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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not told of an internal position on maternity leave.

129 replies

ABubbles · 27/12/2023 14:33

I’m on maternity leave. I work part time (3 days a week) in a good mid-level professional job. I work hard, always have, never had any concerns raised by seniors, happy service users etc.
I had a brief encounter with my senior the other day where I was informed that the team had been shuffled a bit after some of my colleagues at the grade above had left the job. In all this, an internal position for the grade above me became available. I am more than qualified for it after being at my current grade for the last 5 years, I am the most experienced member of the team at my current grade (all others have joined within the last year and have far less years experience).
Am I being unreasonable feeling pissed off and undervalued because I wasn’t informed there was an internal position available? I could have only found out about it if I was at work/ if I had logged on to my work system during maternity leave. None of my colleagues let me know a position was available and it resulted in my (very nice and well deserving but significantly less experienced) colleague getting the position. I would have liked to have had a chance to apply and I feel like it was hidden from me and I have been held back because I’m on maternity leave. Is that just the way the world works and it’s tough luck for us mums?
I feel really bothered by it. How hard is it to give me a call to let me know?

** I definitely have the level of experience required for the job, I have been waiting for a position to come available for years and it was on my goals discussed with my manager.

OP posts:
Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 27/12/2023 14:35

Is it also a part-time post, or full-time?
If the latter, they might have assumed the hours didn't suit you?
Had your manager promised to let you know about such internal positions if any became available?

Dartmoorcheffy · 27/12/2023 14:35

How much longer are you on maternity leave for? Presumably they want someone who can start the role immediately too.

WhateverMate · 27/12/2023 14:36

If you're in a union (though weirdly not many MNetters are), have a word with your rep.

festivepains · 27/12/2023 14:37

Same happened to me. I went to HR and almost immediately got a promotion...

MrsTWH · 27/12/2023 14:37

They cannot “assume” you wouldn’t want it. This is discrimination and I’d be contacting HR for advice.

cryinglaughing · 27/12/2023 14:38

As a pp said, is it a fulltime position?
If it is and you work 3 days, I can understand nobody drawing your attention to it.

Doublerainbow23 · 27/12/2023 14:39

Surely that's a clear cut case of discrimination? You have to be treated the same know maternity leave as any other employee (bonuses, pay rises, etc) so denying you the opportunity apply for it puts you in a less favourable position than colleagues not on maternity leave?

I'd be contacting hr to raise it.

Andywarholswig · 27/12/2023 14:39

I assume you retained access to systems whilst on maternity leave? If the job was advertised internally via the intranet then they have done what is required, as you haven’t been disadvantaged by being on maternity leave as you could have applied.

It would have been nice if one of your colleagues could had given you the heads up but it isn’t a requirement. Possibly as they felt they had a better chance of success without you in the interview mix?

Doublerainbow23 · 27/12/2023 14:40

*same on

Lotsalotsagiggles · 27/12/2023 14:41

Legally don't you have to be notified of any promotions thst could apply to your role when on mat leave? It can be classed as discrimination

Id email hr and express your dissapointment in writing and also email pregnant then screwed

Rainbowshit · 27/12/2023 14:43

Yes this is discrimination.

Celebrationsnakes · 27/12/2023 14:45

Did you post this exact same thread recently? If not there is a virtually identical thread here somewhere that may help you.

LordEmsworth · 27/12/2023 14:45

Dartmoorcheffy · 27/12/2023 14:35

How much longer are you on maternity leave for? Presumably they want someone who can start the role immediately too.

Mmm, maybe you could do a bit of reading up on employment law as to whether discrimination against women on maternity leave is legal or not, before offering an opinion like this... Of course they want someone to start as soon as possible, but if OP is a better candidate then maybe waiting for her would be a good idea; and maybe she'd agree to an earlier return. Assuming a woman with young kids isn't up to the job is not a great look for equal opportunities

Parfortheparsnip · 27/12/2023 14:49

HR manager in the public sector here. You have a case for discrimination. Raise with HR immediately. I'm sorry this has happened.

Nottodaty · 27/12/2023 14:50

Was it a promotion that only someone from your team could have applied for? Or was it a role that’s a grade above that anyone could apply for?

I thought it would be a up to you to check the vacancies roles if you’re looking to move up a grade and keep an eye on what’s available. Would be a lot on HR to make sure they email you any roles you could apply for?

Though if it’s only a small pool of people allowed to apply and you should have been in that pool then yes discrimination.

Lavender14 · 27/12/2023 14:50

MrsTWH · 27/12/2023 14:37

They cannot “assume” you wouldn’t want it. This is discrimination and I’d be contacting HR for advice.

^this. They have a duty and responsibility to make you aware of such openings. Definitely speak to hr and a union.

Charmer7 · 27/12/2023 14:50

This is clear cut maternity discrimination. They absolutely have to let you know about internal promotion opportunities and not on your work email. I would be getting on the phone to acas asap (and you can get a free half hour with an employment lawyer easily - just google).
It doesn't matter if they assume you won't want it as you are currently PT and it's a FT role. This how women on maternity get screwed all the time!

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 27/12/2023 15:04

It's maternity discrimination. Contact your union or ACAS to take it further. Disgusting behaviour

Sugarsun · 27/12/2023 15:06

I think it’s a difficult one because if I was off work, I wouldn’t expect to hear from work or about work until I was ready to come back.

You chose not to log into your emails (which I don’t blame you for) but you can’t say you weren’t told because you were.

You can’t really have the best of both worlds.
You either want to be involved in work or completely dissociate from it.

If my maternity was almost up then I would be annoyed that I wasn’t given a heads up but if my maternity had just started then I knew I wouldn’t considered anyway and therefore I’d let it go.

Mynewnameis · 27/12/2023 15:08

My job was downgraded when I was on maternity. Many other people had the same thing happen but I was disadvantaged in the appeal process by not being in work.
I got advice from maternity action. Free.
I also raised with my union.
I raised an internal grievance and externally via ACAS.
The grievance hearing wasn't fun but I won. Was allowed to reappeal and was successful.

Fnicks · 27/12/2023 15:09

If you have access to the intranet while off on maternity leave, you have access to the information on internal vacancies.

I don't think there's any evidence of them assuming you weren't interested because you're on mat leave, but they probably thought you weren't interested when you didn't apply.

I really don't see how it's discrimination that you were not personally contacted and informed, because they won't do that for every employee.

Viviennemary · 27/12/2023 15:09

Why would they be obliged to personally inform you. If it was on your company's website then I think they've done what's required. It's up to you to check for vacancies I'd say.

Ginnnny · 27/12/2023 15:10

You absolutely should have been informed about the position. I work in HR and dealt with a similar situation a couple of months ago. Contact your HR Advisor or Partner, and union rep if you’re in one, along with your manager.