Discrimination at work?

[Tryingtobe123]

Hi all
Just wondering what everyone’s thoughts are on this as it doesn’t seem to make sense to me!
I’m currently on company paid maternity leave. Which entitles me to my full basic wage of £18000. All of the people in the same role as myself had emails stating that our pay would be increasing to £25000, this is a basic wage increase and is nothing based on performance. In my eyes I should get the increase because as stated it’s a basic wage increase that everyone is getting! Clearly the email is addressed me to and notes that the changes are to take effect from 1st June.
I contacted my payroll department today as we are due to remortgage and my advisor wanted to know when the increase would show on wage slips. Only to be told that as I am on maternity leave the increase won’t apply to me and it was a ‘generic’ email that was sent out. Am I wrong to think this is discrimination?! If I’m on company maternity leave and have signed to agree to go back for a minimum of 12 months to have the larger pay advantage, which am I not getting treated the same as my colleagues?

Sounds like discrimination to me. Pretty blatant too.

Statutory maternity pay is calculated on salary at a qualifying date but I think any enhanced occupational maternity pay should reflect the pay rise.

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace/during-maternity-leave-pay-promotion-breaks-and-benefits

If the only reason that you are not getting the raise is because you are on maternity leave, regardless of whether it is statutory or company topped up pay, then that to me would be discrimination. Have a chat with Pregnant then Screwed, this sort of thing is right up their street.

Depends how their policy states your additional maternity pay is calculated - mine is weeks 17-25 of your pregnancy or something like that, so the pay rise wouldn't be reflected in your maternity pay. Would absolutely expect you to have the pay rise when you return to work though.

Did you get it in writing?

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