Please help me make a life changing decision

[SkittlesRainbow]

I have posted recently that I was out at risk of redundancy while pregnant. I applied for loads of roles internally to secure my maternity leave. Last week I was offered a job at the same grade in another team. I was so relieved. Then once we agreed a start date they informed me that they were only prepared to pay me 80% of what I earn now. The salary I was on 5 years ago. It feels like a massive professional step back.

In the meantime I have had the first of my three individual consultation meetings, and informed I have been put into a protected pool of two people and there is one job available. That gives me a 50% chance I can keep my role at my own salary, but the current job offer won't wait until this process is over. I have also applied for at least 10 other internal jobs so have more back up options. There is a lot of competition for these roles due to large numbers at risk.

My preference would be to stay, as if I take the job where they want to lower my salary, I can't get back to where I am easily - they only increase pay by 10% if you get promoted(!) I will have to look externally once I return from maternity as our mortgage depends on my earnings. It makes me feel a bit forced out, when it would be nice to have the security of a company I know while the baby is little. I am currently suffering with hyperemesis, and have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression due to the illness and work stress. I just want this to all be over so I can relax.

However it's a massive gamble and I am genuinely exhausted. What would you do?

YABU - Take the offer on the table, focus on health, and worry about money / jobs when you return.

YANBU - Don't stand for less, take the risk and fight now to make it easier in the long run.

Have they said why you're in a protected pool?

Can you live on 80% of your current salary???

@JackieWeaverFever for a short time, but not for long as my mortgage is based on me earning this salary.

@violetbunny you get put in a protected pool if a number of people do the same job, but they are reducing heads. In my case 2:1. @Rattysparklebum this means the person that is not picked is still at risk and has to secure another role in order to not be made redundant.

I'd push for the role at same salary.

I'd also covertly be recording all interviews all conversations etc. It is not admissible in court but 9 times in 10 it doesn't get there anyway. It is good insurance if you need it and can help if you need to negotiate an exit package

It's funny that the majority of posters are voting YANBU but those commenting are saying the opposite! I'm risk averse too OP so I would take the 80%salary and apply for other jobs/roles towards the end of mat leave. Probably a good idea to get proper, legal, advice though.

If your mortgage is partly dependent on your salary, that would push me to more to accept the lower salary job - at least it’s known what you get.

Do you get extra money if there is redundancy?

Yes, take the 80% role, and use the remaning mat leave to start looking out for jobs with less exhausting employers elsewhere.

I'd accept the offer and enjoy the pregnancy knowing the bills are covered. Look for another job once you're ready/back. Good luck

And this is why there is a gender pay gap.

Can you imagine a man accepting 20% less?

I wouldn't take the 80% because your skills and experience show you are worth 100%. Most women are on the back foot when they return to work and youve got the shortfall plus that to tackle on your return.

I'd fight to keep or get a role that maintained my 100% salary and state in writing you feel you are being sidelined ALREADY, before you've even had the baby and forced into accepting a lesser role.

Legal advice required!

If you take the reduced pay, could you look to start your childcare early - say at 8 months - for a day or so a week plus DH use some annual leave to give you some decent blocks of childfree time to look for a new role?

Protect your maternity leave abd then when you’re in a position to do it sack if the company that fucked you over - you owe them nothing.

I thought in redundancy situation where they put you in a pool if another job suitable is available they slot you in that but protect your salary for three years, not sure if this is law or just something nhs do but check out legal advice as it all sounds a bit dodgy.

I would do the same as @MiaowMiaow99 said and bring the fight to them. I was in a similar position a few years ago and actually ended up in a promoted post. However, only you know what risk you can afford to take for your family.

I would accept the 80% but say you are only working 4 days. Evens the lay out and you get a day off with DC / 1day not to pay in childcare. Is that an option?

Totally agree with @MiaowMiaow99
There’s no way I would accept a role at the same grade on 80% less. Have you tried pushing back on the salary for that role? When do they need you to make a decision by? Can’t it wait until you know the outcome of your current role?

When are you due to go on mat leave? Have they given you the figure of what your redundancy payout would be yet?

All those saying take the lower paid job now and look for a new job for when you return...I have done 2 x maternity leaves and found it was hard enough going back to work afterwards and would have found it incredibly difficult to be job hunting as well.

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

I thought in redundancy situation where they put you in a pool if another job suitable is available they slot you in that but protect your salary for three years, not sure if this is law or just something nhs do but check out legal advice as it all sounds a bit dodgy.

I thought this too, but then tbh I thought they couldn't make you redundant whilst pregnant/maternity leave so what do I know?

If you intend to find another job take the pay cut for the role you’ve been offered. Easier to find a job if you already have one.

@stillcrazyafterall @StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

I thought a lot of things going into this process too but I have been suprised at the laws. They can do this to you both whilst pregnant and during maternity (my colleague had a baby by C-section a few weeks ago and they are forcing her to apply for roles and interview in the next two weeks), I am so shocked about the lack of protection for people in a vulnerable position like this. As a PP said they wouldn't do this to a man, as a man could almost always say no - I would absolutely not be considering a pay cut if I was not pregnant, I would be waiting out the process and looking externally. I believe the government are looking into ways to make this fairer, as there are better laws in other countries (which is where a lot of the confusion comes from I think).

We have no support internally to explain our rights, they tell us to contact external places like
the charity Mind if we want help(!) This has shocked me so much as I have no one I can turn to for advice and support in this process.

I believe there is some salary protection which is funny enough exactly 20%. This isn't for 3 years though, only 12 months. This will keep my salary as it is for 4 months before maternity, which is why I wouldn't have to look for other roles until I returned.

And for those that asked, my redundancy is just over £1000. So not worth considering unfortunately - else I'd wait it out and see.

Haven’t seen your other thread but wonder have you spoken to maternityaction.org ?

As someone else mentioned, are you able to negotiate on anything else if not the money, e.g. flexible working?

Have you spoken with Pregnant then Screwed's free legal advice line?

I'm pretty risk adverse and would need the certainty of some income rather than risk having nothing. Last thing I would want to be doing is trying to find employment while heavily pregnant (or when I went back really as I had babies who didn't like to sleep!) so I would probably take the 80% role whilst seething at the injustice and gender inequality of the situation. I would then have zero loyalty and would get myself something else as soon as I felt able to, whether that was immediately after mat leave or a little bit further down the track.

OP as you have now said your salary is protected for 4 months I.e. until you take maternity leave, you will be able to maximise your SMP. Additionally the occupational top up should also be your current salary.

Having protected your maternity pay and saying you could apply for external roles which would give you a great pay rise I would take the role with 20% pay cut. You could also continue to apply for internal roles at your existing salary.

@Margaritatime actually that's a good point I hadn't considered, I'd be able to apply for roles at the protected salary for the next 12 months even though I'd be on SMP... This makes it more appealing. I may not have to be forced externally after all... Thanks for pointing this out, like I said I'm not thinking straight!