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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I have got a payrise?

36 replies

loveheartss · 31/03/2021 10:50

Hello,

I was on maternity from November 2019 to October 2020, so I took 11 months.

During this time, everyone on my team who were on permanent contracts received a pay rise but I did not. I have been there for 7 years.

When having a look online, it says that if the entire team did then those on maternity should also but I'm not sure. Should I contact HR about this just to ask? I definitley did not get a pay rise, I have only just found out the whole team did because one of my work colleagues joked to me earlier that they were hoping to edge over 25k this year and I said oh you've not got there yet. They said no, last years pay rise was decent but not quite.

Is it because I took 11 months? I am really not sure where I stand on this. Any advice would be great!

Thanks

OP posts:
murasaki · 31/03/2021 10:54

Might it be due to work on a specific project that you didnt' do?

sorryiasked · 31/03/2021 10:55

Yes you should have had a pay rise if you're in the same team. Speak to HR

UCOinaUCG · 31/03/2021 10:56

Are the pay rises linked to performance?

Tohaveandtohold · 31/03/2021 10:56

I think if everyone had and you didn’t then it’ll class as discriminatory in a way.

When I was on maternity leave, I got a pay rise when everyone did. Also when I got back, I go a performance based pay rise but it was based on my performance over the 2 months when I’ve been back when it’ll normally be for the whole year for those who had not been away.

I was also away for almost 11 months with annual leaves, etc.

PandaFluff · 31/03/2021 10:58

Speak to HR

Original poster
loveheartss · 31/03/2021 11:00

no, it was just the usual general pay rise. We get it every year in July.

The only people who didn't were those that are not on permanent contracts but that has always been the case.

I think I will have to talk to HR. I always feel awkward about things like this!

OP posts:
Shamoo · 31/03/2021 11:16

Pretty sure you should have got it. Where we are those on mat leave get the average payrise for their team, unless there have been significant performance issues in that year before mat leave started (as all payrises are linked to a minimum performance criteria).

Happyfeet1972 · 31/03/2021 11:21

Yes, if you would have otherwise got it then you should receive it as you should not be treated differently because of your maternity leave.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 31/03/2021 11:23

Assuming you are on a permanent contract, then yes, you should have got it too

SplendidSuns1000 · 31/03/2021 11:29

I would assume you would. Ask HR, it'll either be a yes or a no.

FieldOverFence · 31/03/2021 12:00

With my company, you would have gotten a baseline payrise (often in line with inflation) but you wouldn't have been eligible for the performance-related part of the payrise for the time that you weren't working. This is typically the bigger piece of our payrises

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 31/03/2021 12:01

Yes you should have got a pay rise.

If you're off on maternity you should have got what youd have got if youd been in.

If its performance related and you were only off for part of the review period they should use the rating for the time you were in. If you were off then they should have used what your average rating has been over the last few years (eg if you normally get average, they should have given the pay rise for an average performance).

Bonus payments can be pro rata for time spent in.

I know this because when I got back after mat leave they said well you weren't here to assess so we have had to rate you as poor so shit bonus and pay rise band.

I went to talk to them armed with print outs of the law from various websites like citizens advice and Acas I think. Also spoke to a few HR people that I randomly know and they confirmed work were wrong. HR initially told me I was wrong but when I showed them everything they relented. The only way they would have been able to do it is if I'd had a poor review the last few years or was on performance management or something.

You cant be discriminated against for maternity leave and you have to be treated as if you are still fully employed.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 31/03/2021 12:03

As a result of me raising it, my company have sent out revised guidelines to the HR advisors to say that performance related pay rises should start at average for employees who have been off on mat leave and only amended downwards in exceptional circumstances eg they have had a bad review the last few yeara

Wibblewobble99 · 31/03/2021 12:23

Good luck OP. If it is applicable don’t forget to ask if it will be back dated

mistermagpie · 31/03/2021 14:44

If it's just an annual cost of living type rise then yes, you should have got it.

I was on maternity leave at the exact same time as you, my colleagues got a rise in the April. For some reason (not sure why but HR people would know) I wasn't able to get the money until I returned to full pay, but I had it backdated on my return.

LeSquigh · 31/03/2021 15:23

Yes, you should definitely have got the pay rise unless it was performance related. Please speak to you union rep if you have one or HR.

Notavegan · 31/03/2021 15:25

Just ask, it might be an oversight

HermioneKipper · 31/03/2021 15:31

Yes you should’ve got it definitely. They can’t discriminate in any way when you’re on mat leave. Same for any performance based pay. I was graded on the same basis as I had been the previous year and still received the performance award while I was off too.

Remember to ask them to backdate it.

Cheeky bastards. This sort of thing really pisses me off

justchecking1 · 31/03/2021 15:46

I was on maternity leave at the exact same time as you, my colleagues got a rise in the April. For some reason (not sure why but HR people would know) I wasn't able to get the money until I returned to full pay, but I had it backdated on my return.

Probably because your mat pay would have been based on your earnings between 17 and 25 weeks of pregnancy and can't be altered

Original poster
loveheartss · 31/03/2021 15:47

I don't believe it is based on performance, it does seem to differ depending what rank you are and whether you are on a permanent contract or not. I am a senior and have been there years, so hopefully just an oversight. I wouldn't of even realised had my colleague not had this conversation with me this morning.

I did get a partial bonus but I just assumed due to COVID no one got their usual payrise. Seems not only that they did but they were 'generous' too. I have emailed HR and will see what they say. I only asked here because I wanted reassurance first that I wasn't being grabby!

OP posts:
Londonmummy66 · 31/03/2021 16:12

Fingers crossed for you OP.

It could just be an innocent mistake eg if there was someone on a non-permanent contract covering your role or if your manager was asked for a list of staff with performance grades and missed you off inadvertently as you weren't under his nose - it is easy enough to do when rushing off a reply to an administrative email at the end of a busy day - not ideal but happens.

NoGoodPunsLeft · 31/03/2021 16:15

Just echoing what others have said, you should have got any standard pay rises because you were still employed. I did as I was on maternity over our usual pay increase period.

DynamoKev · 31/03/2021 16:25

@justchecking1

I was on maternity leave at the exact same time as you, my colleagues got a rise in the April. For some reason (not sure why but HR people would know) I wasn't able to get the money until I returned to full pay, but I had it backdated on my return.

Probably because your mat pay would have been based on your earnings between 17 and 25 weeks of pregnancy and can't be altered

Incorrect - Google the Alabaster case.
Original poster
loveheartss · 01/04/2021 12:36

hm so it gets more interesting.

I have been informed by a different colleague that they were specifically told last year not to mention to anyone they had got a payrise...

Could just be me being cynical but I don't remember ever having had this warning before as its common knowledge that those on fixed term contracts weren't entitled to them the same way as permanents.

I'm really hoping someone hasn't tried to pull a fast one here.

OP posts:
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