Possible work place sexism?

[CupcakesK]

I'm currently on mat leave and in the past month a more senior colleague has left my workplace, but due to covid they are not recruiting for the post. However, he had an important role that needed to be filled - one that one day I would have liked to have progressed to (although I had not expressed the desire to anyone previously)

There were 4 of us in his team, all at the same level and all equally qualified to do the job (the job needs certain professional qualifications and experience which we all had)

I found out through e-mail that colleague X had been given the role - although colleague X has not been promoted, just given the extra responsibility. I wasn't even aware that this was happening. In addition, colleague Y in the team was also given extra responsibilities (ones that I have no desire to do)

Obviously I'm on mat leave so unable to do this job currently, and as it is vital that someone does it, I do understand why they asked colleague X to step up to the role. However, long term this missed opportunity feels detrimental to my career. I am in a career that is very male-dominated at the senior level anyway and I feel this is one of the reasons why! In addition, in order to gain promotion I need to prove I am working at that level, which I have now missed out on, thereby making promotion harder to gain in the future

IABU - they need someone to fill his role which I can't do currently and its not even a promotion anyway, I should just forget about it

IANBU - I should speak to HR/line manager as this is how work place sexism starts. I should have been given the opportunity to express my interest in the role at least

[quote MrsPinkCock]@JBizz

An employer does not get to circumvent the law simply by stating they have “redistributed” duties when in fact they have transferred an entire job role (if indeed that has happened).

Thankfully, employment judges usually see through transparent attempts to breach equality legislation.[/quote]
But again simply reading the post shows it has been redistributed as two people are doing it!

Goodness me

To be fair it doesn't sound like they have transferred the entire job role, just that in addition to their role they are taking on some extra responsibility; which in itself isn't illegal. What could be though is if the vacancy is advertised, and they are an absolute shoe in for it due to the fact they've been acting up, and OP wasn't given a chance to show an interest due to being on maternity leave therefore it's left her at a distinct disadvantage. I would speak to my manager to be honest and ask what they forsee my role being on my return, it could be as this seems like quite a new decision that there are elements of the job they are thinking of giving to OP, or once it's made clear to them factor that into their decision making process.

Colleague X has been given the 'title' (more senior) part of the role. Colleague Y has been given another, separate role that was not part of my old colleague's job (given this as he did not want X's new role)

The rest of my old colleague's role was not specific to him, any member of our team, or the wider team could do it and he was only doing it as that was what was allocated (probably as he had some spare hours at the time of distribution of the jobs). Some of these will have been redistributed already to the wider team and I expect I will get some on my return. These are are of an equivalent level to what I already do. i have no objection to doing them, however would have liked the opportunity to get experience at the 'title' part of his role

I can see how it’s really annoying, but would just chalk it up to bad luck.

You could enquire whether there is a vacancy at the promoted level, and if so put your name in for it now, and say whether you’re up for doing the interviews as part of KiT days.

You will be at a disadvantage to the person who’s been doing the main role. But someone has to do it, so not sure what else the company could have done.