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Original poster

To be annoyed not to be informed about vacancies whilst on mat leave

59 replies

FTM1993 · 11/04/2025 19:41

I'm currently on mat leave, returning in October. I plan to return part-time but haven't placed a formal flexible working request just yet. Whilst I've been off there seems to have been a massive restructuring at work, several senior people have been made redundant and vacancies created. I wasn't told about any of this until afterwards. I think my manager has assumed I don't want to know about things like this as I have not asked for any KIT days and have taken the maximum time off. I do keep in touch with some of the girls from work but we tend to avoid the subject of work. One of the girls texted me today to say she's gone for a manger role today and got the job. Am I being unreasonable for feeling a bit miffed not to have even been told about any of this? I thought employers had to keep you informed about stuff like this? It's not that I would have necessarily gone for the job but not even to have been told about it makes me feel quite out of the loop :(

OP posts:
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blueshoes · 16/04/2025 15:29

OP, you are right to hold HR to account. This would have raised their awareness and allows them to update their processes for women on maternity leave going forward.

Chungai · 16/04/2025 15:29

FTM1993 · 16/04/2025 10:34

They've said that in future I will be sent any important information relating to my team/role and any internal vacancies to my personal email. Not many people in the company have been on maternity leave (it's largely a male field eye roll )so maybe they were not used to it

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It's a bit shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted isn't it.

Are you pissed off about missing out on one of the roles?

I would put in a meeting for a pay and role review on your return.

C8H10N4O2 · 16/04/2025 15:29

FTM1993 · 16/04/2025 10:34

They've said that in future I will be sent any important information relating to my team/role and any internal vacancies to my personal email. Not many people in the company have been on maternity leave (it's largely a male field eye roll )so maybe they were not used to it

Show quote history

What will they be doing to redress the lost opportunity specifically? “oops silly me, we will do better next time” does nothing to redress the lost opportunity or to give any confidence that it won’t happen again, especially if the only penalty has been paid by you.

Ask them what process will be put in places to ensure the next woman on leave does not miss out (suggest one if you are in a position to so do).

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 16/04/2025 15:27

AnticleaAndLaertes · 16/04/2025 15:23

Yes, and that could have been asked "do we have an email for you, is that up to date"

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Exactly.

Failing that though, most people have mobiles. Home addresses to write to. We aren’t incommunicado if there’s no email address.

It’s not just for job vacancies. Restructures. Consultations. Redundancies and at risk notifications. Health and Safety. Lone working if staff work from home. Travel between sites, or offices. Travel into cities (I’ve had to contact staff more than once following serious events in London). Snow tree.

Like I said. Basic stuff to have contact details, and there are many GDPR compliant ways of getting them if for some reason contact fails.

OP I don’t feel HR have done enough to fix this. I would put a formal grievance in.

Chungai · 16/04/2025 15:26

RBowmama · 14/04/2025 20:52

Same I'm shocked people think you're being unreasonable! It's literally the law to keep you informed. Not sure why people sometimes want to hinder women's rights whilst on mat leave and frown upon any flexibility given to these women.

Glad you contacted HR, all the best. Contact acas etc too.

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Agree, people shouldn't be posting their ill informed opinions on threads like these when there's actual law in place that says otherwise.

AnticleaAndLaertes · 16/04/2025 15:23

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 16/04/2025 15:20

Funnily enough HR usually hold contact details for employees …

HR should be checking contact details are up to date before the employee starts maternity leave. All it needs is a line in the formal confirmation of maternity leave and dates.

It’s also shockingly easy to copy and paste a page from the intranet, or email bulletin and send it to staff on maternity leave. Takes all of 2 minutes. Basic stuff.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes, and that could have been asked "do we have an email for you, is that up to date"

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 16/04/2025 15:20

AnticleaAndLaertes · 16/04/2025 15:19

Were you asked for your email (personal) to forward these on to?
Did you offer your email to have these sent to?

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Funnily enough HR usually hold contact details for employees …

HR should be checking contact details are up to date before the employee starts maternity leave. All it needs is a line in the formal confirmation of maternity leave and dates.

It’s also shockingly easy to copy and paste a page from the intranet, or email bulletin and send it to staff on maternity leave. Takes all of 2 minutes. Basic stuff.

AnticleaAndLaertes · 16/04/2025 15:19

FTM1993 · 11/04/2025 20:02

I would expect everyone on maternity leave to be forwarded the emails with current internal vacancies seeing as I don't have access to the company intranet whilst I'm off so no way of knowing about the vacancies.

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Were you asked for your email (personal) to forward these on to?
Did you offer your email to have these sent to?

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 16/04/2025 15:19

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 16/04/2025 07:35

So you'd trawl through each vacancy, and then if you decide to apply, would you go in for an interview?
And when would you announce you want p/t and or flexible working?
Or would you only require jobs that suit your needs, which you have yet to articulate to your employer?

It’s not the 1990s any more

Minieggmug · 16/04/2025 15:15

This happened to me too and I actually knew some vacancies would be coming up and asked my manager to let me know when they went live, and she didn’t. I found out via a LinkedIn post.

The hiring process was extended when I complained and I did get offered one of the roles so I didn’t take it further but that person is no longer my line manager.

This thread highlights how poor awareness is of rights and responsibility of managers on maternity leave and some posters have an awful attitude!

Everystripesays · 16/04/2025 15:07

FTM1993 · 16/04/2025 10:34

They've said that in future I will be sent any important information relating to my team/role and any internal vacancies to my personal email. Not many people in the company have been on maternity leave (it's largely a male field eye roll )so maybe they were not used to it

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Personally especially considering their email I'd consider taking it further, it's pretty clear cut discrimination.

Springhassprungxx · 16/04/2025 15:04

This happened to me op and ACAS told me it was discrimination

ZippyDoodle · 16/04/2025 14:19

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 16/04/2025 07:35

So you'd trawl through each vacancy, and then if you decide to apply, would you go in for an interview?
And when would you announce you want p/t and or flexible working?
Or would you only require jobs that suit your needs, which you have yet to articulate to your employer?

So are you saying women on maternity should be treated differently depending on how career focused their manager thinks they are?

It’s discrimination and she should have been kept in the loop.

Maddy70 · 16/04/2025 12:29

hobbledyhoy · 11/04/2025 19:57

Not true. Those on maternity should be kept informed of any opportunities the same as any other employees.

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They are being informed the same as any other employee

Original poster
FTM1993 · 16/04/2025 10:34

Everystripesays · 16/04/2025 10:30

Did they say what action they were taking now they've admitted and acknowledged they were wrong?

Show quote history

They've said that in future I will be sent any important information relating to my team/role and any internal vacancies to my personal email. Not many people in the company have been on maternity leave (it's largely a male field eye roll )so maybe they were not used to it

OP posts:
Everystripesays · 16/04/2025 10:30

FTM1993 · 16/04/2025 10:26

HR have replied to me and said they messed up and I should have been informed formally of the restructuring and any internal vacancies. For people asking if I would have applied had I known, that doesn't matter. The fact is I'm still an employee and should have equal opportunity.

Did they say what action they were taking now they've admitted and acknowledged they were wrong?

Original poster
FTM1993 · 16/04/2025 10:26

HR have replied to me and said they messed up and I should have been informed formally of the restructuring and any internal vacancies. For people asking if I would have applied had I known, that doesn't matter. The fact is I'm still an employee and should have equal opportunity.

OP posts:
Batmanisaplaceinturkey · 16/04/2025 10:12

Op how do you know that these jobs are not ring fenced to those at risk of redundancy?

peppermintcrumble · 16/04/2025 08:21

I’m childless and even I know this is maternity discrimination. Of course you’re not being unreasonable!

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 16/04/2025 08:07

They had a legal responsibility to let you know. Would you have applied had you known?

dementedpixie · 16/04/2025 08:06

@TheCountofMountingCrispBags none of that matters. OP has the right to be informed of any vacancies/promotions/restructures that might affect her

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 16/04/2025 07:35

So you'd trawl through each vacancy, and then if you decide to apply, would you go in for an interview?
And when would you announce you want p/t and or flexible working?
Or would you only require jobs that suit your needs, which you have yet to articulate to your employer?

shuffleofftobuffalo · 16/04/2025 06:48

some of these comments are a good demonstration of why there is legal protection for maternity!

glad you’re going to HR. I also wasn’t informed of vacancies when I was on Mat leave as my manager decided I shouldn’t have the opportunity as “you weren’t there so it’s not fair on everyone else who is actually working” (no, it wasn’t the only problem I had with him…). Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of my rights.

RBowmama · 14/04/2025 20:52

FTM1993 · 14/04/2025 20:29

Thank you for all the replies. I have written to HR. Surprised that so many people think I'm being unreasonable on this! But thank you for taking the time to comment :)

Same I'm shocked people think you're being unreasonable! It's literally the law to keep you informed. Not sure why people sometimes want to hinder women's rights whilst on mat leave and frown upon any flexibility given to these women.

Glad you contacted HR, all the best. Contact acas etc too.

Original poster
FTM1993 · 14/04/2025 20:29

Thank you for all the replies. I have written to HR. Surprised that so many people think I'm being unreasonable on this! But thank you for taking the time to comment :)

OP posts: