Cant believe what someone at work has just said re me returning from ML

[daisygatsby]

So there were interviews yesterday for my maternity replacement. Someone who sat on the panel just said to me ' there were a few high calibre candidates in there you might be in trouble when you come back'

now, this guy is a bit of a joker, but im a bit pissed off about that comment. or am i being sensitive?

no, you're not being sensitive. The guy's an idiot. He probably didn't mean it to sound the way he did, but keep a note of it anyway, and if anything else happens you can go to your boss or HR dept and complain. If it's part of a wider culture that treats pregnant women and mothers unfairly, then you will soon find out.

thing is, yes he is an idiot and is the kind who talks just for the sake of talking so im sure he meant no malice, but what an idiot.

ugh , im so annoyed,.

I agree with gertrude- what an insensitive *sshole! Great advice to keep a record of what he said, just in case it becomes a wider issue. If he makes a similar comment again, do you feel that you could talk to him about how unhelpful it is?

im not sure i could talk to him about it, but certainly will think about mentioning it to my line manager, who was also on the panel.

I said to him ' well i like to think im quite a high calibre candidate myself' and he said 'oh yeah youd be up there among them'. oh im so annoyed about it. ive worked hard here for the last 6 years.

What a div! I'd have wanted to bloody punch him! Try to take a deep breath and try not to let it bug you.

Really - it just sounds like a joke, do you really think he was trying to upset you?

I'd be hacked off too. There's no need to make comments like that. Definitely keep a note of it and schedule a meeting with as senior a boss as you can before you leave. Just reiterate your commitment to the company and tell them you'll be back!

it does sound like he was trying to be funny (without realising it could hurt your feelings) just ignore it and see how things go when you go back x

I'd speak to HR about it - if you're planning to take 6 months or less ML then it is illegal for them not to give you back your job at the end of it (and skating on thin ice to imply that they might not). I don't normally advocate throwing the book at people but the way pregnant women are treated in the workplace is often appalling and attitudes like that need to be smacked on the head.

Don't even THINK about considering it a slight on your performance (that gives the comment gravity it doesn't deserve by thinking its content is actually valid) - he's being a dick so think of it as him being a dick.

I had a similar comment from a joker at my work. Insensitive numpty. I think it gets harder as you get closer up going off. I'm doing my handover notes at the moment - I hope she's not too brilliant, but we just need to be confident that we're pretty good at our own jobs thanks very much xx