Colleague promoted over me

[ThisIsReallyFunny]

Hi all, am a first time poster. Currently on mat leave, due back to work in 6 months. Have heard from someone at work that a colleague in the same role as me has been promoted. She's been in the job for less time than I have. Very pissed off as my boss has always expressed an interest in wanting me to progress.
Do I have a case here or would I be wasting my time?

[elastamum]

Presumably your colleague isn't on Mat leave?

TBH I think the two situations you describe are completely unconnected, unless of course you have something in writing confirming that you were due for promotion. In which case you could reasonably expect it to happen on your return

You have a right to return to work but to the role you were in prior to ML , not to a more senior role. In your absence they can promote whoever they choose

[ThisIsReallyFunny]

No she's not on mat leave. Annoyingly I don't have anything in writing from my boss about a promotion - it was something we'd discussed many times in meetings. I've been in the job for 4 years and the promoted girls been in hers for 2. I really feel I've been screwed.

[LemonBreeland]

Was there an application process? If so you should have been informed and allowed to apply. I don't know if you can do anything about it though.

[ThisIsReallyFunny]

I don't think there was a process - I didn't find out about it until someone told me.

[flowery]

How long someone has been in the job is (or certainly should be!) irrelevant. It's their skills/performance/qualifications/experience that will be relevant.

Having said that, you should absolutely have access to promotion opportunities/other vacancies while on maternity leave.

I suggest you write to your manager copying HR saying you are concerned as you have reason to believe there has a been a promotion opportunity that it seems you were not given access to because of your maternity leave.

[WittyCakeMeister]

You would need some kind of evidence that you were looked over because of your Maternity Leave. It would be very difficult to prove otherwise and they will claim (perhaps honestly) that the other colleague was just the best one for the job and it had nothing to do with ML (in their eyes).

You should have been informed of the job vacancy and been given opportunity to apply. However, 'informed' could be as simple as the job being advertised on the internet (company site), legally. They could argue that you had the means to view job whilst on ML, as most people have access to internet at home.

Express your disappointment to your boss, but do this in a positive way - 'I'm disappointed - I would have applied for the role. I really would have loved the job and hope there will be further opportunities. Please keep me in mind'.

I've learned the hard way that speaking to seniors in a way that could be perceived as criticism does not help in the long-term (too many egotistical personalities). Keep on the right side of them and they will want to reward you.

You would have a stronger case if they treated you badly in other ways due to ML as well.

I suspect, there is little you can do.

[ThisIsReallyFunny]

I wasnt aware of this position and so wasn't able to put myself forward for it.

I had an email chat with my boss who said that my colleague was deserving of this promotion due to her increased responsibilities. With the set up of the dept she has had access to more responsibilities than me - even though we in fact do the same job. With the way things are (I manage one account, and she manages several) it's certainly harder for me to manage more accounts than she does but I have helped on one quite large one. So they're using the set up of the dept to account for her promotion.

My boss has said that my position is still very valued and that when another role comes up they will consider me. I have also spoken to HR who have reiterated what my boss has said about me being valued blah blah blah.

It has left a sour taste in my mouth and I don't feel I could go back to work now. I just feel they've treated me quite poorly. Considering handing in my resignation.

[Crisscrosscranky]

I was promoted whilst my colleague, who'd worked there 8 years compared to my 3, was on maternity leave.

One of the reasons I got it and she wasn't considered was that the need for a manager was immediate- she was on maternity leave with no intention of returning early. Also, when a colleague is on any type of long term absence the workload is picked up by their colleagues so she's probably been working bloody hard.

As PP has said- maternity protection affords you the right to return to your job not a promoted position. Had it have been a redundancy situation you'd have 'trumped' her regardless of her perhaps being better qualified or suited- lots of people consider that to be unfair.