'You made the choice to take a year off!'

[LG1979]

Needing some advice please!

I had a year off on mat leave and started back in June. I worked my ass off in the run up to mat leave on the understanding I was working towards a grade rise. Myself and my colleague worked together, she took on a more technical role within the team so was awarded the grade rise while I was off. (chuffed for her!)
It was understood that the only way to get the grade rise was to do the more technical role, so until I did that, I didn't push for the grade rise for myself.

Since starting back in June, I found out that the person who was seconded to my role while I was on mat leave had been awarded the grade rise, even though they have nowhere near the skill level and knowledge that I have in the role. I have spoken to my manager about this and he has now said that there is no further budget for my to get the grade in the next financial year.

So my question is, why was a new person given this if only 2 people in the team could be given that grade, and secondly, what rights do I have in regards to fighting against this decision??

But surely if you had a year off, then you have returned to a job of equal standing as when you left? The person who is now doing your old role has been 'upgraded' in that job.
Is it that if you return to an equal role from when you left, but that role has no promotional future - is that discrimination due to mat leave?

Can I just clarify a few things OP?

The person seconded to cover your role whilst you were on maternity leave was given a grade rise whilst carrying out your role.

This person was then moved to A.N. Other role once you returned from Maternity Leave, this new role was specifically made to accommodate this person.

The person took the grade rise to the new role which you were not advised was being created and were therefore unable to apply for should you have been interested/your skills applicable.

You returned and are not being given a grade rise even though the role you are doing is exactly the same as was done by the person who received the grade rise.

The reason for you not being given a grade rise, even though it appears the role you are covering is eligible for one, are due to financial constraints and not lack of skills on your part. There is also a veiled suggestion that you 'lost out' due to be absent on Maternity Leave for a year.

Is that close?

I've reread everything OP and it still looks to me as though your maternity leave started at a point where you didn't have the right training for a grade rise and that you'd discussed that with your manager and agreed the timing wasn't appropriate.

Far more clarification needed I think.

I understand the 1st and 2nd line stuff as I've done IT tech support roles before. But I need clarification on whether the grade rise you're talking about is actually essentially a different job (whether it's a promotion or not) that you'd have to have applied for or an additional responsibility added to your existing role that comes with a bump in pay. And I also don't get why you're mentioning training if it's not relevant? Do you mean that you were told you'd need X training before you could get the higher grade but that your maternity cover was given the higher grade without it? And that if circumstances changed in such a way that it was unnecessary to now get that training, you should have been informed while on maternity leave because it's actually a different role that you were qualified for, wanted to apply for and had previously expressed a strong interest in?

And if what I've said above is right, could it be possible that circumstances made it essential for them to fill that role quickly, meaning they didn't have the choice to wait until your return before the extras involved in the higher grade role started getting done?

"And if what I've said above is right, could it be possible that circumstances made it essential for them to fill that role quickly, meaning they didn't have the choice to wait until your return before the extras involved in the higher grade role started getting done?"

The answer to this would be that if that were the case, had they informed the OP she could have chosen to terminate her Mat. leave early to fulfil the role, but as they didn't she had no choice to make.

Completely agree lougle.

The fact that is it a new role at a higher grade is relevant - technically, after additional maternity leave you are entitled to return to a role at the same grade, not necessarily the same role. So in that respect, they are entitled to create and fill the new role as it's not yours. Your post is a little difficult to follow, but I think that the cover colleague has got the higher grade in the new job and not in your previous role?

However - it would have been nice to let you know about the possible vacancy if it was advertised to others (was it, even internally?). Do you know what has happened in the past about letting employees on maternity leave know about vacancies? As PP have said, you may have been willing to come back early to take it on.