm and act appropriately to avoid an unexpected outcome. It is necessary to take steps to cope with the problem but don’t assume or conclude immediately that you are been replaced or laid off. There are several reasons why a company can put up an advert for a position that is currently filled. A company might want to recruit an extra hand if they feel the workload is too much for just one person. They might be expanding and need an increase in the workforce. But if your role is a specific role like the director of sales in the southern region or manager of a particular line of product, then the coincidence is too good to be true. In this case, the probability that your company is hiring to replace you is very high. Whatever the case may be, the following guide is a good way to resolve this issue.
Be calm and do not act rashly
News like this can throw even the most coordinated person off balance. A lot of things will be running through your mind and you will probably have mixed emotions of both fear and anger. Do not let your emotions ruin you but rule your emotions. At this point nothing is certain, do not work yourself up over a situation you definitely cannot change.
Determine if your position is being advertised
Do a deep background check within the company to confirm if what you’ve seen is positive or negative. There is always that colleague that gets hold of news faster than anyone else. Now is the time to take advantage of such an opportunity. Look for a means to get the answers you need without necessarily giving out much information to your colleague. If it turns out to be true, seek advice from close colleagues, especially the ones that have stayed in the company for a long time. They might have experienced such a thing happen to a former employee. They will be in a better position to explain what the employee did and what the outcome was.
Talk to your supervisor
The next step is to talk to your direct supervisor. This is an informal way of inquiring about the reason for such a decision. An employee who has a close relationship with the supervisor can easily achieve this. But if you have not kept a good relationship with your employee, this act can cause you more harm than good. Your supervisor will be in a better position to clarify whether the job role currently being advertised is yours or not. If it turns out to be yours, he will also explain why you are being replaced.
Work hard to prove your worth
After talking with your supervisor, conduct a personal check to determine what your flaws are and how to improve on them. At this point, you still have the time to right your wrongs. Recruiting a new candidate to fill a role can take time. This is because the company will be looking for capable hands to fill in the position. A significant change or improvement can make your company change its mind and retain you. If it’s too late for that, they can decide to transfer you instead of laying you off completely.
Raise a grievance
If you feel you are wrongly been displaced then you can raise a grievance. A grievance is a formal complaint you raise with your employer in writing. If after talking to your supervisor and still feel the need to act further, then this is the next step to take. This is written to let your employer know how strongly you feel about a decision. You should let your company resolve this according to the general and company standards.
At job, watch your back
After raising such a complaint, it is natural that there will be an uproar. This is because you actually caught up with the company’s plans. The company might be in fear of the legal decisions you might want to take and will look for ways to turn the situation against you. You should be alert at this point and avoid taking illegal steps. Because every step you make will be monitored and recorded. The company might go digging up dirt to use against you. You should be wary of who you associate and share your thoughts with, as you do not know who might be spying on you. At this point, you are one foot outside the company and one foot in. So before taking this step, you must have considered all other options.
Constructive dismissal report
After you have written a formal letter to the human resource department with a deadline to respond to the advert, then it is relevant you involve your lawyer. There is clearly a breakdown of trust and confidence, as they are looking for someone else to do your work while you are still there. To sue for constructive dismissal, you have to officially resign from the position. This is a huge step to take, this is why it is important you involve your lawyer. A lawyer is more knowledgeable and experienced in the legal field. He will give you the necessary advice and steps to follow. But if you are eventually dismissed before you resign, and you feel you have been wrongfully dismissed, then you can sue the company for wrongful dismissal with help of your lawyer. To be eligible for this, the following criteria must be met.
- The company does not provide enough reason for dismissing you.
- The reason they provided is not true.
- The company did not give you enough warning before dismissing you.
- Most importantly, you must have worked with the company for at least 2 years.
Employment tribunal
Countries like the United kingdom and Wales have employment tribunals that settle problems between employees and their employers. But before going to a tribunal, you have to report to advisory, conciliation, and arbitrary services. They will give you the option to settle your dispute with your employer without going to court using their early conciliation services. If this does not work out, they will give you an early certificate to make an official claim against your employer in court. You will have to provide evidence and answer questions from the tribunal and your employee. You will get the decision of the hearing in a post a few weeks after. If the decision is positive, your employer will have to compensate you or give you back your job. If you eventually choose to take back your job, bear in mind that things will not remain the same. You will face a lot of criticism and oppression from both your employer and colleagues.
Start searching for other jobs
If the decision is negative or you choose to be compensated then it’s time to start finding a new job. It’s never an easy task to hunt for a job. Especially at the mid-point of your career. It’s even going to be tougher since it’s been a while since you searched for a job. Recruitment processes must have changed and you will need to come to terms with the new procedures. But do not be downcast, especially if you know your worth and what you can add to a prospective employer. You can start by updating your resume, including the company you just resigned from and the skills you gained from it. The next step is to update your LinkedIn page and upload the new resume to other job websites. Try as much as possible to apply to at least 7 job openings a week. Prepare for interviews adequately and sell yourself efficiently. If you are actually skilled in your field, it won’t be long before you land a new job offer.