Accepted a new job and now they want to offer me less money...

[SkittlesRainbow]

Last month my company underwent a massive restructure and I was put at risk of redundancy along with over 1000 others. I am 17 weeks pregnant, so it has caused me so much stress and worry due to the fact that I could lose my maternity pay. Many people applied externally and left, but I didn't have that option due to the pregnancy and risk of losing maternity options.

I applied for an internal job on my current grade with my 'at risk' status and interviewed well for it - so they offered me the job. I was absolutely delighted and relieved to be safe! I awaited a new contract to come through but then was told that due to it being the same grade, they would keep all the T&Cs so it would just be a line manager change, and we agreed on a start date.

However today they contacted me saying that they want to offer me 20% less than the salary I am on, as I will earn more than other people in the team on my current salary. I have pushed back and said that I don't think this is reasonable and as they knew my salary on application and this is the same grade. Then they said "So, are you saying you are no longer interested in this role?" which made me wonder if they were trying to get me to turn the job down.

Why have I gone through this whole process for them to undercut me after I accepted the role and agreed on a start date? I was upfront about my current salary and my pregnancy with them and it feels like they have not been with me.

Part of me is wondering if they had to give me the offer due to my at-risk status, and they have someone in mind for the role that isn't about to go on maternity leave. Another part of me is wondering if they see me in this vulnerable position and are trying to take advantage. My current line manager thinks that it is an honest mistake and that I shouldn't think the worst of them yet, but something feels really off to me now, and the fact they were almost asking me to turn the role down.

Does anyone have a view on this? Maybe I am being completely unreasonable here, and just over worried due to my circumstances and should just take the pay cut. I am just frustrated with companies being so vague about salaries as it ends up with this situation.

Has anyone been through similar or have any advice?

Maternity action were really helpful for my legal issue on maternity leave.

I really feel for you.

I think the pp suggestion of offering 4 days a week is a good idea.

Well here is my take on this.... if the company didn’t want you because you were pregnant they would not have interviewed you and definitely wouldn’t have offered you the job, so I don’t believe for a second you being pregnant has anything to do with offering you a lower salary. If anything this says that even though you are pregnant they do want you! More likely the company simply can’t afford to keep operating at the current costs hence them putting 1000 people at risk/redundancies. The fact that it’s a new role means that the company can and generally do change the t&c,s and I’m my experience they always have their legal team check these before proceeding. Rightly or wrongly, these changes rarely benefit the employee! You mention you want the financial security of maternity pay for 9 months leaving will mean you will lose thousands so I would go with the new job for now and as you say, go for a higher paid job in a year. Alternatively, is the option for redundancy available to you if you don’t take the job. As for them asking if you are refusing the role, this could be due to waiting to speak to their second choice and could be a time sensitive issue, redundancies have timescales for the process, they may also want to tell the second choice, if there is one, to put them out of their misery of not being made redundant. All assumptions of my part of course. I was made redundant last year, thanks Covid! I was a senior manager with 20+ years HR experience so I’ve been on both sides in my career, it’s incredibly stressful and that’s without being pregnant. Think it through and do what’s best for you and the baby

@Honestmary thanks for your take. I agree that it's not because I am pregnant that these are the decisions. I haven't thought that at any point in the process really. Only that it limits my options to go elsewhere, even for a massive pay rise.

I have been dealt a blow that I wasn't expecting today and it's taking ages to get my head around. My new salary will be less than I was on 5 years ago so it feels like a huge step back for something I have worked hard for. I feel that my career trajectory was going great and I was moving towards a more senior role, and now I am looking to go back to where I was years ago. It's the psychological impact as well as financial. I do have a mortgage to pay and this change will make it really tight for me. I am trying to look on the positive side that I will have a job and maternity and I can make the change in 12 months as I said.

I do think they have a second choice that they prefer, although I believe I am the only applicant they had at risk. Therefore I imagine they had to offer me the role, and didn't realise this would be the case at the time. Part of me is thinking this salary change could be so I turn it down and they give it to someone else. But I don't think that's necessarily because I am pregnant, but it must be appealing to appoint someone that will stay in the role for more than a few months.

But I appreciate your balances take on this situation. It's never black and white is it?

@AcornAutumn

OP have I got this right

You applied for the job without asking the pay?

That could be a problem.

Presumably you refusing the job gets them out of paying you redundancy?

It sounds like this is the case from what you've described? Did you accept the job without confirming the salary and instead just assumed they would pay you the same?

The OP is at risk of redundancy and is pregnant. Sensibly to avoid redundancy and receive enhanced maternity pay she applied for an internal role as an at risk candidate. The OP was successful and was told all t & cs including payback remain the same. The employer has now reneged on this.

OP as you are 17 weeks pregnant you may need to take a pragmatic approach to secure the highest possible maternity pay. SMP and the 90% for the first 6 weeks are calculated on your salary during the 8 week/2 month period before your qualifying week roughly 18 to 25 weeks pregnant. Use the gov.uk tool to work out your key weeks www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents.

Check your employers occupational mat pay policy and how they work out occupational mat pay rate. It is very likely they use the same period as SMP.

What you need to try and do is remain on your current salary during the key weeks as this will lock in your SMP and possibly Occupational mat pay rate.

If your employer confirmed in writing the role was offered on exactly the same terms then continue to push back. You applied in good faith and accepted the role on the same pay. Raising a grievance etc. would buy you time.

My understanding is that being at risk of redundancy an employer has to mitigate by offering vacant roles to suitable at risk employees to avoid redundancy. They may have had a preferred candidate but had to offer you the role. The drop in pay is a way to get you to turn down the role. Keep using ACAS but also look on house/car insurance to see if you have legal cover as I would advise getting legal advice.

You also have the role you are being mapped to and can apply for other internal roles. However, I believe they may fail to find an alternative role paying the same salary.

It’s not right but if it is a choice between redundancy and a 20% drop in salary, you might want to offer them a pragmatic solution. You need to get legal advice before doing anything, but you could consider proposing that you take the role you have been offered and retain your current salary and are paid this rate until the end of your occupational maternity pay. When you return after mat leave you will accept the 20% pay cut.
This is on the basis you have stated you would then be in a position to secure a higher paying role with another employer. This is your last resort option as an alternative to redundancy, try everything else first.

@Boringlynormal

Then they said "So, are you saying you are no longer interested in this role?" which made me wonder if they were trying to get me to turn the job down

I would reply saying 'I am very much still interested in this role, on the terms that were advised to me during the application process. If you are withdrawing this offer, could you let me know what suitable alternative (including suitable terms) you plan to offer me, as is my right as a pregnant employee?'

That's not correct so I wouldn't say that!

I'd definitely suggest dropping a working day. They might say no but at least you're being creative!

If it’s an internal role then they would be able to check your salary, assuming you’re using the same systems? It’s a little strange that they’re pushing this back on you. They’re being really cheeky and can completely see you point about it’s like going back five years. Definitely push this back to them in writing and give them a timescale to come back to you on. Is there local HR support and/ or a colleague who can support you in having the conversation with the team you’re about to move into?