Hello EFer's

I would like your opinion on my case. I relocated here in January 2011 on a dependent B permit and got a job with an international IT services company in March 2011. When I was extended the offer my grade was 'X' which I signed and sent. However, subsequently after a week when I clarified my husband's health insurance coverage as mentioned in the contract the HR wrote to me an email asking me to sign and send the new amended contract which demoted me to grade 'Y' (one grade below X). When I raised this to her she tried to cover up telling over phone that I was always 'Y' in their database and it was an error on her part. By then I had already started working so I raised this issue to my manager who was terribly shocked, asked me to furnish the email exchanges and told me not to send the amended copy till he had this clarified with the HR. He was silent for over 6 weeks and today when I raised this back his reply wasnt too convincing it was more a 'Hope the HR clarified it for you' which really has annoyed me and I feel stupid to be working for such a callous group. Now The HR has been after me for a signed copy of the amended contract.What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Welcome to the IT world

I don't even know what my title is, nor do I care.

(I think that it's director of something, just can't remember what)

Tom

If you signed the contract that was sent to you, I doubt that it can be altered, unless there is a clause in the original that allows for alterations, demotions etc.

As long as Y still has the word 'cloud' in it, then it's all fine.

Hi,

If there is a considerable difference in perks of designation X & Y , and if you have a signed copy of the contract of 'X' with you then you can escalate the issue to senior HR manager as you are already in the company.
Otherwise continue with the job profile 'Y'.

Is the salary the same? Are the duties the same? If so, I wouldn't
worry about the title.

Thanks for your replies. Its not only the title but also the GRADE apparently a typo by the HR. I am feeling very miserable about it and I am seriously contemplating to quit my job.

AS

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

This is primarily a contractual issue.

You need a legal analysis.

You have a valid contract for "X".

There is no reason to sign any amendment to this contract.

Therefore do not sign it.

Communicate with the HR department only in writing.

Tell them that you have spoken to a lawyer.

Ask them to communicate their position in writing so that your lawyer can review the correspondence. Advise them that you have a valid contract and do not wish to amend it.

Await their response, then post it here or PM me.

The problem is, that by insisting on your legal rights, following an apparent error on their part, you may well end up antagonising them. In that sense, it is not just a contractual issue.

Which job did you apply for? Is the salary different?

This is very important.

What job class was on the original offer?
Is there a salary difference?

Switzerland is all about the contracts. If you originally signed a contract for X and they are trying to get you down to Y they are in the wrong.

Dont forget that your job class or title could be important to your future promotion well being.

If they are doing this now and you originally signed on for something else you might consider that your future might be questionable in this particular organisation.

Good Luck.

The original contract states X and I would have definitely thought twice if they had offered Y as it is the lowest grade. The salary is the same though, but ones dignity is way more important than money

Presumably there is a clause in the contract allowing each party to reconsider after a period of time? Or a notice period? Your pride at not having position x may pushyour employer to simply replace you to avoid some legal challenge
Unfortunately noone is irreplaceable , especially not a new arrival.

sorry, but what???? if the money and benefits are the same then why does it matter that your contract says you are Y rather then X??

Do you go round all proud telling people at work you are X, all you Y's are under me!!!! ??

Its a word on a piece of paper that by the sounds of it makes no difference to you at all, except in your head.

If you quit your job then unemployment wont kick in straight away, and depending how long you have been here and where you are from it may not kick in at all.

at the end of the day (I hate that saying lol) you work for an International IT services company, you are not a person, you're a tool, you are there to make them money, what did you expect? (been there, got the t-shirt)

__________________
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I completely agree with your point about the IT services industry but I am at the start of my career and this is definitely going to have an impact on my next promotion and career.

You reckon???

You work hard - build your skills - get a good reputation - and it won't matter with you are x, y, z, k, l, b, t.

What matters is what you do in your job!!

I started out on the end of the phone as a helpdesk monkey - knowing nothing.

I've not learned anything but I get a lot more

your at the start of your career, so you wont be with this company for the rest of your life, probably only a couple of years, you'll be lucky to get any sort of meaningful promotion in that time, if ever, without changing company.
the world of IT doesn't really have a career path especially if you want to stay technical, job titles change but the work stays the same. And working for a service provider will almost guarantee that if your any good then you'll be stuck where you are being charged out at a stupid daily rate while your boss will gladly tell you anything and stab you in the back to keep you earning.

__________________
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http://www.swissr2.ch/
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Salary bands might be different so eventual increases might be lower. Also, going from Y to X means an additional step in a career path.

Sad, but true.

V.

I feel for you because I have been in a very similar situation. I joined a company thinking I was a certain grade, which is said on the HR system, and about 6 months later it transpired HR had 'made a mistake' and I was a lower grade. My remuneration package was not affected, but various other things were, for example, the class of travel I was permitted to take for long distance flights (quite important when you are taking 12 hour overnight flights and going straight to work!).

However meaningless a title may seem to be, it's a fact that something like this feels humiliating and like a demotion. Recognition is a hugely important part of motivating and rewarding employees. There is nothing wrong in feeling like you do.

In my case, and I suspect in yours too, there is nothing you can do about the title or grade as long as it does not affect any money or benefits in your initial contract. But long term it could have an impact on things like bonuses (some companies have fixed %ages of salary that they will for bonus at each level), holiday, etc. I swallowed my pride and got on with the job which I enjoyed, but it motivated me to perform to the higher standard that I thought I deserved and made me feel less loyal toward the company. I had no qualms moving on when I felt I had achieved all I could in that role and something much better came along. And I learned what questions I needed to ask when moving into my next job!

Sorry this probably isn't an answer you wanted to hear, but hope it helps a little.