Should I go up on pay scale after 1 year mat leave?

[SenoraSurf]

I went off in august 2019 (was on mp3 and then moved up to mp4 in September whilst on may leave). I returned to work in July 2020 after doing my 10 kit days throughout the summer term.
Just got pay slip through and I've not been moved up to mp5 for this year. Our pay scales are moved up this month and extra is backdated from September.

Is this right?
I get that I've been off for a year which doesn't really constitute a rise but at the same time, I'm now a 'year behind' in terms of pay because of it.

Advice please before I speak to finance person.

I should add that I didn't do a PM because my performance manager went off on mat leave in April 2020 and due to covid, nothing ever got sorted so I didn't have any meetings or targets set for 2019/20 academic year

I wouldn't expect to move up to a new pay point after a year of not being at work but it might be a question for your union rep as they'll know the actual legality of it?

NEU advice:

Teachers on maternity or extended sick leave or otherwise absent during the period

The DfE’s pay advice confirms that such teachers are entitled to consideration for pay progression in the same way as other teachers, whether or not they have returned to service at the date of the annual pay determination. In such cases, however, it is particularly likely that appraisal reviews may not have been completed and the governing body may not have any reviewer’s recommendation to consider.

The NEU therefore advises that pay decisions should be taken by reference to such information as is available. This might include information from the most recent appraisal review or any part of the appraisal period when the teacher was present.

Failure to consider progression in this way could clearly constitute less favourable treatment on the basis of gender or disability and leave the governing body open to complaints of unlawful direct discrimination.

So you should be considered for pay progression but if there is no evidence that you deserve it (as it’s no longer automatic) it will be tricky.

This depends on the timing a bit. A full year Sept to July off and they have no evidence for pay progression. However if you do part of a year and are successful you can argue for it. Both times I've successfully got it however I was only off 6 months each time.

I didn't get mine - I went off on 29th September, back in July. In fact I missed out on two years because I didn't finish that first round of performance management, then didn't get the next year either because I'd not been there. So, that was nice.

Rule that's shocking. I'd have argued you were successful in one of the years if you were there and teaching!

I fear given budgets lots of schools will now say no. I don't think movement up is guaranteed anymore.

My last school moved people up depending upon objectives and positive lesson observations & bookmarking. KIT days don't count in that sense.

Yes, you should. Please pursue it further. It's bad enough as it is combining teaching and motherhood (or maybe my school is just particularly pathetic for giving new mums shite timetables)

I asked to be moved up the pay scale when I returned from and the school agreed. (I hated asking but I knew I would fight it if they said no.)
You shouldn’t be discriminated against because you had a baby!

@Thereluctantstepmother

I asked to be moved up the pay scale when I returned from and the school agreed. (I hated asking but I knew I would fight it if they said no.) You shouldn’t be discriminated against because you had a baby!

Well done. How depressing that you even had to ask though...

Thanks everyone.

Based on everything I can find available from the union, legally I should be entitled as I could fight it on grounds of discrimination otherwise. Guidance states PM meeting should ideally be done before mat leave but where this isn't possible, previous successful PM should be used instead.

Likewise, it'd be totally unfair to penalise me for being off for an academic year, yet someone who's maternity leave straddles 2 academic years and lasts the same duration would be entitled to it. That's wouldn't make any sense.

I've spoken to finance manager and they've said pay increase was on pay slips this month and pay progression will be on decembers pay slip so hopefully next month, I'll go up automatically and be backdated to September. If not, I'm definitely going to pursue it.

Union rep currently off isolating so will have to pick their brains once they're back!

Thanks all for replying. Currently expecting dc2 and have the same due month (august) so want to make sure I'm not setting myself up for potentially 2 years of delay moving up the scale!

I went up the pay scale as normal while on mat leave twice.

@SenoraSurf

Thanks everyone.

Based on everything I can find available from the union, legally I should be entitled as I could fight it on grounds of discrimination otherwise. Guidance states PM meeting should ideally be done before mat leave but where this isn't possible, previous successful PM should be used instead.

Likewise, it'd be totally unfair to penalise me for being off for an academic year, yet someone who's maternity leave straddles 2 academic years and lasts the same duration would be entitled to it. That's wouldn't make any sense.

I've spoken to finance manager and they've said pay increase was on pay slips this month and pay progression will be on decembers pay slip so hopefully next month, I'll go up automatically and be backdated to September. If not, I'm definitely going to pursue it.

Union rep currently off isolating so will have to pick their brains once they're back!

Thanks all for replying. Currently expecting dc2 and have the same due month (august) so want to make sure I'm not setting myself up for potentially 2 years of delay moving up the scale!

Hello, just reading through and was wondering if you were successful with having your pay rise?

I went UPS 1 to 2 whilst on a year of mat leave, didn’t have to ask and didn’t expect it.

@CarrieBlue

I went UPS 1 to 2 whilst on a year of mat leave, didn’t have to ask and didn’t expect it.

I went up during mat leave but not sure whether I'll be eligible for next year. I am on the main pay scale though.

You should go up. It's sex discrimination otherwise.

You absolutely should be moved up

Yes, I advised a school governing board during Ht performance management that they had discriminated against their HT by not awarding her increments during past maternity leaves.

Board had to backdate all payment missed ( over 4 years).