Overlooked for promotion because I'm pregnant

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

Very long time poster with a new username as I couldn't get my password reset to work.

I'm on holiday at the moment but back at work in a week. I've been with my organisation for 10 years and am very experienced in my field. I have an excellent track record and performance management history etc. A couple of years ago my manager was talking about my career progression and where I could be in a year or 2, if I wanted.

Immediately after this conversation I became pregnant and now have a 1 year old. I'm back at work part time.

A role came up recently that would have been a step up for me and which I could have job shared part time. It's the sort of thing that comes up very very rarely. I expressed an interest and presented a case about how I could do it with a colleague (who also expressed an interest) as a job share. We're both part time. Management seemed very positive. A week later I found out I was pregnant again and let my boss know. I said I intended to come back again and that I was still interested in the role.

I then found out a few weeks ago that a new starter has been given the role. This was just casually announced in the morning meeting for all staff. He'll be full time. He's got 3 years experience and a similar track record to me, only less of it obviously.

Am I being unreasonable to feel overlooked because of being pregnant? I've always intended to keep working and kept in touch on my previous maternity leave. I've worked really hard for years and until my first pregnancy I felt that my career was taken seriously.

Now it's like I've hit a glass ceiling. I like the new starter and think he'll be good in the role, but I don't like how it was handled. Should I ask for an explanation when I get back or just let it go? Feel free to tell me to get a grip!

[AnotherTimeMaybe]

YANBU I've had the same unfortunately ..
Can you talk to your boss? Can you say how shocked/disappointed you were without actually asking for explanation iykwim?

[Hamiltoes]

Its a hard one. I'm kind of in the same boat in that I was probably "next in line" for a promotion and management were having discussions about it, I then fell preganant and since coming back in April two colleugues have moved up ahead of me, and I'd say I'm in an even less involved role than when I left!

I get the feeling I will need to do this for another two years until discussions can start again about me moving on. Its a horrible feeling isn't it? I'm not sure I have any advice as I haven't said or done anything myself. I brought up a pay discrepency after my first pregnancy which left me feeling so frustrated and undervalued I cried in the toilets after my boss told me to put up and shut up. So I really don't want t go through that again!

Watching with interest.

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

I'm thinking about it - I'm worried that I'll cry to be honest. Hormones going berserk and all that! It's done now, but I do feel that I want to make my point, if only so that I'm not overlooked when I get back after the second baby. At the moment I'm feeling pretty unmotivated and I'll probably look for other jobs whilst I'm off. Should I tell him that?!

[Bailey101]

It may be that they would rather have one person doing the job instead of two. What's been said to the job share person about why they haven't got the promotion?

[AnotherTimeMaybe]

I wouldn't say that you are looking for another job but I would say that you are demotivated, neglected etc

I cried loads in my first pregnancy cause of my boss who by the way has no children

Second pregnancy I was tougher but for me to prove to him that I'm not a changed employee I ve had to work late nights loads

Mums have it tough

[Osolea]

I don't think you should tell them you're likely to be looking for other jobs, that's not likely to make them think they should have considered your application better.

I'd be less inclined to see this as being because of your pregnancy, and more likely to be because you are part time. Just because roles can be done with a job share, doesn't neccesarily mean that that's what's best for the company. There can be difficulties with job shares and it might just not seem lie, it's worth the risk if there's someone there who's prepared to do full time that you admit would be good in the role.

I think I'd go with wanting to let management know that you are dsis pointed, without asking for an explanation.

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

That's a good point, I don't want to risk them taking me less seriously if I start talking about other jobs. I will keep my eyes open all the same!

It's a good point too about them preferring someone who's full time. I just think that I should have been spoken to before the decision was announced. Nothing was said to the colleague I would have job shared with either - she's also part time since having a dc, although no more on the horizon at the moment.

I have absolutely no problem with the person who'll be doing the role. I'm upset about the lack of communication though.

Pay wise, I'm earning quite a bit more than him (pro rata) because of years of service etc. I am slightly worried about that. How can I justify my point on the payscale if I'm doing a lower grade role than someone further down?

[RachelZoe]

Sounds like they didn't want the job share. Job shares are a huge pain in the arse for some employers. I never, ever do them in my company, nightmare IME.

[AuntyMag10]

Well they've taken on someone full time and you're part time so immediately its obvious that you did not fit the criteria. And if you were offered the full time role would you have been able to commit to it? If you weren't then I'm not sure why you think you were overlooked.

[Shutthatdoor]

Sounds like they didn't want the job share. Job shares are a huge pain in the arse for some employers

I have to agree. Maybe they decided job share wasn't the way to go.

Doesn't stop you being upset though

[Spartans]

Personally I think it's down to the job share aspect. Sometimes it just doesn't work, is a pain and employers want one person. Which sounds like the case here.

However they should have taken you to the side and given you the heads up.

Don't tell them you are looking for other work, it makes you look bad. Especially if you don't actually do it. Do tell them how you feel though and see what it they say.

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

Thanks all.

AuntyMag they didn't take on the full time person specifically for that role. The full time role needed filling anyway because someone else was leaving. The full time person was needed whether they took on this additional responsibility or not.

[wannaBe]

sounds as if they didn't want to take on a job share, and tbh as you're pregnant you wouldn't be in a position to fill the role yet anyway so if they'd agreed to the job share they would also have had to recruit someone to fill your part of the job share until you come back off matt leave while at the same time recruiting to fill your current role.

[slightlyglitterpaned]

Regardless of their reasons for giving the role to someone else, I would want to get feedback on why I wasn't successful in applying for any internal role, especially a promotion.

I can understand being worried about crying though! What about writing an email, explaining that you're obviously very disappointed not to have got this opportunity, wish X all the best in the role, and would like to understand what the weaknesses were in your application so you can address them for next time. I would also sprinkle in a few mentions of long service, commitment to company, very ambitious to progress etc.

Personally if the role had been given purely on the basis of wanting a FT applicant, I would have been extremely disappointed not to have had that pointed out to me earlier, which would have given me the opportunity to offer to go FT. I am part-time currently (promoted after mat leave as it happens), and would have considered FT if it was necessary for the job.

[slightlyglitterpaned]

If they have treated a candidate differently because they are pregnant/on mat leave, then that is clear discrimination.

[plantsitter]

I would put something in writing. If it was the job share aspect they should have told you so. You should not be left wondering what you did 'wrong'.

You can say you feel disappointed after discussions that a) you didn't get the job and b) you weren't told separately. Also I suggest you say something about how the decision was made - and opinions seemed to change - after you declared your pregnancy. Say this diplomatically obviously.

That way should the money issue come up you have all this in writing.

I suppose it depends whether you will really want to take it further how hard you push it, but it does seem like discrimination to me. Unfortunately these things are never done in a clear cut obvious way.

[chickenfuckingpox]

pretty sure they would have thought twice about offering you the job when you told them you were pregnant im sure its nothing personal but they will have to fill the vacancy again in a few months time and they run the risk of you not coming back so they would be more likely to keep you where you are for now im sure you will get another chance soon

[Kampeki]

AuntyMag they didn't take on the full time person specifically for that role. The full time role needed filling anyway because someone else was leaving. The full time person was needed whether they took on this additional responsibility or not.

Am I failing to understand something here? It sounds like this new guy is taking on the workload of your colleague who was leaving and the additional responsibility that you would like to have taken on with your job share partner, all for less money than what they currently pay you (pro rata). Is that right?

If it is, then I would think that their decision has more to do with saving money than with your pregnancy, no? Or have I misunderstood?

[oneowlgirl]

As a manager, a job share is a nightmare to manage, unless the individuals are extremely good at it & work extremely well together. In addition, usually there's a period of overlap so it ends up more expensive than 1 person working full time, so if it's a full time role, & there was someone suitable to fill it, then I'm not surprised they'd choose that candidate over a job share.

What have they said to the other person in the job share, who also didn't get it?

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

I don't want to go into loads of detail in case I out myself, but it's an education setting. The additional role/responsibility is a head of department type role, alongside teaching responsibilities. So the new guy will be teaching full time and head of department, with occasional release time. I'll be teaching but part time, until my next maternity leave starts. So we'll both be teaching, him for less money.

My maternity leave is likely to be covered internally anyway, but the part time colleague I wanted to job share with. She'll increase her hours on a temporary basis. This was suggested by management and she is keen.

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

Sorry for the typos. oneowlgirl they haven't said anything to the colleague who would have job shared. I ended up telling her after I found out in the morning meeting which happened to be on a day she doesn't work.

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

The head of department role doesn't automatically mean a pay rise, although you get time allocated to fulfil it. It does mean career progression though and puts you on a path to senior management etc, which is where I ultimately want to be, sigh.

[plantsitter]

To be honest it sounds like the kind of role that should've been advertised externally anyway... But I suppose I don't know the details.

You're entitled to an explanation anyway. It smacks of discrimination. But as always it just depends how much energy you want to expend on it and what you want the ultimate outcome to be as to whether or not you take it further.

[IconicTonic]

Am I right in thinking they were discussing the job share as a possibility but after you told them you were pregnant you heard nothing more. So you weren't interviewed or anything.

I know there are downsides to job shares but they are very common in teaching and it doesn't sound like this was the issue here.