Unfair treatment at work - pregnancy/mat leave related

[CheshireSplat]

I am having a meeting with my line manager tomorrow about what I perceive to be unfair treatment at work and should be grateful for a (few?) second opinions.

I am convinced I have been treated unfairly. It's quite a long story but very briefly I applied for but didn't get a promotion last year. I was very obviously pregnant.

I was a "dead cert" I found out afterwards and lots of people were very surprised. One of my (male) colleagues (same level, same team, different office) did get it. He didn't have our boss's full backing which I did.

My feedback session was wholly inadequate and the answers given were not satisfactory.

I voiced my concerns and then left it to concentrate on for this year's promotion round.

Whilst i was still on mat leave this summer, I had a meeting with my line manager's boss where I was persuaded not to apply. I was given a reason why it would be an "uphill struggle" related to business development and conversion of work. I asked for confirmation that everyone else going through had done what I had not and was told they all had.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago and I speak to my friends who have been promoted. One in particular had done no more than me.y boss's boss has lied to me in that meeting.

I am being treated differently to my peers. Its not because of my ability. I am wondering if it is pregnancy/mat leave related . My employer has huge form on discrimination in this area (well would have if it didn't compromise people out). However last year someone on mat leave was promoted so would this be great evidence for them that they do not discriminate? I suppose that is my question. Can an employer defeat a sex discrim claim by showing that once, regards a different employee, they did not discriminate?

Finally, I don't know if I would push the sex discrim side because the people running my place can be nasty and vindictive so I might not want to go through with it. I just want to know all the weapons in my armoury.

Thanks. Sorry it's so long! I've missed out all the detail as well!

[msrisotto]

I'm no legal mind but I really wouldn't imagine that how they treated one other person bears any relation to your case.

[scarlettsmummy2]

Did you have to interview for the promotion the other guy got? Could it be he simply did a better interview?

I completely sympathise- same thing happened to me when I was 24 weeks pregnant. I let it go but it does kind of eat at you.

[CheshireSplat]

I did interview and yes he may well have done. He is more of a blagger than me... I did consider that, which is why I let it go last year, but it's this year which has made me suspicious so I am re-evaluating last year too.

[Ginandtonicandamassageplease]

This sounds familiar! I think that as they have promoted someone on mat leave in the past it does set a precedent that they don't discriminate. At least that's what I was told when I sought advice when returning to work from mat leave. Do you still work full time or have you changed you terms and conditions in any other way?
Returning to work after having a baby can be a nightmare - I empathise.

[StillSquiffy]

Promoting a woman on maternity leave will give them a strong counter-argument, tbh.

It doesn't mean they haven't discriminated against you, but it does mean that should you pursue it at a tribunal it will get very personal - they will use the previous promotion to 'prove' they do promote and will then turn everything to you and what it is about you that's not getting you promoted. Which will be horrible to go through.

Have to dash but will think about how to play this one and post again this evening.

[CheshireSplat]

Thank you all so much. I am thinking of not mentioning the pregnancy/mat leave thing and just saying I feel like I am being untreated unfairly so why is this. Is there something I should be aware of.

My boss is quite unpopular amongst his contemporaries (and particularly amongst the promotions committee!)?so it could be political so I am getting myself a mentor who is popular!