Lavender if I were you, I would absolutely not kick up a stink. You are doing something in an unofficial capacity so you don’t have a leg to stand on.
Instead I would be campaigning for the unofficial role to be made official and for a pay rise to obviously reflect t the increased responsibility.
This thread has frustrated and concerned me in equal measure.
I worked in male dominated finance in the city. I didn’t find my pregnancy held me back, notnib tbe slightest.
I didn’t return after my first born, 7.5 years ago. Now, as I’m a single mother i need to return to work. I’ve tapped both previous bosses and both want me back, on the part time hours I have asked for. I don’t doubt for a minute that it won’t have half the responsibilities I had pre children but why the heck should it! I need to prove myself and work my way back up. I’ll do it. I’m a grafter, I don’t complain, I just get me head down and do it and I’ve always been rewarded for that. If I feel I have ever not been recognised sufficiently in a project, I haven’t whinged about it. I have asked for a meeting with senior manager and discussed it. Always fruitful.
This situation is similar to my femal colleagues and friends. These are professionals, serious about their job, recognise that part timers are not equal to full timers in terms of career progression, of course they arent. The key is, myself and these women recognise that we have enjoyed time with our children and this inevitably and rightfully has impacted on our career. Rather than kick up a fuss about something we don’t think is actually wrong, we work damn hard and get progression that way, rather than stamping our feet.