Mat leave cover is getting all the credit for my career defining campaign

[Marilynsdoll]

So I need an unreasonable check, not sure if this is the right place but it's about returning to work after mat leave, and feeling like I've been unfairly treated, so maybe? Here goes (btw I'm new so not up to speed with all your acronyms and lingo, sorry!)

TL:DR I've not had a major, career defining project returned to me after maternity leave and the cover woman is getting all the credit, affecting my career and professional reputation.

So... I work as a marketing exec and for over a year before I left for maternity leave I was working on a project that was my idea, that I had pitched to higher ups and stakeholders to get approval. This project is fairly ground breaking for my team, I won't bore you with details but for context it should get a lot of attention and respect from the corporate overlords, it has the potential to bring in millions in revenue over the next few years. I spent months and months researching all the content, working to get the project off the ground and through all the office red tape. I spent months more after that developing content with graphic designers and videographers, creating plans for the webpages and writing out all the text for them, getting each approved by the various higher ups. It was a monumental effort from me, having to pitch and get approval at every point, and I got to very near launch time, with almost everything ready to go. Then I went on Mat Leave for 18 weeks, the minimum time my company offers. The woman hired to cover me oversaw creating the page that is to host all this work based on the plans and text that I left her, (webpages are easy to make, we have a team that does it for us, she just had to make sure they followed my instructions) and the creation of the remaining videos (again just making sure the videographers stuck to me briefs), however she did each of them wrong, missing the main point and strategy entirely (not her fault, my manager was fully briefed and should have guided her), but my point is the small amount that she did do had to be adjusted when I got back. Since I got back I have been put on a secondment with another team for 4 days a week doing work that is urgently needed but way below my pay grade, and would have been a fantastic opportunity for one of the entry level employees. The other day of the week I am meant to be working on my project but so far Mat cover lady (who has since been given a permanent position in the team as someone else left, even though it's against company policy, all positions should be posted openly for applicants, no promotions) is still taking the lead on the project, even though she has this new role and should be continuing the work from that person's campaign plans, so it's not like she doesn't have her own work to do. And she's having to be spoon fed by me because she still struggled to grasp the concept of the campaign. What's got my goat though is she gets to give the update in every team and department meeting (up until now all my work has been mostly behind the scenes as it's such a long tailed campaign, now things are finally getting exciting and close to launch I had been really looking forward to finally showing my team all the work I've done), and she is doing the launch announcement both internally and externally, (which I had to edit massively and she's still not getting the strategy right) and my name isn't even mentioned, other than occasionally i get to give an update on the plans for stage 2 of the campaign, which implies I've only just joined the campaign. This is a career defining moment for me but her name is being slapped all over it now it's finally going live and being shared, when she has given a minimal contrubition, and not even done that well. My director seems to have forgotten that any of this was my idea or the scale of my efforts, and talks like it's all mat cover lady's work. I feel like i pushed a boulder up a mountain then mat cover lady pushed it the final 10 yards to the summit, and is getting all the credit. What feels really unfair is had I not gone on maternity leave I would remain in sole ownership of the campaign (and the glory lol). I know I pitched to some superiors so they may have vague recollections of me talking about this campaign, but we're a huge company and that was well over a year ago now (closer to 2) and the project has evolved so much since then it's unlikely they'll even remember me, this project was going to put my name on the map. know I'm probably coming across as super petty but last time I applied for a manager's role I was turned down as my campaign (the only thing I've worked on for over a year) didn't have any results yet as it hadn't launched, so not only do I feel I'm being deprived of the recognition I've earned, but it'll genuinely affect my career prospects in the immediate future no longer having ownership of this campaign. UK law requires that those returning from Mat leave get returned to their old role, but between the secondment and being pushed out of my campaign I feel like this qualifies as not being returned to my role, so would I be being unreasonable to go to HR? Although either way going to HR would burn bridges with my director and likely affect my chances of getting a new role. I also don't want to make the mat cover lady feel bad, none of it is her fault, she's just doing as she's told, it was my manager's job to oversee handing jobs back to me. I'm probably just being bitter and emotional, which is why I need your verdict!

You have not been returned to your role. Have they even any vague concept of employment law?! I am really pi**ed off for you just reading this. I would be contacting HR asap and getting this rectified immediately. I hope you get it sorted quickly. Best of luck.

Don’t give her a second more help on the project!

This isn't on, and stop worrying about upsetting your cover, she should be crediting you, she is not doing so because it benefits her. You should be credited in those updates, especially given how much input you still have. Do not let this go.

You’re a marketing executive who works on web copy, but you can’t write in paragraphs? That was a tough read

that aside, you need a career mentor as much as you need HR, because your enabling of her behind the scenes is making you a supporter and her into a leader.

Stop helping her first of all. Secondly, it sounds like they’ve been grossly unfair and not returned you to your role. HR is appropriate assuming you’ve already spoken with your line manager.

I’ve voted YABU because you’re incredibly eloquent and persuasive and you don’t sound like a pushover - and yet it sounds like you’re just standing back and taking this. Go on and stand up for yourself at work! Why aren’t you telling everyone who will listen that this is your thing and the cover doesn’t understand it. Stop helping her, stop accepting this secondment, start taking back your project.

By all means go to HR about the fact you’re now doing a role beneath your paygrade but I’m not sure HR can literally take the project off your cover and hand it back to you.

I assume your manager can do this if they know she’s making a pigs ear of it, although I don’t really get how they’ve not worked that out themselves in your absence and been super keen to ensure you were back in charge. Even less why they seem to think she’s great at it and you’d be better elsewhere. Is she definitely as awful as you think she is at it, or are you fully carrying her? If the latter, speak to your manager about that as you shouldn’t be doing her job for her.

Without being reductive, would your average male worker stand for something like this?

I know if any of my male colleagues went off for a fixed period of time, and busted their balls before they left to ensure their project launched successfully in their absence, they wouldn’t stand idly by while someone else took the credit.

You need to reassert your place here, because unfortunately no one else is going to stand up for your best interests here.

How long have you been back?
What did you say to your manager when seconded/what was the timescale?
Have you cced to the line manager all the advice/changes/support given?
How is mat cover writing updates without your input/are they doing leading or not?

I had this except I went back after 6 months and the temp supposedly covering for me had outstayed her welcome with me. When I got back everyone seemed to prefer the temp. Not my problem. After about a month of putting up with being given whatever desk was around and treated like it would be better if I just left,
I went up the temp told her that's my desk she'd better move and she's also using my own personal stationery so best leave it on the desk while she moves too.

Two months later she was gone. If I hadn't stuck up for myself no one would have done.
For you it's more likely this means going to HR and letting them know this isn't ok it's not on and you want to discuss where your old job is because you didn't take enough maternity leave for them to be able to change your job so radically whilst you were away.

Typed out on my phone whilst stressed and upset, any copy I write normally gets done on a computer, with a clear head, and multiple rounds of self proofing. Also didn't realise my writing skills were being judged, sorry, thanks for the kick :(

Maybe the problem is that you don't know how to be precise or concise? From the unindented masses of verbiage I only picked up a vibe of outraged employee returning from mat leave expecting all to be as before. As well as an ego the size of Paris.

Ignore the haters on here criticizing your post. I get it.

Go back to your line manager and have a meeting to confirm your role. Make it clear that you expect to be running this as you did all the leg work for stage one and are working on the execution of stage 2.

Anything less than this, you start looking for a new role internally and externally. Don’t be afraid to leave. Don’t work for a bad manager and I’m afraid your manager has failed to protect or promote your role or accomplishments. I left, others told me I was a failure, well I failed upwards somehow. I’m now working just as hard and making twice as much as before.

If you've been to your line manager with no joy then go to HR with all speed. I'm assuming all your work is date stamped by the computer automatically so you can show how much if it was done before your mat leave - not that should have to, nut it might be necessary if you have to go further down the road. HR will probably sort it though.

MN can be tough place esp in AIBU, but you've got the advice you need for the mo. Keep posting!

I’m sorry this has happened. Employment law was literally written to try to protct women on your situation. If. Was you, I’d
have a quiet chat with an employment lawyer to check what your legal rights are - I think you are legally entitled to have leadership of your project back - then have an off the record / informal conversation with HR asking for their support in precenting the company from breaking employment law. Perhaps HR can ‘remind’ the director that as a returnee from MATL you’re supposed to be on your old work?

Then you need to have a conversation with your boss / the director or whoever, saying that you don’t understand why you aren’t being given credit for the work you’ve done and that the situation of you doing all the work on this project while the other woman is the face of your project is not sustainable and that you want your old job back and are entitled to it.

I bet he fancies her 🙄

Fellow Marketing Exec here and I am livid for you! You do write very eloquently and I can picture exactly how much hard work has gone into every stage of your campaign even though you've covered it in a few sentences...

Your line manager is surely the first port of call though? Going direct to HR sounds like the nuclear option BUT I wouldn't blame you if you felt that was your only option.

I think the point a PP made about whether a man would stand for it is very valid - Marketing is quite a 'women heavy' expertise at our level (ime anyway) and the few men I've worked alongside talk the talk to the point of promotion far too easily, especially if you're in a large company as I am. Blow your trumpet, loudly and longly... I hope you get it resolved!

I may well be coming across as egotistical, I've worked really hard to get where I am and I'm great at my job, but the issue I'm upset over is someone taking credit for over a year's worth of my work, I don't think it's egotistical to want credit where it's due, but i may be wrong, and yeah I totally get that might sound more egotistical than ambitious. And you're totally right about me waffling on, I am in total Yeah rant mode lol, I'm hoping this thread will help me organise my thoughts so I can be more concise if I take this further officially with work. I do wish things were returned to how they were before I left, but that's sort of what's required by UK law, within reason, just trying to explore exactly where this lies, is it within reason?

I don't think you sound egotistical at all - marketing campaigns such as you've described are an absolute beast so for you to have done that, single-handedly whilst pregnant as well - kudos to you!

Are you in the UK? If so this is AWFUL. Do not tolerate this, it’s rubbish. Have you had a very very direct convo with your boss? If this goes official with HR then it could spiral. Talk to Pregnant Then Screwed for advice on how best to play this. You’re being treated very shabbily.

Thank you everyone for your advice, i feel heard for the first time in ages! For those saying why aren't I making it clearer that this is my work and putting my foot down, I just worry that it'll be perceived as being childish or petty, I don't want to become known as "that girl that got all demanding and stroppy", this is the first time I've had an issue like this so I'm not used to being confrontational or setting firm boundaries like that, but your comments are confirming in my mind that this would be a necessary action, and if phrased right then hopefully I won't be perceived that way, I think maybe an off the records chat with HR to guide me on how to have that conversation will be next steps. Thanks so much for hearing me out and supporting me, I feel much more valid in my feelings now, which was half of what was getting me down, not knowing if I was being unreasonable, you know? Thank you!

I think one thing to remember is that your mat cover is getting/taking the credit within your company, but outside that it’s up to you how you own it. So in terms of your cv and future job interviews you can credibly take full responsibility and talk about what you’ve done/how etc. I’d polish up your cv and have a look what else is out there, esp if this is really career defining (as there could be a time limit on its relevance). In my sector there jobs market is v buoyant, so you might be surprised with the payrise you can secure and it would mean you can reclaim some of the control…

It does sound like you've been treated badly but this idea surely belongs to the company, not you? You also say the idea has moved and evolved and that your part of a team involved in it? Nonetheless I'd speak to your direct boss and say you'd like clarify about who's taking the lead as you expected it would be you.

Which country are you in to only have 18 weeks of leave?

You need to move fast to exert your employment right. Contact ACAS www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights/returning-to-work-after-having-a-babyand Pregnant then screwed pregnantthenscrewed.com. As you had less than 26 weeks mat leave you are entitled to return to the same job, not be pushed into another role.

You need to be assertive with your manager and HR and email them along the lines of they are not complying with the Employments Rights Act 1996 para 79 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/part/VIII/crossheading/right-to-return-to-work/enacted. ACAS etc. can help with wording. Make it clear you expect to resume your original role as full time project lead with immediate effect I.e. 30 August 2022 (At a push 1st Sept). State that you have never agreed to the secondment to a significantly junior role (hopefully you didn’t).

Go through all the launch material and insert your name and job title as Project Manager, leave in the cover’s name where she actually did the work (be fair). Insist you lead the launch and your cover does specific elements. You can’t totally exclude but be the Project Lead and she is your second/assistant.

For phase 2 go through comms etc. and insert “having lead phase 1 @Marilynsdoll will continue to lead on phase 2. “ really simple but makes it clear you led.

Sorry just realised you may not be UK so different employment legislation.