Is this sexual discrimination?

[Sesthinks2009willbeagreatyear]

I will try and explain this as completely yet concisely as I can...

I am due to go on maternity leave from 10th May and my last day at work is 3rd April as I am taking holiday between then and 10th May.

My current role is that of Area Pharmacy Manager for a well known chain of chemists. As part of that role, I was encouraged to apply to the Company Chemists Association to be a member of our Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC). This I did and have been a member for the last 3 or 4 years. I sit on the LPC as a representative of the Company Chemists Association (CCA) and not as a representative of my employers (although my employers are members of the CCA).

The LPC is a nationwide network of committees. Committees generally have approx. 18 members who represent a variety of pharmacutical contractors across a geography of approx. 160 pharmacies and meet formally bi-monthly to act in the best interests of our contractors we represent particularly when negotiating with PCTs for new services. I receive no salary from the CCA or the LPC but the LPC provide payment for expenses incurred - predominantly travel expenses to and fro meetings.

I do recieve an honorarium annually of £1,000 for being a member through my usual salary each June. (I will have to check whether my employer or the CCA funds this).

Anyway, I emailed the CCA this morning to inform them of my maternity leave and this is the reply I got:

"The procedure is for you to resign your CCA place on the LPC, which then allows me to re-nominate a replacement to ensure continuity of CCA input at LPC meetings.
Of course, I?m happy for you to remain on the ?reserve? list ? so that you have the same access to the website as a full member ? and when you feel able to return to LPC involvement simply let me know and I?ll try to find a suitable place a.s.a.p."

Is there a reason why they do not have to provide maternity cover? I feel discriminated against and as if I am being forced to resign. I have replied saying:

" I am disappointed that the process is that I have to resign and that there are no maternity provisions. I know that this is not an employed position and that it is important for the CCA to have continuity but I am suprised that this is the regulations as it is discriminatory.
I will copy our LPC secretary in on this email so that she is aware of the situation.
I would appreciate any further comments that the CCA may have on it's policy around maternity leave and the contact details of anyone at the CCA that may deal with this specifically."

Sorry this has been so long but if anyone is still with me and has any comments, please let me know your thoughts.

Sorry you are having a tough time. Congrats on your pregnancy.

Bumping for you.

Thanks PuzzleRocks

I am no expert on the legality of this issue, but I wondered, if the meetings are only 6 times a year, if it might be easier to just continue going to them?

Tricky Ses.

What did you expect to happen wrt your position on the committee? I'm not sure for a Bi-monthly meet they would provide cover, possibly just keep your place and add apologies on the minutes of any meetings.

What would happen if you were sick for instance and could not be there?

How many meetings do you expect you will miss?

It does seem a little odd of them to expect you to resign after such a lengthy service to them simply because you'll be on ML.

Are there a set number of meetings you have to make? Could they not conference call you in on them?

Thanks for your responses.

I'm starting to think I'll just send apologies for May and July meetings and maybe September. I have already had an email from the secretary of our committee supporting me and expressing her disappointment at the prospect of me resigning.

We are amazingly, allowed to miss up to 3 meetings a year due to holiday, sickness, etc.

I expected them to appoint someone from their reserve list on a temporary basis.

I'll await their reply and then discuss with the rest of the committee I think.

sounds like a good plan. I'm pleased they responded to you in they way they did