Returned from mat leave and they are taking the p**s

[pedilia]

I returned after 6 months mat leave six weeks ago, I have returned part time 3 days a week, I was refused to be allowed to work from home the other 2 days, fair enough but I am still working from home as part of my role is being on-call.

I am a regional manager and had four managers on my patch, the week of my return this went down to three as one of the business's was closed, it now transpires that a second one is due to close as early as next week BUT I have not been told ot invovled at all, the other RM has even though this is my patch, I am being excluded from e-mails and have been lied to when asked what is going on.

I feel that I am being treated very differently now to before and have come back to a different job.
Any ideas where I stand legally, they cannot sustain the business paying me a salary for just the two so I can feel a redundncy coming on, I am not in a union.

Sorry very long post

[LittleBoot]

Get this down in writing. Make sure that when you challenge what has just happened, with being excluded from e-mails etc., you do it via e-mail or memo, not just verbally.

Is there an HR manager?

[RubySlippers]

speak to your HR department tomorrow
Contact ACAS, CAB and the Equal Opps Commission
Have you got evidence of being lied to and excluded from emails?

[flowerybeanbag]

pedilia this does sound like it might become a redundancy situation, and it sounds as though there might be a fair case for redundancy based on what you have said.

Having returned from maternity leave in itself doesn't affect things if there is a genuine redundancy situation, and your employers don't need to consult about redundancy unless they are making 20 or more redundant, however of course they need to treat you all the same, not exclude you or lie to you in anyway.

You do need to raise this in writing either to your line manager or HR or preferably both, about the unfair treatment and also to get clarification on where you stand in regards to your job security, as if you are genuinely being treated less favourably than other members of staff this is where there could be a discrimination situation based on sex or part-time working, depending on what other employees' situations are.

[pedilia]

LB- yes there is an HR manager

RS- I was lied to on the phone so have no evidence of that other than the person who heard my end of the conversation, I can get proof that I have been excluded from emails.

Thanks guys

[RubySlippers]

good luck with it all
even if it is a genuine redundancy situation they haven't handled it well by the sounds of things

[pedilia]

should I put this in writing to HR?

[RubySlippers]

check your contract of employment re grievances etc
would speak to HR first and then put it in writing if you don't believe the resposne is adequate
keep a record of meetings held
nothing "formal" is happening yet but just be prepared

[chocolatekimmy]

Yep, log everything in as much detail as possible and raise it with your mananger initially as a serious concern. You are being undermined and excluded which isn't acceptable.

If redundacny is a possibility and you need help on process and whats fair etc then let us know.

[pedilia]

I have spoken to ACAS who have said I may have a case of sex discrimination- i now need to draft a letter, this is a huge company who have HR consultants so it needs to be good, can anyone reccomend a good employment law solicitor who can draft the letter for me???

[RubySlippers]

i used one in Manchester
I would contact your local CAB or law centre and take it from there
or ... speak to a couple of local solicitors
there used to be a company that advertised on MN - i will try to find the link