Loss of seniority by not accepting EVR?

[azzy3000]

A rep in the our office told members of staff yesterday that one of our colleagues has been moved to the bottom of the seniority list because they completed the preference exercise and then refused voluntary redundancy?! How can this be, was it in the small print? If this is true, then why is it not being talked about here???
I did not complete the preference exercise. However, I did say to a manager in a 1-2-1 that I would be interested if it was the right price. Should anyone, including myself be worried?

[Woody Guthrie]

"Seniority" is simply length of service.
It cannot be added to by anyone or taken away by anyone.
Someone is talking s**t.

[sam63]

What a load of crap,

there is no loss of seniority since The Way Forward removed the loss of seniority for transfers and revoked all previous losses that happened prior to 2000.
The only reduction in seniority happens when you take a sabbatical ie 1 year sabbatical means a manual reduction in your seniority date by the said period of the sabbatical.

[NWpostie]

Somebody is obviously telling porkies and pulling wool over your eyes, I would challenge it, the way forward agreement is clear on this, to say otherwise during an EVR exercise, not being spelled out and certainly wouldn't be agreed to if the staff and union is aware of it.

If it was clear you would lose seniority, nobody will apply for it.

[yubin282]

Did they not mean, if you turn it down you don't get another chance ?

[Maleev68]

Just seen this post. It’s absolutely true. How do I know because it happened to me as well. Expressed an interest in the evr exercise. I was told no one off £6k payment just 9 months pay. Laughed and stood up from my chair and about to leave the office when the manager told me to hold on and at least get the offer in writing as it was obligatory whether you accepted or not. Ok fine. I asked him if while waiting for the offer if I would be impacted as regards to the realignment of duties that was taking place. He said no. Over the next couple of days I saw the same manager calling people in the office to be interviewed over the realignment process with less seniority than myself. Passing him coming back from a lunch break I asked him why this was the case. He stated because I expressed an interest in taking evr I had lost all seniority and had gone to the bottom of the pile after nearly 28 years in the service of Royal Mail. I told him that was ridiculous and I intended to take a grievance out against him. I asked him to put in writing what he had just stated. He said to ask the shift manager because he was just following instructions. I proceeded to walk to the shift managers office with this manager following on behind me. Inside I recounted this story to the shift manager all the while the other manager was claiming to feel threatened by me having pointed and raised my voice at him. I stood up from my chair at one point and this manager said I was aggressive and threatening.He stated he had not said I had lost all seniority that I was surplus [ same thing ]. I called him a liar, he called me a liar. The shift manager asked how me resolve this. I told him I would be taking a grievance out against this manager. The manager said he wanted to take a grievance out against myself for my threatening and aggressive behaviour. 24 hours later in the same office the shift manager is offering me a choice of 4 different duties to pick. The next day the duty I pick is confirmed in writing. I officially took out a grievance against the manager doing the realignment process after the initial meeting and this still stands. I sincerely hope he follows up with his grievance as well. This shows Royal Mail chat to be a useful online forum as I would not have known about this happening to other employees. Also shows the Royal Mail trust survey to be laughable. Probably just another rogue manager for Simon to add to his list around the country! This is the only time I have ever taken out a grievance in my time working at Royal Mail to give this some context. This is Royal Mail 2023!
Take care.

[roman]

Well done. These managers do cross the line sometimes. The whole of the v r process was a joke from start to finish anyway. Nobody knew what was going on from one office to another. What the criteria was wether it was highest seniority, non drivers or bad sick records or what. So it doesn’t surprise me they pulled that one on you when you declined it.

[denhamhoop]

There must be another Rogue Manager at Greenford MC on Lates because one of the Mech Staff with 40 years in the job put in for VR found out the offer turned it down has been told he has been displaced from his duty so is Supernumerary

[freespeech]

What a load of crap,

there is no loss of seniority since The Way Forward removed the loss of seniority for transfers and revoked all previous losses that happened prior to 2000.
The only reduction in seniority happens when you take a sabbatical ie 1 year sabbatical means a manual reduction in your seniority date by the said period of the sabbatical.

Technically there is no "reduction" in the case of a sabbatical. You would have your seniority up to the absence and then the seniority clock would start again on your return.

[pieoftheday]

A rep in the our office told members of staff yesterday that one of our colleagues has been moved to the bottom of the seniority list because they completed the preference exercise and then refused voluntary redundancy?! How can this be, was it in the small print? If this is true, then why is it not being talked about here???
I did not complete the preference exercise. However, I did say to a manager in a 1-2-1 that I would be interested if it was the right price. Should anyone, including myself be worried?

What has the colleague said? They'd be livid so everyone would know who it was?

[sam63]

What a load of crap,

there is no loss of seniority since The Way Forward removed the loss of seniority for transfers and revoked all previous losses that happened prior to 2000.
The only reduction in seniority happens when you take a sabbatical ie 1 year sabbatical means a manual reduction in your seniority date by the said period of the sabbatical.

Technically there is no "reduction" in the case of a sabbatical. You would have your seniority up to the absence and then the seniority clock would start again on your return.

Way Forward Section 6 para 13.6 is very clear periods of casual, career break and sabbatical do not count for seniority hence manual reduction and your duty becomes vacant and can be put up for signing.