Promotion taken off me because I'm pregnant

[WaterOffaDucksCrack]

Hi everyone, I'm 17 weeks pregnant. Just told my employer lasy week. I was in line to get a promotion from deputy to manager, sent paperwork off to CQC (it's in the care sector) and now they're saying I can't get promoted now because I'm pregnant.

Can anyone help with where I stand legally?

outrageous! That's surely discrimination based on maternity and they can't do that.

Yes that is blatant discrimination. You can't be treated less favourably because of your pregnancy as compared to others or as compared to how you would have been treated were you not pregnant. Clearly that is what they are doing.

Put in a formal grievance following the grievance procedure, stating that by removing a promised promotion because of your pregnancy they are unlawfully discriminating against you in breach of the Equality Act 2010. Hopefully that will prompt them to seek HR/legal advice and will get them backtracking sharpish.

Pregnancy discrimination is illegal. If you have can evidence it you have a very strong case.

Are you a union member? If so contact your union. If not call the Maternity Action or Acas helpline.

See if you can get them to put it in writing that you can't have the promotion as you are pregnant.

Then sent it to HR and go batshit.

I'm only saying to get it in writing as I was once told not to bother going for a promotion when I was pregnant, but it was only said to my face and never written, and then of course afterwards my manager denied all knowledge of it.

Have they said that you can't do a specific job because of pregnancy, because that does seem more likely in the care sector. What was their actual wording?

Definitely illegal under the Equality Act 2010.

www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant/pregnancy-discrimination/

Email them to "double check", and then you have written evidence of the conversation (even if they don't reply, the fact that you've emailed is something to refer back to.)

Thank you, I don't have it in writing yet. They're now saying I can "see how I feel" after I come back from mat leave (max I'll be taking is 11 weeks) they don't want me to take on too much apparently.

I have the discussion about becoming a manager in writing but they hold that in my records.

ChicCroissant I don't know what you mean. The role is mostly office based but they've no issue with me helping out on the floor when needed, haven't done a risk assessment yet.

We don't have HR as it's a small company. I'm worried because I feel if I challenge it I could risk losing my job.

Legally they cannot dismiss you if you raise a grievance about pregnancy discrimination. Please get advice from the sources I've mentioned if you don't believe us.

Thanks, I'm going to give acas a call later.

Good luck

You're only taking 11 weeks maternity leave??

As soon as you get it in writing get in a grievance for pregnancy/sex discrimination.

That is illegal.

I'd check in with Maternity Action as well, don't do anything at all until you have received proper advice!

They're now saying I can "see how I feel" after I come back from mat leave (max I'll be taking is 11 weeks) they don't want me to take on too much apparently.

No - this is still discrimination under the 2010 Act. Get it in writing and then get yourself an employment lawyer.