Hi all I work for a medium sized firm and have been totally committed there and a "top performer" for 10 years. I'll be on maternity leave in November when our annual appraisals (for the year you have just had) and discretionary bonus are paid to every staff member. I am also due a contractural bonus in March 2017.
I've been trying to sort out for the last 6! weeks what happens when I'm on maternity (they are woefully unprepared when it comes to dealing with these matters and told me I can't have paid KIT days) and I've been told I won't be entitled to my review at same time as my colleagues and I will not receive a discretionary bonus (which we all get every year) either until I return from maternity. I've also just received an email confirming my contractural bonus will be pro rata for the time I'm on maternity, which is fair enough , but that this too also won't be paid until I return.
I'm really upset by this. I receive no contractural maternity pay, only SMP, and was relying on these small bonus being paid to help ease the financial burden of not having my salary during maternity. I also hoped that keeping my review at same time as my colleagues would mean I was able to try and prove I'm committed to coming back, be considered equally for the year I've just had and hopefully given or at least the chance to fight for a small rise. I have already confirmed I'm planning to take 7 months max off as my boss has been worried about how she will cope without me. Without these bonuses I will have to go back in 4.
Anyway in a nutshell does anyone know if the above is legal? Who should I approach for advice?? Thank you