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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

is this discrimination

53 replies

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 11:34

hi,

I have 10 years service in my company, the most within my team of 5, including the manager.

I have been on maternity leave, pay rises were done this year.

I am friends with one of the women on my team outside of work. we are on the same seniority level. She said to me this morning, pay rises are in, finally we are getting the recognition we deserve. she had a 20 percent pay rise.

My manager emailed me saying see attached pay rise/compensation etc. and apologised for how low it is, that his pot was the smallest it's ever been this year and has affected the whole team...

my pay rise was 3 percent. I'm not sure what my rights are here. I feel I have been punished for having children and I'm so so gutted. I worked so hard last year, in really challenging circumstances at work, with people leaving and having to train on work that I did not even do.

I genuinely feel like crying. its not even the money, it's how offended I feel and unappreciated and the blatant lying.

OP posts:

RedWingBoots · 30/06/2022 11:41

Answer is "yes"

Are you in a union?

TeenDivided · 30/06/2022 11:42

I think it depends on your relative pay and relative job specs / performance.
It could be discrimination. It could be you were being relatively overpaid before.

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 11:47

TeenDivided · 30/06/2022 11:42

I think it depends on your relative pay and relative job specs / performance.
It could be discrimination. It could be you were being relatively overpaid before.

me and these team members are same level, same pay. theyve all had 20 percent increase, he told me there was a small pot this year and its affected everyone, implying that everyone only got a small raise.

I'm the only one at senior level who only got 3 percent. only difference being I've been on maternity level.

I'm not part of a union. I'm not sure what to do

OP posts:

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 11:48

*leave not level

OP posts:

Mally100 · 30/06/2022 11:51

How sure are you about being the only one on a 3% increase? If you absolutely know that for a fact then you should bring this up formally with your manager.

coodawoodashooda · 30/06/2022 11:53

Honestly with unemployment being the way it is I would say nothing.

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 11:54

Mally100 · 30/06/2022 11:51

How sure are you about being the only one on a 3% increase? If you absolutely know that for a fact then you should bring this up formally with your manager.

I know for a fact I'm the only one at senior level who has been given 3 percent.

OP posts:

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 11:55

coodawoodashooda · 30/06/2022 11:53

Honestly with unemployment being the way it is I would say nothing.

that's how the people at the top stay there though if we all say nothing isnt it

OP posts:

lanthanum · 30/06/2022 11:58

If you're not in a union, try ACAS for advice. On the face of it, it sounds like maternity discrimination. An employer who knows their stuff would make sure they had very sound grounds for giving you a lower increase than others, lest they be accused of discrimination.

www.acas.org.uk/contact

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 11:58

I've emailed back asking how it has been worked out and awarded. it's the lying too that I'm confused by, why imply that everyone has been given a small pay rise when it's not true

OP posts:

RedWingBoots · 30/06/2022 12:01

coodawoodashooda · 30/06/2022 11:53

Honestly with unemployment being the way it is I would say nothing.

Doesn't it depend on the sector the OP is in?

The main issue the OP has is that she was on maternity leave and has a small child to take care off. Her employer is using that as they think she won't go anywhere else.

RedWingBoots · 30/06/2022 12:02

OP if you can't get through to ACAS try one of the maternity rights charities to see if they can give you advice -
pregnantthenscrewed.com/
maternityaction.org.uk/

ConfusedBubble · 30/06/2022 12:03

I would tell him you know what rise the others have received, and you would like yours matched, otherwise will take it further.

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 12:05

thank you for the links, I think it really doesnt help that he lied as naturally I now think well you have lied because you know its wrong and unfair, why else would you imply we all got the same

OP posts:

catwomando · 30/06/2022 12:09

Be bold. Tell them you know that others have had 20% and that's what you want too. After all it's only fair, right? Your sure he values you and understands why you are peeved.

If he still says no then ask for justification for the difference in % ruses. Say you're sure he would want to do the right thing. He's likely to say "can't share info coz of confidentiality blah blah".

say you 'feel' as though you are being discriminated against. Ask him to go away and reconsider / put it right with his bosses and get back to you by the end of the week. Get him on your side. Make it impossible for him to say no.

Don't back down.

catwomando · 30/06/2022 12:11

rises not rises

Oh and if they give you the 'not enough in the budget' bullshit explain that it costs £00s to rehire and they are likely to need to pay any new person more and have to train the. It makes economic sense to keep you.

You are more valuable than you know. There is a country wide skills shortage.

catwomando · 30/06/2022 12:15

Oh and to give you confidence I was in this position a few years back.

Gave them a timeline and told them what I wanted and that I'd leave if they didn't step up. They didn't. I left (25% uplift and better benefits). They then spent the next 6 months in relentless pursuit to get me back.

Idiots.

Truenorthmum · 30/06/2022 12:17

There's a charity called Pregnant Then Screwed, they can advise on maternity discrimination and they have a helpline, I think it would be worth you giving them a call about this.

RedWingBoots · 30/06/2022 12:20

Truenorthmum · 30/06/2022 12:17

There's a charity called Pregnant Then Screwed, they can advise on maternity discrimination and they have a helpline, I think it would be worth you giving them a call about this.

The link is in my previous post.

MajorCarolDanvers · 30/06/2022 12:27

Call ACAS. It's free and they will advise you on your rights and the best way to approach this.

GoodThinkingMax · 30/06/2022 12:28

This is why everyone should join a union.

Yes, on the face of it, you’ve been discriminated against. The Equalities Act lists pregnancy/maternity as one of the protected characteristics.

You could start by contacting ACAS.

Mogul · 30/06/2022 12:29

Should you know how much the others have had though? It might be they were told in confidence and could be reprimanded for telling you.

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 12:31

Mogul · 30/06/2022 12:29

Should you know how much the others have had though? It might be they were told in confidence and could be reprimanded for telling you.

its been legal since 2010 to prevent this exact situation, ie. employers getting away with potential discrimination

OP posts:

Original poster

Amyrosa · 30/06/2022 12:32

Mogul · 30/06/2022 12:29

Should you know how much the others have had though? It might be they were told in confidence and could be reprimanded for telling you.

its been legal since 2010 to prevent this exact situation, ie. employers getting away with potential discrimination

OP posts:

Cyclebabble · 30/06/2022 12:37

Your Manager should never be lying about pay rises under any circumstances. There might be occasions where an excellent performer gets an increase over others, but that does not seem to be the case here. What you do next depends on the size and nature of the company. If it is large and has good complaint processes then I would use these first. If it does not, then for the amounts involved I might seek legal advice.

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