maternity discrimination what would you do?

[Daydreamer94]

Background: My role was made redundant May 2024. I went on Mat leave September 2024.

Employers kept me in same role clients needed me but effectively told me I would not come back to this role after mat leave as it won’t exist. I asked them would they find me another role to which they replied yes we will look to place you somewhere upon your return. I was pregnant and going through a difficult pregnancy so didn’t bother to push it. Maybe I should have as in hindsight maybe that was pregnancy discrimination.

Nevertheless, less than 3 months until I return and still no update of a role. I was emailed last month and asked for an updated CV as they might have a suitable role for me, but I heard nothing back. I decided to email them last week and they arranged a call with the Talent Team to asses my skills and see where I would be most suited. I have been with the company 3 years.

Person A who I had my meeting with told me the following: would I accept a FTC, I said no because I should return to my old terms? They said would I be open to more junior positions, again I said no because I should return to similar terms. They then proceeded to tell me that roles have come up but I have not been put forward for them because they needed filling immediately. I couldn’t really concentrate at this point as I had a crying ill baby with me but they then said I could also look for jobs and forward them onto the team. At this point I just felt deflated and said ok. I went on to see they have advertised the perfect role for me and it was never put forward to me.

I sent them an email asking to explain why I have not been given this role, it’s 90% similar to what I was previously doing.

I have been an anxious mess all week and have done research, enough to know it doesn’t sound right. I should have priority and I shouldn’t need the “screening”. I have not yet got legal advice but did speak to Pregnant Then Screwed who said it does sound like it could be maternity discrimination.

I don’t have a lot of extra funds for legal help but I could use my final savings if I thought its worth the hassle. Tbh I am really upset and surprised they have behaved this way.

Do you have legal cover on your home insurance? Or are you in a union? Both of those can often be a source of initial free / low cost legal advice to at least be able to have a bit of a chat about what you could do without using up your savings.

Sorry you are having to deal with this - the return to work is stressful enough without something like this to manage on top as well!

Thank you for your response. No we don’t have legal cover as we don’t own. I am also not part of a union sadly.

Speak to
https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

They sound like they don’t have a clue what they are doing.

put everything in writing

write out a timeline

make copies of all their emails and correspondence on this (in case they lock you out at some point)

contact ACAS as well as pregnant and screwed

note - you shouldn’t have to apply or interview for internal jobs they should just be offered to you

Thank you, I have spoken to both those organisations now and they have said I should look to getting some legal advice.

I don’t know either they are incompetent or just not doing what they are supposed to. Either way it’s giving me grief!

So the plot thickens here! I have tried to sort this out informally now and have emailed but I am getting no response. I come to find out the person I am emailing is now on garden leave. Although I didn’t ever get an out of office. I feel like I am back to square one. I have now sent my informal grievance to their manager but I don’t know if at this point I should just raise a formal grievance or give the manager a chance to come back on the informal. I don’t know what to do, I am sick with worry and have been so anxious the last few weeks. It’s had such an impact on my MH but also this time with my baby as I feel this is all I can think about.