Can my employer give my maternity cover a more senior job title than me?

[MyCosyPearlStork]

I work in finance, and found out today that my employer is interviewing for my maternity cover, but they are recruiting for a “Senior (my job title)”. I know this role is specifically my maternity cover because I’ve got emails/been told by HR this is the case.

I’ve seen the job description they have gone to recruiters with and it’s exactly the same as my job description.

It feels like they are denying me a promotion because I’m pregnant? Which I don’t think they’re allowed to do? Apparently they have advertised this as a senior role to get a better calibre of candidates, which makes sense, but if you need to advertise for a senior role in order to find a candidate who can successfully cover my role, surely I should also be considered senior?

Does anyone have any idea if this is allowed or if there’s anything I can do?

I’m not sure on levels of pay, and I know those on short term contracts generally earn more because of the uncertainty that accompanies contract work, but I’m not asking for a pay rise. I just want the more senior job title if my cover has it.

I don't think this is because you are pregnant. It is because they need to attract the right calibre of candidate, which probably says more about you underselling yourself in the past. But realistically, apart from asking nicely, there isn't a lot you can do. You could, if you were so minded, tell them that you feel this is discrimination. Legally you might struggle to prove it, but even so, is this the point in time to start a fight with your employer? Would you be willing to take it this far, and right now - because you can't wait until after your maternity leave or you will be out of time.

I wouldn't recommend pushing this further than asking the question, but that is a choice for you. The answer might inform how much you want to remain with the employer in the future?

They can cover your work / role how they choose fit. It doesn't need to be an exact copy (eg they may choose to add certain responsibilities to your role for the duration of your maternity leave hence the different title).

What's important is that when you return from maternity leave, you go into a role with the same terms and conditions (work location, salary, grade, responsibilities) as you left.

If you returned from maternity leave and were told that your role no longer exists because it has been absorbed by a more senior role, their actions could be construed as intent and there is possibly a case for discrimination. But for now, there is no evidence that this is the case.

Thanks for responding! I think you’re right the only thing to do is ask the question - it just felt very unfair when I found out as I’ve taken on a lot more responsibility recently without any recognition, which is my own fault!

Thanks for your response. I know on return my job has to essentially be “the same” as when I leave, I think I was more annoyed because the job description for this senior role is exactly the same as my current job description!

My question to your boss would be 'when I return from maternity I would like that job title too. What can I do to make that happen?'

Fixed term contracts aren't attractive so the salaries are generally higher and titles inflated to sweeten the pill.

Ask the boss - say I see you’re hiring at level x, I hope this means you recognise the work I’ve been doing. I’ll be keen on a promotion showing that.

I've recently filled a mat cover role and it has a 'senior' job title... I'm fairly sure it's not yours but if it is, hi!

We've done it because we need someone who can get to grips with a complex subject area and handle tricky relationships, slotting straight in with not much time to bed in. That's harder than doing a job with lots of support to get to the position and handholding while you settle in. So it needs a more senior person.

But YES to PP's suggestion that you use this as a springboard to promotion when you're back.

I think you should ask to interview for a senior role and have a senior job waiting for you when you return