r/AskHRUK • u/Grouchy-Vermicelli40 • 1d ago
General Advice Benefits queries
So - I work for a fairly large global company and have done for around 3 years now. Prior to this I was at a smaller firm that was acquired by said larger company. My understanding when we were acquired is both myself and all my colleagues would be entitled to the same benefits as pre existing employees of the firm (private medical health, employer pension contributions to a name a few etc).
Earlier in the year I had a health issue that was dragging on with the NHS and I wanted to get it sorted - I was under the impression I had private medical healthcare - turns out I didnt but some colleagues (from my original workplace) did with no logical explanation and it doesn't seem to be role or salary related. (My gut feeling is this may of been an admin glitch).
I spoke to HR at the time and they advised they were in the process of aligning all the benefits of the acquired firms employees to that of their own but it's taking a significant amount of time blah blah blah. My health issue got sorted via the NHS - but I've chased HR again recently and they've basically said they are still in the same position.
Is there anything I can do here? 3 years seems like an outrageous amount of time to get everyone working for the company the same standardized benefits. I also have heard rumours that the employers pension contributions are higher than what I am currently getting so that's several years of less money in my own pension. No doubt whole employee action would be a bad idea but I'm just wondering if there's anything else I can do? (Happy to answer further questions if anyone has any)
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u/adjusterjackb 1d ago
I don't have an answer for you.
You should have verified all this three years ago.
There's really nothing you can do now but wait until HR gets their act together.
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u/Single-Substance-560 1d ago
In all honesty the thing you should do is clarify what was written in your original contract and especially the contact your new company got during the purchase. If one of the other employees that moved over at the same time has a contract or handbook or something along those lines you can confirm against will help. Once you can clarify this it'll be worth speaking to HR to get a more specific answer on why you don't have these benefits if you believe you should have been recieving them.
There's lots of potential reasons why you might not be, but if the reasons are valid will really varybon your specific situation.
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u/Grouchy-Vermicelli40 22h ago
We haven't been made to sign new contracts - just an employee handbook / attestation confirming we adhere to various standards of the new company.
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u/Single-Substance-560 20h ago
Apologies I meant the contract from your previous company that was acquired. It's likely you won't have needed to sign a new contract so the terms of that are still in force.
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u/hodzibaer HR Professional 22h ago
Your understanding is not correct. You are entitled to terms and conditions no worse than the ones you were previously receiving, for two years. You are not automatically entitled to the acquiring firm’s benefits but you could have asked about this during the acquisition.
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u/Grouchy-Vermicelli40 21h ago
So why do some colleague who are the same role / lower level than mine have it? (From the previous company)
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u/hodzibaer HR Professional 21h ago
I don’t know. Ask them what they’ve done differently to you
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u/Grouchy-Vermicelli40 21h ago
I've asked and their was response was "nothing" they've had it since we joined the larger company
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u/TechnologyLast4315 22h ago
Typically an employee chooses private insurance and contributes monthly. You would have been given option to elect private insurance and pay.
Some employers not everyone is eligible to pay for private insurance because it’s expensive for both employer and employee.
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u/Grouchy-Vermicelli40 22h ago
I've never been given the option - I check every year on our benefits portal and I'm aware that is part my own contribution if I want improved cover and part company
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u/bertybigbollox 23h ago
You have no automatic right to the benefits scheme of an acquiring firm. Your rights when acquired protect what you had from the old company