Pay review post maternity leave

[JS75]

I have been working with my current employer for nearly 4 years and have received positive feedbacks at annual reviews. Was due a grade rise (verbal discussions during annual review) just before going on maternity leave, never got one. Took the full 1 year entitlement and been back at work 6 months, working part time.

My employer has an annual pay review scheme, so whilst I was away on maternity leave till to date, I have been given 2 pay rises but still on the same grade. I had to remind boss1 for a pay rise while on maternity leave because he didn't think I was entitled to one!!!!

Unfortunately, boss1 is now subconded to a different office so I had to raise this issue with a boss2 and spoken to HR unofficially.

The feedback I've got from them is they are waiting for an explanation from boss1 on why I missed out on a grade rise 2 years running.

I am very p*ed off and feel like I worked my guts out before going on maternity and missed out on a grade rise because I got pregnant and was 'out of the system'. What do I do next? Should I get the employment tribunal involved? Given the current economic situation, don't want to be seen as a troublemaker, however feel I've been unfairly treated by boss1 whilst other peers have progressed in their career paths

Thanks LeninGrad.

Employer is in public sector and not in union.
They are currently looking at redundancies, so timing is so wrong to bring this up. But feel boss1 is inexperienced in managing people and I shouldn't be treated differently just bacause I got pregnant!

I have a few interviews lined up with competitor companies at the moment. Concerned that when I tell talk about current salary, my skills are going to be misjudged. Not sure how to tell potential employers problem lies with incompetent boss, not my skils! I have support from both my supervisor and peers regarding grade rise/skills!!! Not sure what to say at interviews re: salary issue

Thanks LeninGrad.

Employer is in public sector and not in union.
They are currently looking at redundancies, so timing is so wrong to bring this up. But feel boss1 is inexperienced in managing people and I shouldn't be treated differently just bacause I got pregnant!

I have a few interviews lined up with competitor companies at the moment. Concerned that when I tell talk about current salary, my skills are going to be misjudged. Not sure how to tell potential employers problem lies with incompetent boss, not my skils! I have support from both my supervisor and peers regarding grade rise/skills!!! Not sure what to say at interviews re: salary issue

Surely your organisation must have formal procedures for instigating a grade review? I am also public sector (local government) and at any time an employee can submit a claim for a grade review if they feel the duties and responsibilities that they carry out have changed significantly. But it is the post that is graded, not the person. Time to apply for a new, higher graded post, perhaps?

So you have had pay rises, but you haven't had a grade review? I have never worked in the public sector but I would have thought there would be a procedure as llareggub says for formally requesting that the grade your post is on is reviewed if your responsibilities have significantly changed.

I would also agree that it's the post that is graded not the person. Why do you think you are being treated differently because of your pregnancy? Did other people also have a verbal discussion about a grade review which has happened whereas yours hasn't?

I would suggest you find out from HR what the process is for requesting that the grade allocated to your role is formally reviewed, and put the request in writing accordingly. I don't think that the possibility of redundancies should stop you - in the public sector (as should happen anywhere) I would anticipate a robust and open selection process and criteria for redundancy, and something like requesting a grade review won't be something they'd consider as a reason for redundancy.

Thanks for all the responses.

We have an annual review discussion which has a competency matrix where you highlight your skills on the next grade up wherever relevant. This is then confirmed by the supervisor and then it's the boss's discretion whether you are due a grade rise. Needless to say my competency matrix at the next grade has almost all the columns highlighted. So it's the individual that gets graded, not the post.

Based on my competency matrix and scores on the annual review i should be given a grade rise by now.

Plus, a graduate who started the same year as me on 2 grades below is now on the same level as me. I have 9 years experience in the industry!

If my annual reviews came back with negative points and was never told 'it's a surprise you've not been graded up' by my supervisor and fellow peers, I wouldn't feel any different.

I work in a large organisation and without blowing my own trumpet, I can confidently say my quality of work is better than some. I'm not the only one in our group who finds my boss unfair when it comes to salary/grade reviews.

Have interviews lined up next few days, so fingers crossed.

Thanks for all the responses.

We have an annual review discussion which has a competency matrix where you highlight your skills on the next grade up wherever relevant. This is then confirmed by the supervisor and then it's the boss's discretion whether you are due a grade rise. Needless to say my competency matrix at the next grade has almost all the columns highlighted. So it's the individual that gets graded, not the post.

Based on my competency matrix and scores on the annual review i should be given a grade rise by now.

Plus, a graduate who started the same year as me on 2 grades below is now on the same level as me. I have 9 years experience in the industry!

If my annual reviews came back with negative points and was never told 'it's a surprise you've not been graded up' by my supervisor and fellow peers, I wouldn't feel any different.

I work in a large organisation and without blowing my own trumpet, I can confidently say my quality of work is better than some. I'm not the only one in our group who finds my boss unfair when it comes to salary/grade reviews.

Have interviews lined up next few days, so fingers crossed.

Well it sounds as though you have some reasonable evidence that your grade should be reviewed, I suggest you submit a formal request including all that information.