3 ms·

In some countries this might be illegal, with having their work defined in their employment contract?

marcus_holmes 4y ago
In the UK/Australia, this would definitely qualify as constructive dismissal just for the role change. If they changed the salary then even more so. Of course, if they didn't change the salary then it could turn out interesting; the customer support folks could demand equal pay as the ex-engineers.
- badpun 4y ago
  That's what happened in Poland in 1990s when France Telecom took bought the local telco monopoly (Telekomunikacja Polska) from the Polish state. FT wanted to get rid of lots of relatively well-paid office workers (largely due to automation making them no longer necessary), but were unable to do so, as keeping employment was part of the sales contract. However, they were allowed to move people around the company, provided they still pay them the same salaries. The FT's "solution" was to move hundreds (probably even thousands) of people into call centers and subject them to what today would definitely be recognized as mobbing. A family member went through that - she said that, whoever could quit quickly did, and people who had no alternatives stayed on the job largely only thanks to tranquilizers and other psych meds.
  - hikingsimulator 4y ago
    This is a very common practice at French telecom companies, and beyond. A massive lawsuit occured when a string of suicides at Orange Telecom in France happened. Managers would systematically psychologically harass workers till they quit, or die. All in order to meet "headcount reduction targets." Call that practice the good, old Roman decimation. The French managing practice of moving someone in a spot where they will get bored out, if not killed out is called "placardisation," or "to put someone in a cupboard." Demeaning and morally unacceptable, but something that business majors at French grandes écoles are taught is "une normalité," a given, a fact of business life. [a] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_S.A._suicides https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_S.A._suicides
gowld 4y ago
It's only legal if employer refuses to file the proper paperwork (firing / layoff) if they leave and it is ruled constructive dismissal.

In the UK/Australia, this would definitely qualify as constructive dismissal just for the role change. If they changed the salary then even more so. Of course, if they didn't change the salary then it could turn out interesting; the customer support folks could demand equal pay as the ex-engineers.

badpun 4y ago
That's what happened in Poland in 1990s when France Telecom took bought the local telco monopoly (Telekomunikacja Polska) from the Polish state. FT wanted to get rid of lots of relatively well-paid office workers (largely due to automation making them no longer necessary), but were unable to do so, as keeping employment was part of the sales contract. However, they were allowed to move people around the company, provided they still pay them the same salaries. The FT's "solution" was to move hundreds (probably even thousands) of people into call centers and subject them to what today would definitely be recognized as mobbing. A family member went through that - she said that, whoever could quit quickly did, and people who had no alternatives stayed on the job largely only thanks to tranquilizers and other psych meds.
- hikingsimulator 4y ago
  This is a very common practice at French telecom companies, and beyond. A massive lawsuit occured when a string of suicides at Orange Telecom in France happened. Managers would systematically psychologically harass workers till they quit, or die. All in order to meet "headcount reduction targets." Call that practice the good, old Roman decimation. The French managing practice of moving someone in a spot where they will get bored out, if not killed out is called "placardisation," or "to put someone in a cupboard." Demeaning and morally unacceptable, but something that business majors at French grandes écoles are taught is "une normalité," a given, a fact of business life. [a] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_S.A._suicides https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_S.A._suicides

gowld 4y ago

It's only legal if employer refuses to file the proper paperwork (firing / layoff) if they leave and it is ruled constructive dismissal.