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Original poster

Just found out that everybody in my company received a payrise...

18 replies

NoMoreWineForMeThen · 12/12/2011 15:31

...except me.

I'm the only woman prety much in the history of my company to ever take maternity leave and it appears this may have had a negative impact on my career. My situation is particulaly difficult as we found out we are expecting again recently (DD is 14 months) and of course this didn't go down well at work.

My bosses awarded every single person in the organisation a pay increase but decided that my salary was already high enough and that I didn't deserve a payrise as I was now doing less hours (I work 4 full days but my salary has been adjusted accordingly).

I feel hurt and angry because I know that the real reason I didn't get a raise is because I have started a family.

Do you think I am being unreasonable to expect any sort of pay increase given the circumstances?

Thing is I would have been happy with a token guesture of £250 or something. The fact that I am the only person that has received nothing at all does feel like a bit of a kick in the teeth.

My boss assures me that he is happy with my work however. I suppose I could have accepted it a little easier if I thought that I was not performing as expected.

OP posts:

Grevling · 12/12/2011 16:42

Sounds like good grounds for a case, though you'd need to give more details like number of employees how were bonuses decided, how many doing your job/similar etc.

Original poster

NoMoreWineForMeThen · 12/12/2011 21:24

I'm a little worried about outing myself if I give too much info..
We have less than 50 employees and raises were given across the board as the company have realised that current salaries have slipped behind industry norms.

Some were given higher % increases than others dependent on performance but everyone other than me was given something.

As I mentioned, when I spoke to my boss today, he was adamant that he is happy with my performance to date.

I am the senior person in my team, however some of the increases mean that staff junior to me are now on the same salary as me.

I've had a nightmare since I first announced I was pregnant nearly 2 years ago so this feels like the icing on the cake!

OP posts:

ObamaSelf · 13/12/2011 20:52

Do you know what the industry norm is for your job? If you're underpaid perhaps you could use this as evidence that you are being treated unfairly?

Putthatbookdown · 13/12/2011 21:15

I think it looks like the reason was your starting a family, i think it is unfair,really. What does the law say? you cannot be treated in an inferior way by virtue of being pregnant. Perhaps this employer needs tochange their policies and realise they should not discriminate on the basis of gender for in a way that is what this is ???

Original poster

NoMoreWineForMeThen · 14/12/2011 06:16

It feels unfair to me for sure.
Im not really sure what to do next. Will citizens advice be able to help with something like this?

OP posts:

daveywarbeck · 14/12/2011 06:29

I would repost this in legal to get some of the MN employment lawyers' and HR bods' responses. To me this bit that I didn't deserve a payrise as I was now doing less hours (I work 4 full days but my salary has been adjusted accordingly) sounds discriminatory. Your full time equivalent salary should keep pace with payrises awarded across the board.

daveywarbeck · 14/12/2011 06:30

Are you in a union? If not I would find an employment lawyer who offers a free first half hour. Make sure you have all facts, time line, any docs, emails etc for them to see, makes advising appropriately much easier.

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 14/12/2011 06:32

If you are the only person in the firm to have had a child, and you are the only person in the firm who has not had a pay rise, then I think you could argue that the two are connected.

Perhaps talk to acas or something?

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 14/12/2011 06:33

person - woman.

had a baby - taken full maternity leave entitlement

any of those things, really.

StillSquiffy · 14/12/2011 09:41

I would start by dropping a line to the head of HR (probably the MD if the org is small?) saying something like "I am surprised to learn that every person in the company except me has been given notification of a payrise. Given that my appraisals have all been good and my work performance praised can you please let me know when I can expect notification of my salary for the coming year".

Depending on the outcome of that you will then need to think about a more formal letter, but see if you get a response by starting with the gentle approach first. If you do it all by email you will then be building up a file of evidence should they then come back and tell you you are not getting a rise. I wouldn't even mention discrimination or being PG in the first email.

StillSquiffy · 14/12/2011 09:43

By the way, I wouldn't hold out much hope for ACAS and CAB in something like this - they are very general and don't always give the very best advice. There are enough specialised people on these boards to guide you through this (though you may at some stage need a solicitor)

letmehelp · 14/12/2011 10:02

I'd email your boss, expressing surprise and disappointment that you have not have received a payrise, as you understood the company was more than happy with your performance and asking for the reasons for this. What Squiffy said really.

If he responds verbally, ask him to confirm by email, or email him a summary of the conversation and ask him to confirm your understanding.

I had a similar situation (not money, but thought I was being unfairly treated because I was working p-t) As soon as they were asked to put things in writing, things changed.

Original poster

NoMoreWineForMeThen · 14/12/2011 18:18

I didn't want you all to think I'm ignoring your kind responses. I'll update properly tomorrow when I have a little time but briefly...
An email to my boss (perhaps overly emotional but I was so upset at the time) was followed by a meeting during which he stated that I didn't get a pay rise because they were not sure that I would come back after maternity leave. Therefore I feel my fears were justified ad I have been overlooked because of starting a family.
I've printed off everything I can and made detailed notes of our conversation today and will seek legal advice.
I did ask him to reconsider his decision so there is some hope that he will. Although even if he does it almost feels too late.

OP posts:

Grumpla · 14/12/2011 18:23

Bastards

You need some legal advice. Or info from your union. TBH even the CAB will be able to offer you some clarification on your options, it seems pretty bloody clear cut!

letmehelp · 14/12/2011 21:08

Tbh I almost feel for your boss - to tell you that was the reason shows he really has no idea of the trouble he's put himself and the company in.

KateMiddlet0n · 14/12/2011 21:41

they were not sure that I would come back after maternity leave

Is this man a complete moron? That is direct discrimination and illegal. The bit of legislation is the Equality Act 2010 and the protected characteristic is pregnancy/maternity leave.

You've done the right thing asking for an explanation. Now you need a deadline and if they have not replied/replied satisfactorily you will need to make a formal grievance.

Alternatively, you could send an email saying you have taken advice and that you don't want to get him and the company into trouble, so it's only fair to warn him that his reason for failing to give you a pay rise, because he thought you might not return from maternity leave, is pregnancy maternity discrimination according to the Equality Act 2010 and that you would like to give him an opportunity to put this right without having to make things more formal.

Where there any witnesses to his comments and have you had that response in writing? If not perhaps email him, including his comments as part of a "summary of the meeting".

LadyLapsang · 27/12/2011 18:58

He wasn't sure you would come back from the maternity leave you've just had or the next maternity leave?? Either way, he's pretty silly to have said that. We only get pay rises based on performance or promotion so more difficult to get performance based pay if you are out on maternity leave for most of the performance period. However, your situation sounds different - are you absolutely sure everyone but you has had a pay increase?

Putthatbookdown · 28/12/2011 12:33

I know this may so unkind but it may simply be the firm has no previous experience of this situation:we cannot assume emplyers know these things I would state my case informally and see if they know about discrimation etc many firms end in court as they are ignorant-does not make it right of course

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