HR help please!

[sandcastleart]

I am currently on maternity leave and going back part time in September which has been agreed.

In the meantime, my manager has found a new job and her job was then being advertised. I wasn't informed of this by my manager or HR and I was under the impression I should be kept up to date. In fact it states in our policy, staff on Mat leave should be kept updated about anything that affects them. The job was only advertised internally so I would not have seen the vacancy on the external website.

I only know of this vacancy as my friends told me about it on our watsapp group.

The job is a full time role however a lot more money than I am on, so had I had the chance to apply I would have gone back full time and my DD would have gone to nursery 5 days instead of 3.

Is there any point in me saying anything or did they just think well she is coming back part time so don't bother telling her.

Thank you!

Sorry just to add I was only made aware of the vacancy once interviews had been done.

Hmm, tricky one.

yes it would have been good if they had let you know. I don't know if they were obliged to let you know.

On mat leave you definitely should be made aware of internal vacancies. Yes you should say something

Your manager should keep all team members on mat leave aware of vacancies. It’s likely an oversight, but you should defo say something if only so it doesn’t happen to someone else. They should not assume about the hours either.

Yes you should have been informed, but sorry not sure what you can do about it.

If the interviewees haven't been offered yet you could urgently contact HR and tell them you are interested and were not informed and they will probably put the decision on hold.

If the job is filled and depending on how far you want to take it you need to speak to your HR, ACAS for advice or maybe an employment lawyer if you want to take action. But I think there are quite short timescales for raising a maternity discrimination so you might need to be quick about it.

They may find themselves up shit creek without a paddle on this one! They should have kept you informed of vacancies during your maternity leave! You may have been discriminated against because of your pregnancy. I'd take professional advice!

@sandcastleart realistically they are not going to re-run the recruitment.

Email HR, copy in the HR Director, and state I am very disappointed that you have not kept in touch and advised me of this vacancy. I would have applied had I been given the opportunity. I hope my maternity leave was not a factor in the decision not to advise me of this particular vacancy.

Please check to see if there are any other current vacancies that I have not been advised of, if so please send details. If I decide to apply I will be requesting a deadline extension so I have the same time as other candidates as I would not want to suffer a further detriment.

Please ensure that I am notified of all future vacancies.

If you HR is any good they will go oh crap and send a grovelling email.

Oh dear they’ve messed up here! They should have told you. Agree with previous post- if they’ve not offered the tole yet they should pause to allow you to apply

Thank you everyone for your replies.

The post has now been offered and I am told an email has been sent out confirming the new appointment. Another colleague currently on my level got the job so a quick turnaround.

I will send an email to HR saying how disappointed I am and see what reply I get and go from there...

I am in UNISON, so could ask them for advice as well but doubt they will do much. My colleagues and I consulted them last time there was a major change and they were as useful as a chocolate teapot but may as well contact them and get the most out of my subscription to them!!