Discrimination at work after maternity leave

[Blondemum28]

Hi all,

Apologies for the long post but I really need some advice…

I started at my work about 4 years ago. The place was great - real family feel and I felt valued. I was working alongside someone on my own level - Jane - and we were smashing it.

I made the company lots of money so wasn’t concerned when the company was bought out and I got a new boss.

My new boss and I didn’t really gel but got on ok. I kept making the company money and Jane and I were promised big pay rises and promotions at the same time.

Then I got pregnant and went on maternity leave.

On maternity leave I was completely cut out from the company - emails stopped, no contact whatsoever.

Then I hear that Jane has had a MASSIVE payrise. A few months later Jane gets a promotion (and another payrise).

I expect that I’ll get the same when I return to work - nope. No payrise, no promotion.

Then I hear that my boss has employed others at the same level as me and who do my work - they’re paid A LOT more than me.

I plead my case to my boss telling him that I’ve already proven myself and I’m told a load of lies and that it is what it is.

Due to personal reasons I didn’t leave but would keep my options open. I returned to work about a year ago.

Coming back to work I’m treated differently - feel very much bottom of the pile snd I get the impression that my boss justified treating me differently on maternity leave by thinking that I just wasn’t that good.

Anyway I’m still smashing it - completely hit the ground running and I’ve been promised that next month I’ll get an increase in line with the new employees and I’ll get the promotion late next year.

My boss recently got drunk and implied that the reason I was treated differently is because they thought I wouldn’t be as good when I came back from maternity leave or I’d go off and have another baby…but they are trying to make it up to me.

Other members of the team noticed how I was and am treated and have actually raised this with me.

Anyway - I can’t get over how I’ve been treated just for having a kid. It’s getting me down and I’ve asked for a meeting with my boss to get things off my chest.

I need to be careful how I deal with it - I need to raise this for my mental health and I don’t want this to happen to others but if I kick up too much of a fuss I could lose what has been promised to me.

FYI for various reasons I wouldn’t be bring a claim against my employer for discrimination.

I could do with some help how to brooch the meeting, how hard to go in or should I suck up my pride, try harder to accept what’s happened and accept what they are now offering?

TIA

Well if you're not going to raise a grievance what is the purpose of the meeting?

Ffs don't go to 'get things off your chest' - this twat will just get really defensive

If they don't give you a pay rise, leave. Then contact pregnant then screwed. Gather all the evidence you can - you're clearly fantastic at your job

I was treated badly when on maternity leave once. A colleague(peer) was promoted to be my boss, and I was told on the phone whilst trying to handle and breastfeed a squirming baby, as the call was out of the blue. I was seething but felt helpless. An old and wise friend gave me great advice which was to put it in a box labelled ammunition in your head, and use it when you're ready. it meant all the frustration and anger and resentment I felt. So I went back to work, and once I was back on my feet and performing well I went out and got myself a new job which paid more and was much more interesting. What I am trying to say is, you need to channel your energy and frustration on the best outcome for you. I'm not sure that complaining to the boss that is behind all of this will result in a great outcome for you. They might feel they want to manage you out as you might make things difficult. I didn't want to pursue a claim either, as the industry is small and I'd likely never have worked again. It's worked out much better for me by holding my counsel and waiting and leaving.

I've just come back from maternity leave to find that my colleague who does the same job as me is now being paid more than me. I didn't get a rise due to being on maternity leave, despite us doing the same job.

I've contacted HR, I am about to contact ACAS if it isn't resolved. I suggest you do the same.

That’s shit OP, sorry.

When my friend returned from mat leave (previously consistent high performance ratings, excellent at her job), her new manager told her she should be doing the washing up to support her hard working colleagues. Then when she left shortly after that they were surprised (and totally fucked).

Lots of good information on the Maternity Action website. It is worth calling their advice line to discuss options, if you can get through. They have excellent lawyers who are very good on how to resolve problems while keeping your job. They don’t charge anyone for advice. maternityaction.org.uk/your-rights-at-work/

It is against the law to be denied a pay rise if you are on maternity leave if everyone else receives one.

As PP have said, they’re breaking the law by treating you differently whilst on Mat leave.

If you genuinely can’t even threaten to go the legal route then the least I would be demanding is that your pay rise is backdated to when the first of your new same-grade colleagues was brought in at the higher rate.

It’s disgusting that this kind of shit still goes on, and it’s for this reason that so many corporates have a policy against discussing your salary with colleagues - because it exposes their bad practices.

Thanks all - I appreciate the advice.

Given the nature of my industry any claim would hurt my chances of employment elsewhere. Sad but true.

Do you have an HR department? If so, you might want to point out that it is a potential risk for the company if women are treated badly after ML. It’s potentially unlimited damages at tribunal.
However, I don’t see the point of saying anything unless you are prepared to kick up a fuss or walk. If you are prepared to jump ship secure the pay rise then use that to negotiate an even higher salary elsewhere.

I would strongly suggest that you wait until you've received the 'levelling up' raise/promotion/whatever before meeting with your boss. Otherwise you may jeopardise what they've got in mind for you and make things very awkward. Once you've received it you will be able to get advice (ACAS/lawyer) about the extent to which you have been treated badly and what you should be entitled to (eg backdated raise etc) and then take that to your boss with a list of your requirements to make the situation fair and within the requirements of the law. I understand your wish to get things off your chest now but I really think you need to keep your powder dry a bit longer in order to get the best outcome.