Maternity Discrimination

[1990b]

Hi,

I would like some advice please.

I am currently on maternity leave, in March/April staff in my area/department were given a payrise.

I did not receive the payrise even though l am entitled. I have been overlooked. I know its because lm not there so they are not bothered as much. I feel really annoyed that l have to remind them now even though it is there fault. There are other things as well, l have not had an interim appraisal like everyone else. Other people in my department are deciding on what they want to do going forward in September. No mention of this has been made to me.

It just feels like l am invisible. Am l over reacting to think that l am being discriminated against because lm on maternity?

I had my pay rise whilst off as it goes off the previous year.
I didn’t have an appraisal and not heard of anyone have one whilst off.
What do you decide on for Sep?

I work in a school so which year group

Ah ok! When are you due to go back in Sep?

Payrise you have been overlooked, i wouldn't expect any formal meetings while you are on mat leave. That should be sorted on your kit days

When are you due back?

How could they do an appraisal while you’re on maternity leave? There would be no work to appraise.

As you are in maternity leave I guess they are leaving you alone. I wouldn’t take it personally.
However, I would assume once you are back, you will then get the pay rise as soon as you start getting paid normally again. If you don’t, then I think you should raise the issue.

Potentially this is maternity discrimination.

2005 ECJ Alabaster v Woolwich plc and another www.shoosmiths.co.uk/insights/articles/pay-rise-increase-rate-maternity-pay-13767

www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-maternity-pay-employee-circumstances-that-affect-payment#employee-earnings-affected-by-a-pay-rise

Contact ACAS and your TU then write to your employer requesting pay rise is retrospectively applied to SMP And maternity pay. In your letter reference Alabaster - case law all payroll managers will be aware of.

You have been overlooked but I think contacting ACAS and your TU, as a PP suggest, is going a bit too unclear at this stage. Unless you've asked for the payrise and they've refused it, but it doesn't sound like that from your OP.

I'm not clear why you'd want an appraisal if you haven't been at work but it sounds like it feeds into the role you take on from September and you want to have a say in that? In which case I'd contact them and say this.

They're clearly not a model of best practicw, but mistakes happen and I'd give them a chance to put things right before escalating it and accusing them of discrimination.

*bit too nuclear