Discrimination

[Sammid]

I think I have been treated extremely unfairly both while I was pregnant and during maternity leave. My contract ended half way through my maternity leave and I was told the contract would not be extended and there was not an alternative post for which I could apply. Two months after my maternity leave ended I have found out there was a post which was advertised for and filled shortly after my maternity period ended. I was not advised of this post or given the chance to apply. Do I have any rights in this matter? I am currently working on an hourly paid basis for this employer. Any advice or pointers would be gratefully received, I understand this is quite a complex issue.

Yes, you need the legal advice.

But if the vacancy did not exist at the time your contract expired, then this is not be discrimination. Unless you can show that the timings were deliberately manipulated, but I should imagine that this would be difficult as there appears to be a lengthy gap between "half way through my maternity leave" and "two months after it ended".

I don't think you have too much of a claim. Come and post it in Employment Issues though, you never know someone may know better.