. . . to be absolutely furious at what work have done to me?

[CanTheyDoThisToMe]

Or should I "suck it up" as I was told by a senior colleague this morning?

I was on maternity leave during 2020. My company had a restructure and they reduced two manager roles (one was mine) down to one role. When speaking about the new role during the consultation period, my boss said the new role was the same grade/level as my old role. As the other manager chose to leave, I was given the role by default, and received a letter confirming my title change and stating that terms and conditions would be the same.

Fast forward a few months and I'm back from maternity leave, working hard to cover both teams, stressed at the additional responsibility. And now I find out by accident (noticed it on the HR system) that my grade is one lower than it used to be. It's not a mistake, when asked, my boss just said he wanted to tell me that the role had been demoted when we were 'back in the office' rather than when I was on maternity leave.

I'm furious. Not only have I got twice the responsibility for zero reward, but I will now no longer be eligible for annual payrises because I'm at the top of the lower grade payband, and my bonus will correspondingly be less too.

Not to mention that it's insulting to be demoted but given so much more work.

What should I do? I'm so angry. I've raised a complaint but they've said the decision stands.

I am a bit confused. If you are receiving the same pay and conditions - is it a case of the role has been demoted but its only going to mean something when you leave and they hire someone else?

Thank you to everyone who has replied - so many, I'd struggle to reply individually, but I've read carefully all the responses and appreciate the time people have taken to offer advice.

And no, the other employment thread isn't mine, although it depresses me that this isn't a unique problem.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/employment_issues/4107005-can-i-be-demoted-while-on-maternity-leave

This is similar too. It's awful that women are continually getting messed around like this.

If the other thread is yours OP, you may well be out of time to lodge a Tribunal case, as it's a strict 3 month timeline.

This is something Citizens Advice can help with.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/changes-to-employment-contracts-overview/

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/parental-rights/maternity-leave-your-options-when-it-ends/

You can contact them for advice for your situation. Free service so definitely go there before employment lawyer. Depending on demand in your area you may get help with employment tribunal if it gets that far.

Maternity Action also has good advice. maternityaction.org.uk/

@ittakes2

I am a bit confused. If you are receiving the same pay and conditions - is it a case of the role has been demoted but its only going to mean something when you leave and they hire someone else?

It means there's no scope for annual pay rises as OP is already at the top of the lower grade.

Depending on demand in your area you may get help with employment tribunal if it gets that far.

The OP will need to establish the exact date when they first noticed the problem of demotion. If it's over 3 months ago from that date, it will be highly unlikely they can lodge their case at Tribunal. They are strict about that 3 month window of opportunity.

If so, they will need to try and come to an agreement with their employer, if they are willing to budge, that is. At least if they can justify their position and decision that the OP can reconcile, it may make the situation more bearable.

They will probably engage will a solicitor themselves, if they haven't already, to ensure it isn't discrimination.

@LochJessMonster

Pretty sure I’ve read this exact post before

Same with the attitude to cleaners thread.

I think they have to have given you something on the same grade. You'll need to check but I think that is the law. Your manager has actively hidden the fact from you until after the complaint period has passed. I'd be beyond livid!

@daisychain01

Unless there is a time limit, don't raise a grievance until/unless you know where you stand legally.

If the OP wishes to pursue a Tribunal Case, there is a 3 month timeframe to lodge their case. Why wouldn't they raise a grievance about it, now, as they clearly have very strong views to say the are absolutely furious". Given timeframes involved in going through an internal grievance process, and the requirement to have escalated the matter internally first, before taking to ET, they absolutely need to formalise this to ensure they don't miss the deadline.

Another risk: If they let it continue without formalising concerns, it could be argued by the employer that they carried on working and by implication they accepted the change. That isn't the case, the OP does not agree with the change, and should not have had it inflicted on them without any prior consultation and advanced notice.

Indeed @daisychain01 but (as you would have seen from the first part of my post that you haven’t copied) my advice was there is no point in raising a grievance unless you have a case, which the OP will need specialist legal advice to assess, which is what I advised @CanTheyDoThisToMe to get before taking any formal action.

This is a complex area of law and whilst it might seem grossly unfair, it’s not clear that what has happened is actually against the law nor even a breach of contract. @CanTheyDoThisToMe seriously, you need proper legal advice, not a bunch of randoms riling you up about your rights.

They have not downgraded “her”, they have downgraded the role. OP is still getting paid as much as she was before, and hasn’t indicated that any of her contractual benefits have been impacted.

But they have, haven't they? Previously she was in a pay band which allowed for salary increases and commensurate bonuses, now she is in one that doesn't.

Have they definitely changed your bonus entitlement? We have different bonus entitlements based on grade at our work, but where roles are reviewed and the grade reduced, the person in the role keeps their original bonus %. It would only change when they left.

@ArosGartref

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/employment_issues/4107005-can-i-be-demoted-while-on-maternity-leave

This is similar too. It's awful that women are continually getting messed around like this.

This definitely the same post. It dried up a few weeks back