Role changes while on maternity leave

[SequinCola]

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice about what, if anything to do about my role being changed while I've been on maternity leave.

I was informed there were changes being made but that "they wouldn't need to consult". I finally was able to to see my JD today (first day back) and it has been stripped back to take away around half of what I was doing before leaving me with a job I would not apply for if I saw it advertised. I've been left with the dregs.

A new role has been created from elements of my old job and another colleague's who was made redundant. This job was never advertised but has been filled internally I discovered today. I was considering applying for that role depending on the detail of the JD which I didn't see. It might have been advertised internally but I wasn't notified.

I feel as if I am being sidelined and they have sailed as close to the wind as they can to stay inside the lines of legal while I'm on maternity leave.

I did raised some issues around development opportunities being floated then taken away just before I went on leave so I feel that might have marked my card.

I'm speaking to my boss in our first 1:1 tomorrow and I really want to be constructive but I'm really disappointed with the role I've been left with.

How do I approach this?

I'm sorry they've done that to you, that is so shit. Have you had a chat with ACAS on the phone? To see where you legally stand?

If I was you, the first thing I would want to know is why they felt the need to do this.

I would also raise the point with my boss that whilst they may not be legally obligated (so they say) to consult you, it would have been appreciated as now you feel as though you are being intentionally side-lined as a direct result of going on maternity leave.

Have an open and Frank discussion with your manager tomorrow and take it from there, but it's a shitty thing they've done and in all honesty I would be exploring the possibility of new opportunities outside of this organisation. Tossers.

Yeah I'm looking for other things but I have to pay the mortgage!

I'm pretty sure I don't have a legal case because our HR team are very shrewd. But I will try to tackle it with my boss today. Just say that I'm disappointed not to hqve been kept informed and ask for a proper discussion about my career development because I'm struggling to know where to go with this new JD.

Ultimately I've not go anything to lose, if they are trying to force me out it can't get much worse by telling them I'm miffed.

How long were you on maternity leave for? Is it not the case that under 6 months you have to be given back your exact job?

The length of your maternity leave is quite important here and it would be worth clarifying that before people comment further.

I was off for a year so I wasn't expecting everything to be exactly the same.

As I said I am pretty sure I don't have any kind of case but I have been left feeling sidelined and that I'm not of value. Even the new job that I was never notified of they will say they didn't have to because it wasn't a promotion - but it would have been more responsibility even if not more money.

I'm just not sure how to approach it with my boss who hasn't really had my back previously. I guess honesty is the best policy.

The employer should have consulted with you about changes to your employment on one of your Keeping In Touch days. You don’t have the right to your exact job. You should have been told about job vacancies not just ones which were considered promotion.

You do have the right to the same pay, seniority, holidays location and benefits upon your return. You don’t seem to have the same seniority but you have the same pay. Can you therefore say how disappointed you are that they have altered your conditions of work and your contract without consultation. Also that you were not informed of a vacancy which you would have been interested in. As a result of this, you wish to renegotiate your JD. In addition ask about CPD and training to get you to a higher level of expertise (with a view to leaving!)