Comments made about my maternity leave

[Justified07]

I’ve just returned from maternity leave so I’m potentially more sensitive to this issue but I’m noticing more snide comments about my time off and wondering if I should speak up on it.

These are both instigated a head of my department who does actually have children! Firstly I overhead him on chatting to a colleague about how he was trying to employ more men as women ‘have maternity leaves that we’ve got to consider. A man is only
off for 6 weeks (our company paternity leave policy) but a woman will have a year out’.

Later we went out for lunch, I was casually chatting about my plans today as I don’t work Fridays on my phased return to work. The same person remarked ‘as if I haven’t had enough paid time off in the last year’, which led to a few others laughing and agreeing with him which made me feel very uncomfortable.

AIBU to want to speak up on this somehow? My employer is larger and wins a lot of awards for their family friendly policies and I hate this backwards way of thinking. It’s making me feel awful about my return to work as I feel like this person is vocalising what others think.

I’d probably just say oh so how long did your wife have off to raise your kids?

The comments are not appropriate but it sounds like it is one person rather than a widespread attitude in the company and potentially also jealousy.
If it keeps happening I would speak to someone about it as it might cause people who are thinking about having children to leave or be worried if they think that is the attitude.

I would raise it with HR as it's not acceptable, especially from someone senior to you.

Personally I would keep a note of any similar comments and make a complaint to HR but I am too old to accept that shit!

tell him you are entitled to the time off and his wife was entitled to it too, it’s your right to have the time off and if women didn’t have babies the world would come to an end.
if he carries on report him.

This is sexism. I would report to HR.

Report to HR. Hiring men for pregnancy related reasons is discrimination. He’s also head of the department and should be leading by example. Toxic. Report

I’m getting the same.

the girl hired to work my role while I was on my leave has been hired full time, but not in my job. She’s actively trying to take over my role behind my back, comments have been made too.

Another colleague (male) has mentioned that now I’m off leave I can stop being lazy (adjustments had been made for me while pregnant)

I wouldn’t mind but I’m over them! I trained the whole department and have been with my company for a decade. I won every single award they have, my name is on them. They were never nominated before me lol.

I’ve told my line manager to get it sorted or I’m speaking to a solicitor

I'd report to HR. If he says something to you again I'd also tell him if he doesn't agree with your legal right to maternity leave he's welcome to move to a less progressive country.

Admitting you will hire males over females due to maternity leave implications is sex discrimination and illegal. Definitely speak up.
sorry you are dealing with this misogynistic bullshit.

This

I'm 12 years on from having mat leave and not intending to have any in the future and reading that has given me the rage so no, it's not just you being sensitive.

I would definitely speak to HR - you may need to raise it as a formal grievance (it would constitute harassment - discriminatory conduct that has had the effect of making your workplace hostile or unwelcoming).

"I overhead him on chatting to a colleague about how he was trying to employ more men as women ‘have maternity leaves that we’ve got to consider. A man is only off for 6 weeks (our company paternity leave policy) but a woman will have a year out’."

What he is suggesting he would do would leave your company open to being taken to court for discriminating against female applicants, and could cost them serious money in a tribunal. Not to mention the reputational damage to a company that "wins a lot of awards for their family friendly policies", which could cost them a heck of a lot more.

I would inform HR that some of their management seem unaware of the law and indeed company policy on these matters.

Absolutely - this isn't just 'banter', it's illegal discrimination by a senior representative of the company.

i suppose you could be grateful that he's saying the quiet stuff out loud, unlike many.

Forget hr other than cc-ing them into the email. You go above his head one level.
Clear email that you consider this completely inappropriate and sexual discrimination. ‘Imagine if he repeated his comments re hiring women where in the public domain & the effect on company image’

all in a concerned for the company way….
concerned about him fucking up.
and making it clear it stops from your perspective as well.
HR will shit themselves and your bigger bosses will not be impressed.

What a knob. Apart from the obvious sexism, he's in for a nasty shock if any dads or partners take shared parental leave - my dh was off for 6 months!

Ask him has he completed his Equality and Diversity training.

Mine too! Several male friends have taken six months also, and our company now does six months full pay for men on shared leave

What he's saying is very illegal. In particular re the preferring to hire men.
Raise a formal complaint with your HR (in writing, so via email so there's a paper trail)! I'd also take notes of timings etc whenever you overhear something like this, or whenever comments are made to you.

How have things been since OP?

this doesn’t sound real sorry as if someone would say that out loud ‘paid time off’ come on