To be annoyed not to be informed about vacancies whilst on mat leave

[FTM1993]

I'm currently on mat leave, returning in October. I plan to return part-time but haven't placed a formal flexible working request just yet. Whilst I've been off there seems to have been a massive restructuring at work, several senior people have been made redundant and vacancies created. I wasn't told about any of this until afterwards. I think my manager has assumed I don't want to know about things like this as I have not asked for any KIT days and have taken the maximum time off. I do keep in touch with some of the girls from work but we tend to avoid the subject of work. One of the girls texted me today to say she's gone for a manger role today and got the job. Am I being unreasonable for feeling a bit miffed not to have even been told about any of this? I thought employers had to keep you informed about stuff like this? It's not that I would have necessarily gone for the job but not even to have been told about it makes me feel quite out of the loop :(

So? It makes no odds to OP as the result is the same, and the employers legal responsibilities are the same. I agree not to go in 'all guns blazing' but OP would be well within her rights to take it further, and would be successful in winning a case.

When I was on mat leave I received a paper copy weekly of all internal vacancies from HR. It was a process the followed for everyone so not to discriminate.

@everystripesays you reckon. The OP would have prove losses, injury to feelings and lasting impact. May I gently ask how often you have been in an Employment Tribunal? How often you have drafted the response on behalf of the respondent?

If it goes to Tribunal and even if the judgement is in favour of the OP, do you realise that many employers are now googling prospective employees and their former employers prior to offer. It's all there.

This is exactly what I thought.

i would contact your boss and say that you have heard there is a restructure and jobs have been advertised which you weren’t aware of. See what they say but I would be expecting an apology for not keeping you in the loop. You could take it further depending on how you feel.

Going back part time after maternity leave I suspect they are assuming you are going to be baby brained and not really interested.

Are they generally decent to work or is this par for the course?

Ive worked in two huge civil service departments where this is the case - your account is frozen whilst you're on leave so line managers are responsible for keeping anyone on mat leave up to date with things like this.

We get it, you don't think women should take anything like this further and should just assume their employers forgot and let it go. I had similar when I was on maternity leave and quite painlessly settled, also found a new job no problem.

I don't think that's what I said at all. However I do get that you are rather rude and argumentative.

That's pretty much what you said and that poster was not rude in the slightest in pointing out your thinly veiled threat to women to not stand up for themselves.

Gently, may I suggest you aren't very robust if you thought they were rude and argumentative.

Not correct. People on maternity leave are disadvantaged because they don’t get the ‘word of mouth’, kitchen talk, general gossip machine, that people not on leave get. She should have been informed. Not directly making her aware is discrimination. There are tribunal rulings on this. OP look up Visa International vs Paul. Same situation. Raise it with HR.

Thank you for all the replies. I have written to HR. Surprised that so many people think I'm being unreasonable on this! But thank you for taking the time to comment :)

Same I'm shocked people think you're being unreasonable! It's literally the law to keep you informed. Not sure why people sometimes want to hinder women's rights whilst on mat leave and frown upon any flexibility given to these women.

Glad you contacted HR, all the best. Contact acas etc too.

some of these comments are a good demonstration of why there is legal protection for maternity!

glad you’re going to HR. I also wasn’t informed of vacancies when I was on Mat leave as my manager decided I shouldn’t have the opportunity as “you weren’t there so it’s not fair on everyone else who is actually working” (no, it wasn’t the only problem I had with him…). Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of my rights.

So you'd trawl through each vacancy, and then if you decide to apply, would you go in for an interview?
And when would you announce you want p/t and or flexible working?
Or would you only require jobs that suit your needs, which you have yet to articulate to your employer?

@TheCountofMountingCrispBags none of that matters. OP has the right to be informed of any vacancies/promotions/restructures that might affect her

They had a legal responsibility to let you know. Would you have applied had you known?

I’m childless and even I know this is maternity discrimination. Of course you’re not being unreasonable!

Op how do you know that these jobs are not ring fenced to those at risk of redundancy?

HR have replied to me and said they messed up and I should have been informed formally of the restructuring and any internal vacancies. For people asking if I would have applied had I known, that doesn't matter. The fact is I'm still an employee and should have equal opportunity.

Did they say what action they were taking now they've admitted and acknowledged they were wrong?

They've said that in future I will be sent any important information relating to my team/role and any internal vacancies to my personal email. Not many people in the company have been on maternity leave (it's largely a male field eye roll )so maybe they were not used to it

They are being informed the same as any other employee

So are you saying women on maternity should be treated differently depending on how career focused their manager thinks they are?

It’s discrimination and she should have been kept in the loop.

This happened to me op and ACAS told me it was discrimination

Personally especially considering their email I'd consider taking it further, it's pretty clear cut discrimination.

This happened to me too and I actually knew some vacancies would be coming up and asked my manager to let me know when they went live, and she didn’t. I found out via a LinkedIn post.

The hiring process was extended when I complained and I did get offered one of the roles so I didn’t take it further but that person is no longer my line manager.

This thread highlights how poor awareness is of rights and responsibility of managers on maternity leave and some posters have an awful attitude!