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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think I should get a bonus if everyone else does even though I’m on mat leave

91 replies

LahDeDah · 23/12/2018 18:50

Small organisation and the bonus isn’t massive usually but it’s a nice little something that I usually buy myself something with because I don’t really buy anything unless I need it since I’ve had my children, not that it matters to the thread.
I worked in place for 10+ years and currently on mat leave, I was there for 6 months of this year and I feel like I work hard for them as I always have done. This year I haven’t been invited to work Xmas party and also no bonus. Aibu to think it’s not fair if all other employees are having these perks?

OP posts:

PattiStanger · 23/12/2018 19:46

I don't think anyone's saying the terms would exclude someone on maternity leave more that anyone who was absent from work might not be able to meet the criteria, who knows, it might be a bonus based on personal sales in the month of November.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 23/12/2018 19:46

Even if it wasn't illegal to not pay you a bonus, it is such a petty and mean spirited thing to do. Short sighted as well, because it means they have thrown away your loyalty and willingness to put yourself out for them, for the sake of a few quid.
It goes to show how little 10 years of hard work is worth to them.
When you go back, just do what you are contracted to do and nothing extra. Their loss!

Thentherewascake · 23/12/2018 19:52

When you go back, just do what you are contracted to do and nothing extra. Their loss!

or yours, if you end up getting the boot for coming back with such a shit attitude.

A couple of women did try to sue us for getting rid of them when pregnant and on maternity leave (not the same woman clearly). They lost. Having children doesn't magically give you more rights than your co-workers and protect you from anything legal.

Fleurchamp · 23/12/2018 19:53

So if she had gone on maternity leave in December she shouldn't get a bonus?

I had exactly the same thing OP and complained - it was a Christmas bonus that we all got (the same every year) and a pay rise that we all got (again, inflation so changed each year but we did always get a pay rise).... I said I should at least get a pro rata amount as I had worked most of the year - someone who went on maternity leave in January but came back in December would have got it but I didn't- unfair.
I emailed my bosses and said that I thought that they were discriminating against me and I got 40% of the bonus in my next pay. I also got a bonus this year despite only coming back in July from my second maternity leave.

Talkingfrog · 23/12/2018 19:53

Yanbu. When I was on maternity I got the same bonus as everyone else. Everyone had the same regardless of grade or length of service. The only ones that didn't were those that had only joined the office part way through the year or those that had a warning for poor performance (they got either pro-rata or none depending on circumstances)

YoungLennyGodber · 23/12/2018 19:54

YABU. You haven’t been there for six months. Would a man expect the same perk?

DemelzaPoldark9 · 23/12/2018 19:57

It depends what your contract says and when you went on maternity leave.

Mine says it's based on performance and there's also a time period on getting it (if someone hs been there less than 6 months they don't get it). If someone has been on maternity for 6 months I don't think it's unfair if they don't get it in these circumstances.

PoliticallyHomeless · 23/12/2018 20:00

YY to comments above from WhenThereWas and others. Where I work, someone on maternity leave would be eligible for standard employee benefits, obviously.

However, a bonus in our contracts is based on individual performance/ achievements and is entirely discretionary for everyone - it is NOT an entitlement. Each year I get a pot of money to allocate to my team - it would be grossly unfair to take money that I could give to my team members who have worked their socks off all year, to give it to someone who (with all due respect) hasn't actually been working. If someone was on ML for half the year, then as said above, a 50% bonus would be appropriate IMO

greendale17 · 23/12/2018 20:03

YABU

Would you expect a man who has gone on sabbatical for 6 months to get a bonus too?

^Completely agree

bananamonkey · 23/12/2018 20:04

I got my full bonus on mat leave even thought I’d been on leave for half of that year (was expecting it to be pro rata’d) and all other benefits like car allowance etc. it’s not that strange...

Oysterbabe · 23/12/2018 20:04

It's amazing how many companies still don't understand their obligations and treat women on maternity leave like shit. Mine tried to make me redundant as they were downsizing, completely ignoring the fact that they had to give me preference for a job. I told them I was taking them to a tribunal and outlined the things they'd done wrong, like not offering me an individual consultation like they did everyone else. They withdrew the notice of redundancy a week later and paid me a bonus as a "goodwill gesture". I'm back in the new year so that should be a fun atmosphere

Justanotherlurker · 23/12/2018 20:05

Even if it wasn't illegal to not pay you a bonus, it is such a petty and mean spirited thing to do

She may have not met the requirements in her 6 months working there, trying to move onto 'mean spirited' is just an appeal to emotion in bad faith

wejammin · 23/12/2018 20:11

I'm on mat leave, I finished mid October (and only started there in march) and got a small cash bonus in my Christmas card. I don't know if everyone else got the same, but knowing my lovely boss I would have thought so.

jessstan2 · 23/12/2018 20:19

You're not being unreasonable, I would feel hurt too. I don't know if there's much you can do about it.

Kolo · 23/12/2018 20:33

Very quick google tells me it’s dependent on how bonuses are described in your contract: www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/experts/legal/benefits-bonuses-women-maternity-leave
There are, quite rightly, laws protecting pregnant women and new mothers from workplace discrimination. PPs on here might think it’s unfair for a woman on maternity leave to get the same perks as a man would, but the law thinks differently. Women (on mat leave or not) are entitled by law to any of the perks a man employed in the same role is. The only thing that can change is salary, so if bonuses are linked to salary in her contract, she may not be entitled.

It’s very worrying that there are employers on here, handling women on maternity leave, who haven’t bothered to educate themselves on the law and their responsibilities.

Kolo · 23/12/2018 20:37

Also, FWIW, when I was on mat leave my employer (a large local authority) failed to send me a perk. I called them up, they ‘didn’t know about that law’, but they looked it up and they rectified it. Seems there’s a long way to go in sexual equality when even massive employers with a whole payroll team, don’t know about discrimination law. I can’t have been the first pregnant woman who worked for the local authority?

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 23/12/2018 20:51

lurker, she's been there 10 years in total though. If she was a new employee, of 6 months in total, it would be different, but after 10 years, I think it is mean-spirited to not acknowledge her with a small bonus. OP says it isn't a huge amount. If I was an employer, I'd consider it money well spent in order to have a happy and therefore committed employee.

MagnificentSevenHeaven · 23/12/2018 20:58

Maybe a pro rata bonus - so 6 months worth. You shouldn't be entitled to 12 months worth as you haven't contributed for the whole year.

We had someone who was off sick for 2 months after a heart attack, and they lost that 2 months from their bonus calculation (legally).

As to the party - if you're on leave, you're on leave. Some people would complain if work had contacted them while they were on leave, so they can't win.

StealthPolarBear · 23/12/2018 21:03

If it is a performance related bonus, how are those suggesting she must get it suggest it is calculated?

AllIWantForChristmasIsTomHardy · 23/12/2018 21:03

Check your maternity policy. Not everywhere would do bonus especially if it's more like a gift than actual work related bonus. I do think an invite to the Christmas party would be fair though mn a few weeks ago was full of people moaning about going to one not everyone cares.

Oysterbabe · 23/12/2018 21:06

If it is a performance related bonus, how are those suggesting she must get it suggest it is calculated?

By looking at the work she did during the 6 months of the year that she was there?

StealthPolarBear · 23/12/2018 21:08

Yes that's fair, and pro rata ING it. I don't think anyone is arguing for less.

But if she had been off the full year?

Grumpos · 23/12/2018 22:39

It completely depends on how they word the bonus / why it’s given. If it is based on personal performance then that is open to company discretion however if its a companywide bonus not based on individual performance then they cannot discriminate against you for being on maternity leave. I check this before I went on leave myself.
Companies may well get around it of course but definitely worth checking the wording of your contract and maternity policy.
Really, really bad form form for companies to leave maternity employees out of bonus schemes.

Justanotherlurker · 23/12/2018 22:41

By looking at the work she did during the 6 months of the year that she was there

And she may not have performed in realtation to her contract, she could have been there all year and still not received one, no personal anecdote has any bearing on if it's fair or not as no one has seen the actual contract

RCohle · 23/12/2018 22:49

It depends on what your bonus is based on.

Here is a link to the advice from Citizen's Advice - www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/parental-rights/rights-while-youre-on-maternity-leave/

I'd be very wary of following some of the advice you've received here.

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