Maternity and work courses

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So last week I was approached by one of my managers (our office is a bit complicated and while I have a few managers I have one I report to who is technically in charge of me, I will call him A. This other manager (B) has invited me to go on a course that he has mentioned last year and that is focussed on my area of expertise (im in a finance based career and this course is on the topic I did my further training in). Anyway I went to A about it to ask if I could go, he said no. He said as I am pregnant (only 14 weeks) I will be going on maternity leave soon so someone else should go in my place. I am gutted.

This is something which when I come back from maternity leave could really help my career. I'm coming back full time if that matters.

Anyway today I was talking to A and he said he is going instead of me! He said he won't be leaving or going on maternity (obviously as he's a bloke!) and so he thinks it's a good move for our department?!

As far as I am aware he hasn't spoken to B yet so I don't even know if he will get funding to go (B had already asked for funding in my name from big boss and got the ok).

Aibu to be really pissed off? Sorry if this is garbled I'm staying late to finish off some work and so am trying to be discreet!

As others have said, it s illegal for him to refuse you let you do the course because you are pregnant.
As he has told you that outright it would be hard for him to now give a different reason as to why he should go and not you.
Also, if manager b has arranged the funding in your name, won't they wonder what manager a is going instead)?
I can understand why you don't want to tick the boat, but a also needs a lesson in what he is and usny allowed to do as a manager.

He’s not just discriminating against you because you are pregnant, but he’s doing so because he clearly wants to go on this course himself.

Definitely don’t let this go!

Speak to HR and voice those concerns.

I know you don't want to rock the boat by think about if you had a DD (possibly- congrats either way!! ) and she was being treated like this- would you want her to stick up for herself?

Hi all :-) thank you for your support. I know you are of course right and I should be saying something.

Today I saw A and he clearly hasn't spoken to B yet. However I am working with B tomorrow out of office (client meeting). My plan is to speak to B and say how grateful I am to be offered the opportunity and that I'd love to go but unfortunately A thinks as I am going on maternity I shouldn't. I'm hoping B pushes for me to go. He isn't my direct manager but is higher than A so I think if he says to A he wants me to go there won't be a discussion! I know this sounds like a roundabout way of doing things but I really am worried about the drama I would cause if I went to HR. B has a lot more managerial experience than A so I think he will know I can't be refused just because of maternity. He also already knew I was pregnant before offering me the course.

B has a lot more managerial experience than A so I think he will know I can't be refused just because of maternity.

That sounds very possible, and if you say how you were looking forward to it, and are now disappointed that A says you can’t go due to maternity leave, hopefully B will see straight away what’s going on (and will read between the lines that you know it’s discrimination) and will help sort it.

@MeredithGrey1 yes that's what I'm hoping :-)

Btw love the username ! I've only just discovered greys but my friend says I have a rollercoaster of emotions yet to come!!

Pretty sure this is illegal. They can't change how they treat you at work because you're pregnant - they have to give you the same opportunities and benefits as anyone else including making you aware of new roles,promotion opportunities etc as if you were in work. You are still employed. If it was something that only one person could do at a time and they need someone to be trained at source to do it when you were off (ie the department would fall apart if someone else had the training instead of you) then he may be able to argue business needs but this isn't the case here. I would point this out to him and then say you will be asking HR for clarification of the law if he refuses to sign you off on it. You will be going back to work so the company will still benefit in the long run. They could train anyone who may decide to leave for any reason - that's the risk you take when you invest in your employees, but treat them well and they are more likely to work harder and stay long term

Good plan to speak to B. I'd say you didn't think it was legal

How did it go? Tell me you are on that course!

@Lymphy haha I think I may be! Spoke to B who seemed a bit indifferent when I first mentioned the whole thing although admittedly he was driving us to meet client. I thought oh no he doesn't care either way! But then on the way back he brought it up and said he was a bit confused as to how my maternity affects this course! He asked me to repeat what A said and seemed a bit 🤨. Anyway he said he'd speak to A and see what was going on :-) said all the financing is in place for me to go so would be a 'real shame' for me to miss out now 😁😁😁

Good! Remember you’ve the law on your side as well as B 👌