Am I being forced out my job or just feeling insecure?

[Superhotwheels]

I'm struggling so much since returning to work from my mat leave, and I'd really appreciate some help. I don't know if I'm just feeling a bit sensitive and insecure (coupled with complete sleep deprivation), or there is actually an issue here. Any legal advice would definitely be appreciated!

I've been back at work (full time) for 3 months now. I took 6 months maternity leave. Whilst I was gone, they hired maternity cover for me along with a new employee who was supposed to be reporting into me. Annoyingly, they hired this person whilst I was off without making them aware that they were going to become my direct report. I've come back to find they won't be reporting into me, nor was this ever mentioned to them as a possibility. I feel particularly annoyed about this, because management is something I'm lacking from my career (I'm in a more technical specialist role). That opportunity has come and gone now. Nevertheless, this person should technically be my subordinate.

My mat cover is still there until the end of the year, so I've come back to basically two people doing my job. Granted this person will be leaving, but it isn't actually them I have a problem with - it's the new permanent hire. I'm struggling to work out what my remit is now. Meetings that I'd previously run have been passed to the new permanent employee. Specialist work I used to complete is now completed by them. My boss says "both of you can do it", but quite frankly there isn't enough of it. On top of that, this person quite clearly doesn't like me or respect me.

I feel like before my maternity leave, I was on an upward trajectory towards a senior position where I was building out a team. It was my progression route. I've come back from maternity leave to find I don't have that direct report (and it's unlikely I'll get another chance, due to budgeting), I have two extra people currently competing for my work, and I'm undermined on a daily basis. This new permanent hire acts like they're my boss. I offer suggestions for making things better, and I'm told "no, we don't do things like that, this is how it's done now so please don't make any changes". Our meetings actually get incredibly heated because any time I offer up a suggestion I'm immediately shot down. I can say the simplest thing and it's met with either silence or an immediate "why would we do that?" The new hire even said no to me "I'm getting really frustrated because everything was working really well for 6 months and now it feels like we have problems". So basically, I'm the problem!

I used to love my job, but the whole dynamic is completely different now. We're a small team, so you really feel it. I'm struggling and I feel myself dreading meetings. I don't feel comfortable raising concerns because I know I'll just be immediately shut down.

I feel like it's heading towards me having to find a new job, but I'm so resentful of that because I worked so hard for 4 years to create something in the company, and I've lost it through 6 months of maternity leave.

If anybody has any advice, or feels like I'm overreacting, I'd love to hear it. I'm open to hearing that I'm being unreasonable, it's hard to know, but I do feel my maternity leave has significantly impacted my career. It was only 6 months!

Thank you everybody

I would probably be looking for an external step up/promotion.

I don't think you're overreacting - I have no idea about the contractual ins and outs but the new hire sounds foul and your boss seems a bit useless.

Leaving would be the more practical choice, but completely understand why you're reluctant. Could you try making the most of not having that much work to do by thinking about another way to carve out a role for yourself there?

Maybe you can start by suggesting the business needs a complete overhaul of its workplace culture – nothing good can ever come of the response "why would we do that?" Or find out who's overworked and argue for resources to be redeployed more efficiently? You'll need to bypass the "both of you can do it" boss and suggest it to someone who actually gives a shit about profitability though

I would be reasserting my position very clearly. Are you challenging the comments about doing things a “different” way?

I offer suggestions for making things better, and I'm told "no, we don't do things like that, this is how it's done now so please don't make any changes"

Where do you work, 1972?

That is a very easy one to flip back. "Oh, when I ran the team/department/area, we had a culture of continuous improvement. It's a shame you're not open to change but really, we should be pushing the business forward and challenging ourselves to do better. I realise that's hard for some people." Head tilt and sympathetic smile.

Is there any chance at all that you can propose a restructure to your boss, with clear roles and responsibilities? Have you had any explanation about why your mat leave cover is hanging about till end of the year, why did they make the contract so long?

Ultimately though, it sounds like your best chance is to go elsewhere. Even if you get what you want, you will always resent that you had to fight for it...

Nightmare. This happened to me, and I wish I’d left at the time. You need to request a meeting with your manager and explain what’s happening. The comment about everything working well for 6 months I would have to pursue.

You are not over-reacting, and maternity discrimination is very common.

This website might be useful: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

I kind of feel you have nothing to lose here. If he starts spouting shit like 'It's worked for six months...' I would counter with 'Has it actually though? Or does that just mean everyone was doing what you advised them, as nobody had the detail to challenge whether it was the best way? I don't appreciate my opinion being suppressed with intimidatory comments.'

If he continues this way, start mentioning 'bullying' and senior management will shut the other guy up... unless they really do want you gone. If so, record specific words, dates and times and take them to task.

No advice I'm afraid OP, but in your shoes I'd really want to slap the new employee, what a bitch!

However, as you can't do that, and it sounds like a small company, I think you'd probably be better off moving on, as it sounds like your boss is pretty useless, is it likely that he fancies her, or is intimidated by her, so doesn't feel he can/should step in and actually do his job of managing?

Sounds like the new employee is a very difficult character. I would be they are charm personified to the boss, but remember they don't know who your friends are. You need to talk to HR and your new boss about why this person does not report to you as planned, and explain they are struggling to take input on improvements. Explain you need them to be a direct report in order to manage the work effectively. As they are within the probationary period, they can then knuckle down or ship out. Use any friends you have to get side comments that you can escalate to demonstrate the issues.
Get advice from ACAS too, if you have anything on email about the direct report then you could use that to your advantage.

You need to have a very frank discussion, similar to what you've written here but with specific examples. It's the managers fault for not being clear with either of you. If one person is leaving anyway at the end of the year ths is a good way to determine how things will work going forward. I'd also focus on the current issue, and not blur it by talking about the career progression (well you could, but address them as very specific separate issues). Also go with solutions and what you think needs to happen to make this work