Possible demotion after maternity leave

[GoldieLocks09]

I had my second DS in October of last year and have thoroughly enjoyed maternity leave this time around and not paid too much attention to what's been going on at work, unlike with my first DS when I felt like I had to have 'one foot in the door'.

I'm planning on going back to work in July and have started my KIT days, one of them being today - my manager (who is also the MD) asked for a meeting with me and was being overly nice, friendly, asking loads of questions etc at the beginning of the meeting - he is a friendly person but it was clear it was a bit OTT. For some background, our company was acquired last year and we're now part of a much much larger PLC, I've basically missed the whole integration whilst being on mat leave. At the moment there are 2 people who hold my job title (senior director level/leadership team) - me and my colleague, we've always worked well together and have been united across our departments. Due to the change in company, she was asked to cover my role whilst I was on maternity leave and has been looking after both departments for the past 8 months.

My manager/MD told me during our meeting that it has been decided 'from the top' that there is no longer room for 2 people to be doing that role (we both have the right to apply for it), and there is definitely another role available at the same salary, just with different responsibilties - as well as lots of other opportunities throughout the business. I think it's unlikely I will get the role we both can go for as she's been doing it their way for the last 8 months, and as much as I work well with her she does play dirty which isn't something I'm up for. The alternative role despite being told it was the same pay is a significant jump down in responsibility (I'll go from managing 8 to managing no one) and feels like we the job I joined the company doing 6 years ago, as well as moving away from being in the senior leadership team despite having 'director' in the title. And I will look into other roles throughout the wider business.

AIBU for feeling really hurt about this? Or should I just suck it up and take the lower position at the same pay and be grateful I still have a job?

Thanks everyone for your responses, to be honest I wouldn’t mind a bit less responsibility however I think my ego is getting in the way of wanting the other role - I would be reporting into her, and my team that I’ve managed since I joined 6 years ago would see me effectively have my responsibilities stripped. I don’t know it just ‘feels’ weird.

Because of the merger I think everything they’re doing is legal, but I am going to speak to ACAS and PTS on Monday. I spoke to another colleague I’m close with last night, and she thinks that it’s actually the other person’s role which is now redundant, and so she’s been given mine as she was covering for it anyway, however that won’t be the story management go with of course.

It’s strange, I’ve had such a weird feeling towards work this maternity leave like I’ve known something is going on. I guess your gut instinct is always right.

I think my ego is getting in the way of wanting the other role - I would be reporting into her, and my team that I’ve managed since I joined 6 years ago would see me effectively have my responsibilities stripped. I don’t know it just ‘feels’ weird.

@GoldieLocks09 My ego would struggle with this too! That puts quite a different complexion on the alternative role. Presumably, if you aren’t being demoted and on the same money, this new role is being regraded with a commensurate salary increase? They can’t expect you to report to somebody on the same grade and salary.

ACAS and PTS sound like a good move. Judging by the threads I see on here places I’ve worked, going back to work and reporting to your mat cover is depressingly common.

Oh I would definitely contact PTS and ACAS, you should be the one getting the role! Good luck!

It will come down to your job descriptions - you said in the first post that you both did pretty much the same job, so it sounds to me like BOTH jobs have been made redundant and one new job is available, which means you both have to go for the same job.

I would argue that the second role is NOT a suitable alternative if its nothing like what you were doing before, but then the alternative to that is a redundancy payment.

ACAS should be able to help.

Once you've had a child that's the most important thing in the world, work doesn't even come close so just do whatever job they give you and get home to your child.

Similar thing here (demotion after mat leave) for a few years I've just been grateful to still have a job and to be able to do part time / Flexi time. But the resentment does build, and losing your position of seniority does grate after a while, as does reporting into the person who was your mat cover!

I feel like at first people treat you with the same level as respect as before (plus with v young kids you have more to distract you anyway), but over time new people join who never knew you, and before long you're just being treated like others at that same level. Not being in management meetings anymore makes me feel paranoid, as I know what it's like in them and how they talk about people, and am used to having all the news first hand rather than hearing when the plebs (lol) do. It's not easy.

Please get a solicitor - it was the best thing I did. I came away with a years+ salary (plus my 3 month notice period and holiday I’d not taken), a good reference, share options in the company and a new job paying ~£25k more which is just as flexible as what I had, I’d just convinced myself I had to put up with it because no where would be as accommodating but that’s just not the case. My solicitor said it was clear cut and threatened my company who immediately backed down and accepted what I asked for!

So the trousers were clearly too big for you, what is your issue?

Damn app screwed me over, commented on the wrong thread sorry! And the crap app doesn't allow editing posts either

Congrats @GoldieLocks09 thats a great outcome for you!