pay rise when on/coming back from maternity leave

[sunshinejune]

At my company pay rises are given at the end of the tax year which was just when I went back to work after maternity leave. I did n't get one at all (the only one in my department). Is the company legally able to do this? Are they able to justify this on poor performance before I went on maternity leave (over 14 months previously)?

Any annual increment or "cost of living" pay rise that is paid to all employees must be paid to you on your return to work.

However if the pay rise is discretionary (i.e. not automatic & not everyone in the company gets one) this is a bit of a grey area

I'd seek adive from your union or ACAS or CAB

You are entitled to a pay review even when on maternity leave and entitled to an explanation as to why you haven't been given one. They don't have to give you a payrise but must consider you in the review and give you reasons why no pay-rise. Otherwise clear sex discrim under UK legislation. And once they give you reasons for no payrise during the review then you may have a case under sex discrim for their reasons as well!