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1. Foundry - Member

   Ok I know this is probably not the best pace to ask, but I am going to anyway.

   I am a manager of a manufacturing company and have been for the past four years. Due to lack of staff in the area and people leaving and that we do something that is bespoke my MD has asked me if I would consider training someone to be a manufacturing manager and then go back on the shop floor and make his parts. Funny enough I said thank for that kind offer but "NO". Since then we have had another person leave. "Will you go back on the shopfloor". "NO". I have found out that they have been putting work out to Sub-Con from our other site, this is a task that should have gone through myself. so now I have no work.I have told him that I will do his work if I am self employed and as a subcontractor and explained why I think that this would be beneficial for the company.He is thinking about this apparently.

   The problem is I am starting to feel bullied in to going back on to the shop floor, and now I have found out that they are bypassing me so it could look like I have no work. When do I speak to the HR department and tell them that I am becoming unhappy?I have no job description, never been appraised and the HR lady lives with the MD

   Posted 5 months ago #
2. wwaswas - Member

   I'd say you could argue constructive dismissal.

   Keep a diary, document everything and talk to a lawyer.

   Posted 5 months ago #
3. bristolbiker - Member

   ...and the HR lady lives with the MD

   Whatever else happens, I can't see this working in your favour.

   Posted 5 months ago #
4. druidh - Member

   Would working on the shop floor be a bad idea?

   Posted 5 months ago #
5. muddy_bum - Member

   Can't you train someone to do the shopfloor job?

   Posted 5 months ago #
6. Foundry - Member

   Would working on the shop floor be a bad idea?

   Experience tell me yes, not exactly a career move and the parts that we make are a pain in the backside to do, we have no equipment, no budget and this is not likely to improve or change in the near future. I only have on person left on the shop floor. We have lost 8 people out of the company in the last four months we use to employ about 27 people. Read in to this what you want.

   Posted 5 months ago #
7. TPTcruiser - Member

   How big is the company and how many people are you managing?
   What's wrong with working on the shopfloor?
   Was being promoted to manager a reward for good work and track record that the company can sustain?

   We all muck in here in our workplace of four people. But there are only four of us.

   Posted 5 months ago #
8. TandemJeremy - Member

   Constructive dismissal is very hard to prove and this would not count.

   There is very little you can do I think. depends on exactly whats in your contract but I wouldn't fancy taking the case on.

   Posted 5 months ago #
9. trail_rat - Member

   you have one person on the shop floor

   the parts are hard to make

   you have no equipment or budget

   managing your self out the door ?

   id get down on the shop floor and get making or sit in your office and look for a new job while fighting off the doors closing

   doesnt exactly sound like an ideal place to work. sounds like the shop floor is "beneath" you. its a backwards career move as you dont get to sit in your cushty office but a job is a job- long as they dont expect you to take a paycut to go back to the floor - then look for a new job as the signs point towards your factory and staff/solitary reportee being surplus to requirements

   Posted 5 months ago #
10. craigxxl - Member

    Sounds like poor management of the company from the MD down including yourself. You state that your management but seem to shift the blame to others even though part of your job description seems to be staffing levels and what should be sub contract work. Does the MD suspect that you're out of your depth in management and part of the current problem? If that's the case going back to the shop floor on a self employed basis would be suicidal as he could just let you go without compensation that would be offered to you as an employee.

    Posted 5 months ago #
11. bland - Member

    It sounds like you will be managing no one soon as the company will go bump and then you will get nothing, or maybes a small share of nothing if you are lucky.

    How long can one poor chap with crap equipment keep supporting an office, manufacturing facility, you, the HR woman and the MD.

    If he can solely do that then he is either amazing or you have a product with a mahoosive margin. In which case if you joined him you could produce twice as much, and manage the one guy you are left responsible for more effectively as you will be stood next to him.

    I think you will be redundant next week, just a hunch

    Posted 5 months ago #
12. Foundry - Member

    Couple of points I would like to make clear.

    The job is very complex and although placing adverts at a lot higher rate through out the country we still can not find staff with the right skills to move to Cornwall.

    My job is anything but cushy and work a 10hr day 5 days a week and some Saturdays.

    I enjoyed the shopfloor and did it for 30yrs and have a great respect for those that can do the job. Unfortunately my MD has not and thinks that everyone can be a toomaker.

    I dont want to go back on the shopfloor because I would still be expected to do what I am doing now and make the parts and I can not do this it would be too much and I would let everyone down. My MD was told about why people on the shopfloor were unhappy but invested in another part of the company.

    I dont think the company has too much life left in it in its current form and I am trying to help my MD change that. It will survive, but not as it is now, my MD knows what I do for him he is just not playing very fair at the moment probably because he is stressed about it. I dont want to walk out and leave him in trouble but I dont want to be bullied in to something that will put my home life under even more strain. And I am not looking for compensation either. He does need a rap across the knuckles though to make him realise the strain he is putting people under.

    Thanks everyone it has made me think about a few things though.

    Posted 5 months ago #
13. Cougar - Member

    I dont want to walk out and leave him in trouble

    Your loyalty is commendable.

    And stupid.

    Look after #1, you'll be out of the door sooner than you can say 'tungsten carbide drill' if that side of the business gets wound down and there's nowhere else to place you.

    You're not happy with the current situation, and it sounds like it's only going to get worse. In the short term the obvious answer would seem to be to take on apprentices and become a trainer; but long-term, I think you need to be giving serious consideration to jumping ship.

    Trust me on this though: it's a bloody sight easier to get a job when you've already got one.

    Posted 5 months ago #
14. project - Member

    Foundry you dont make compressors do you.

    Tollmaker is a very skilled job, and not everyoner can be trained to the required skill level, and are there still apprenticeships going to get some trainees.

    Posted 5 months ago #
15. JohnClimber - Member

    Shame you live over in Cornwall as our firm is looking for someone with industrial B2B sales skills to cover the south (below our Midlands rep) but you'd need to be based in or around the Hampshire/West London area

    Posted 5 months ago #
16. wrecker - Member

    Have you been straight with him?
    Does he realise that you cannot be a hands on toolmaker and manager and that he will have to perform your current managerial work? Has he recognised/conceded the companies failings leading to poor retention? If not, he probably never will which is a warning to you that things will likely never improve. It sounds like putting you back on the shop floor is a lest resort to save his business.
    Just be honest with the chap, you sound like you have a good relationship.

    Posted 5 months ago #
17. Zedsdead - Member

    I could do it but I don't want to move to Cornwall.

    What is it you make?

    How about setting up your own company - it sounds like you won't have much competition? Then you can run it as you see fit...

    Might be worth looking into?

    Posted 5 months ago #
18. muddydwarf - Member

    I'd love to live and work in Cornwall, although i am a CNC machinist i'm not a qualified toolmaker, i work in a toolroom and i know how good those lads are.

    Posted 5 months ago #
19. Foundry - Member

    Thanks again guys, it has been a particularly bad day. It seems like there are those that know what toolmakers are and those that think training will help. I am looking for a job and also talking to my MD about taking on that side of the business as there are a lot of local companies that have moved more toward production and struggling with low batch and one off.

    Zedsdead - parts for the oil industry. what we make is a challenge and rewarding if you like that kid of thing but today many dont and just want a 9 - 5 job with no hassle.

    Posted 5 months ago #

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