Delayed promotion on maternity leave

[givemelove]

I had spoken with my manager a few months ago and they said they were planning to put me forward for a promotion in Dec 23. Where I work managers can put forward employees for promotion every 6m.

I have been in this position for 18m. This would be an organic promotion in that I would go up a level for pay/benefits/job title rather than actively applying for a position in a higher level.

I am now pregnant (20 weeks) and today my manager said instead that due to maternity leave he would put me forward for a promotion 6m later (June 24). I think that’s completely fair as I won’t be in the office for a year, though I would obviously be grateful for the extra money if the promotion happened earlier!

My partner thinks that’s discriminatory and they can’t delay a promotion due to maternity (nothing in writing and no guarantee - I could turn really crap in the next year!)

what do you think?

Does sound a bit discriminatory to me

I think that’s discrimination too, you should be put in for it now and then be entitled to higher mat leave pay.

The fact your manager has said this is because you’re pregnant is shocking!

Do you have a HR dept? Are you in a union?

Will you still be off on mat leave by dec 23? If so then I wouldn’t be wanting to be assessed/interviewed for promotion then. If you are returning before then though you should be?

I'm with your partner, though hard to prove if nothing is in writing. Is promotion on a fairly standard timeline or does it vary person to person?