I've posted on here before about more of my life in a shitshow, I'm not even sure I'd believe that this much crap can happen to one person - but it has, so please don't judge me, you all really helped last time. Anyway, I know there's a board for this, but I guess I'm looking for a nudge to stand up for myself rather than employment advice. Bear with me, it may be a long one.
I've been in my current job for 6 years, most of which I've been the only person doing my job. Everything was fine, then I got pregnant and I started to feel a bit pushed aside. I was told that my maternity cover would be brought in on a permanent basis as the workload was too much for one person. (It was never an issue before this point).
The day I returned to work, I was pulled into a meeting alongside my cover and told we're moving departments, got a new manager and our jobs will probably change. I only took 6 months so I was under the impression my job couldn't change. I signed a form before I left to be informed of any job vacancies within the company, I received nothing about the management role becoming available. It wouldn't have been out of reach for me, but I heard nothing until this meeting being told who my new manger was (external appointment). Also, the director and my old manager kept behind my cover and told her that this is a really good opportunity for her and they have a great future at the company. A bit strange, I thought, as we're both in the same position - why wouldn't it be said to us both?
Anyway, my job did change. I ended up doing the low-level work I'd not done since I started my career and my cover was still doing the work I had previously. After a drunken vent to my old manager, the situation got resolved, we were back to doing the same role and back under this manager. This is all just a bit of a back story.
We were furloughed in March, redundancies started not long after in which voluntary was offered to all except those who had less than two years' service, who were made redundant off the bat - except my maternity cover. I was never told my role was at risk during this period.
Not long after it was announced we'd taken on another company and redundancies were paused. Within a week, one by one, minimal staff were brought back to work on the brand launch, probably around 10 of us out of a workforce of 100. Yep, mat cover came back before me but tried to think positively that they might have been considering that I'd need to find childcare. I was given an hours notice to return to work and that month I worked around 40 hours unpaid overtime (overtime isn't a regular occurrence within the company) and the launch was a big success. Everyone got a pat on the back, it won't be forgotten etc. but we were placed back on part-time furlough to 'make the most out of the scheme' until our services are back up and running. Told this was to keep us in the loop.
Today, I've received an email to say that due to low work levels, they need to reduce staffing costs and I've been called in to discuss how this will affect me - not really sure how this can be used because we've just doubled the workload by taking on a new company. People have been asked to reduce hours in areas that aren't back up running yet (where as my area is imperative to get the company back to this point) via email so I know this is the start of the redundancy process.
The problem is, my maternity cover received an email to say she is unaffected and will return to work as normal after the furlough scheme has ended. We have the same job title, we share the same work, we have similar degrees and work experience, only I have a little more due to being slightly older, but much more experience within this company. I've never had issues with my quality of work, we don't have appraisals so nothing to go off there, it's not really a results driven role but during my time there I have numbers to my name about how I grew certain areas and increased revenue, my time-keeping is perfect, all my deadlines are met, I've been as flexible as they've needed and there is nothing to really set us apart - other than me having a child.
Not only do I feel completely screwed over after having such a big impact in saving the company with the brand launch, especially after working so much overtime, but I feel the selection process is completely unfair given someone in the same role isn't at risk. I've been singled out and I think it's because I'm a parent, the consultation process is just a face-saving exercise as their decision has clearly already been made. Their previous selection process of those new to the company are first to leave has been completely disregarded but only in my circumstance.
I want to fight it but I also feel so deflated. I've never had any problems at work so I feel completely blindsided. It was only last week I was asked to up my hours and was told there would be a package in place to covering out-of-hours work. My meeting is today but I feel sick to my stomach and can't sleep, so if you're awake, I'd love to hear if you think I should pull up my big girl pants and fight this.
I should mention my mat cover is absolutely lovely! They're backing me all the way, there's nothing sinister on her part at all.